1. On April 23, 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This decision had far-reaching effects in North Carolina, where schools remained segregated for many years after the ruling. It was not until the mid-1970s that the state fully integrated its schools.

2. On April 23, 1998, a tornado outbreak swept through central North Carolina, causing significant damage and killing 12 people. The tornadoes were part of a larger outbreak that affected several states in the southeast United States, and included one of the largest tornadoes ever recorded in North Carolina.

3. On April 23, 1761, William Tryon was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Province of North Carolina by King George III. Tryon went on to become one of the most controversial governors in North Carolina history, due in part to his heavy-handed tactics in dealing with colonial unrest.

4. April 23 is also celebrated as Shakespeare's birthday, and in 2016, the American Shakespeare Center's touring company performed in Raleigh, North Carolina on this day. The show, Romeo and Juliet, was part of a series of performances across the country that sought to promote the works of Shakespeare and highlight the enduring relevance of his plays.

5. Finally, on April 23, 1865, Union General William T. Sherman met with Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston near Durham Station, North Carolina to discuss the surrender of Johnston's army. This meeting led to the signing of the Bennett Place Surrender, which effectively ended the American Civil War in the eastern theater. Today, Bennett Place is a state historic site that commemorates this important event in North Carolina and American history.