Arts & Entertainment
1. Who was the “Mother of Gospel Music”? Sallie Martin
2. Langston Hughes was responsible for publishing what Black American magazine? The Nation
3. What is the name of the newsletter which was originally edited by W.E.B. Du Bois and published by the NAACP in 1910? The Crisis
4. What is the name of the Harlem club where many famous Black American entertainers began their careers? The Cotton Club
5. Who was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award? Hattie McDaniel
6. B.B. King is noted for what type of music? Blues
7. Who was the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Actor? Sidney Poitier
8. Who won an Oscar for his role in the 1989 film Glory? Denzel Washington
9. The Four Tops, the Temptation, Martha and the Vandellas, and Mary Wells came from what major city? Detroit
10. Who was the first black to win a Pulitzer Prize? Gwendolyn Brooks
11. Who founded the magazine Ebony? John H. Johnson
12. Who was the first black woman to own a TV studio? Oprah Winfrey
13. Who is the author of The Color Purple? Alice Walker
14. Who authored the book Roots? Alex Haley
15. The Roaring Twenties introduced an unprecedented outpouring of black art, literature and music. What was this period known as? Harlem Renaissance
16. Who sold more than 20 million albums and collected more than 700,000 pounds of food for charity during the 1992 "Too Legit To Quit" tour? M.C. Hammer
17. What group was comprised of Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson? The Supremes
18. Who wrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X? Alex Haley
19. What musical genre emerged from three heavily populated black isolated areas: the Mississippi Delta, the Piedmont, and East Texas? The blues
20. Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now , a platinum hit by Gene McFadden & John Whitehead was known as what in 1979? The Black National Anthem
21. What Harlem theatre is a showcase for Black talent? The Apollo
22. Who is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Waiting to Exhale ? Terry McMillan
23. Music historians refer to what type of music as the first Black American music? Spiritual
24. Who directed an award-winning documentary about the government's response to Hurricane Katrina and ways in which the storm's aftermath affected African-Americans? Spike Lee
25. What Alex Haley novel was made into a television mini-series in 1977 and 1979? Roots
26. What music is regarded by many as a form of street poetry? Rap 27. Who was the first Black American poet to be nationally recognized for his writing? Paul Laurence Dunbar
28. Who delivered her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993? Maya Angelou
29. What type of music with an emphasis on improvisation began in New Orleans around the 1900s? Jazz
30. Who wrote the anti-slavery novel Page 6 of 72 Uncle Tom’s Cabin ? Harriet Beecher Stowe
31. Who provided the voice for Darth Vader in the movie Star Wars? James Earl Jones
32. Who won the French Legion of Honor award for her work in entertaining the World War II allies? Josephine Baker
33. What is the stage name of female rapper Dana Owens? Queen Latifah
History
34. Who was responsible for starting Black History Week? Carter G. Woodson
35. What African American was instrumental in the development of the city of Chicago? Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable
36. What is the name of the first black Greek fraternity for college students? Alpha Phi Alpha
37. What did Madam C. J. Walker invent in 1905 that was sold door-to-door? Hair care preparations for African-Americans
38. .The term “jumping the broom" refers to what? Wedding ceremony
39. How did Denmark Vessey gain his freedom in 1799? Won money in a lottery and purchased his freedom
40. What civil rights leader was co-founder of the NAACP and the Pan-African Movement? W.E.B Du Bois
41. In what state did Nat Turner lead a slave revolt that killed 55 white people? Virginia
42. In 1960, what did four Black American students do at a whites only lunch counter to protest discrimination? Staged a sit-in
43. What orator delivered a powerful anti-slavery speech in 1851 at a convention on women’s rights in Akron, Ohio? Sojourner Truth
44. What was the original reason for establishing the Black Panther Party? Self Defense
45. The flag representing the Black Movement is comprised of what three colors? Red, Black, and Green
46. Between 1915 and the mid-1920s approximately how many blacks left the rural South to urban areas of the North and the West as part of the Great Migration? one million
47. Whitney Young advocated civil rights reform through what organization? National Urban League
48. What does the acronym NAACP stand for? National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
49. What was the nickname given to Harriet Tubman because of her efforts to free the slaves? Moses 5o. Who founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity? Malcolm X
51. Who was the spiritual leader of the Nation of Islam from 1934 to 1975? Elijah Muhammad
52. On January 3, 1964, who did Time Magazine name as the first Black American “Man of the Year”? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
53. Who was the first black president of the prestigious legal publication Harvard Law Review ? Barack Obama
54. In what year did all 50 states recognize Martin Luther King Day? 1993
55. The historic “March on Washington” occurred in what year? 1963
56. How many trips did Harriet Tubman make to the South to rescue Black slaves? 19
Politics & Military
57. In 1972, who became the first woman candidate for president of the United States? Shirley Chisholm
58. Benjamin Banneker convinced what U.S. president that African Americans were intelligent and deserved to be free? Thomas Jefferson
59. What did many associate with the term "Jim Crow"? Racial segregation
60. Who sparked the Montgomery boycott of 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on the bus? Rosa Parks
61. Approximately how many different products did George Washington Carver develop from peanuts? 325
62. Who was the principal at Tuskegee Institute who recruited and hired George Washington Carver? Booker T. Washington
63. What was the name of the influential anti-slavery newspaper published by Frederick Douglass? The North Star
64. What did the Freedom Riders seek to accomplish? To integrate interstate travel and bus stations
65. What organization formed by Marcus Garvey promoted racial pride and self-improvement? Universal Negro Improvement Association
66. Barbara Jordan became the South's first African American to hold this political position. Congresswoman
67. Where did Martin Luther King, Jr., utter the immortal words, "I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream"? The Lincoln Memorial
68. In 1954, what landmark Supreme Court case did Thurgood Marshall help orchestrate? Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
69. To what position was Colin Powell appointed, making him the highest ranking military officer - and first African American and the youngest man to hold this post? Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
70. Who was the first African American Supreme Court justice? Thurgood Marshall
71. What African American union organizer helped open the door for the U.S. Congress to pass legislation outlawing job discrimination? A. Philip Randolph 72. What leading crusader against lynching founded the first black women's suffrage organization? Ida B. Wells-Barnett
73. Matthew Henson was famous for what? Reaching the North Pole first
74. Harold Washington became what city's first African American mayor? Chicago
75. Carol Moseley-Braun was the first African American woman elected to what? U.S. Senate
76. Who founded an economic program called "People United to Save Humanity" also known as Operation PUSH? Jesse Jackson
77. What amendment to the Constitution states "Slavery shall not exist in any part of the U.S."? 13th Amendment
78. Who was the first African American to attend the U.S. Naval Academy? Henry Conyers
79. Dorie Miller responded quickly during what attack, making him the first American hero of World War II? Attack on Pearl Harbor
Science & Exploration
80. Who was the first black astronaut to walk in space? Bernard Harris, Jr.
81. Charles Drew spearheaded the world's first: Blood bank program
82. Who received her pilot's license in 1922, making her the first African American woman aviator? Bessie Coleman
83. Who performed the world's first open-heart surgery? Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
84. What African American astronaut died in the 1986 space shuttle disaster? Ronald McNair
85. Who invented the three-way traffic light? Garrett A. Morgan
86. What notable scientist, astronomer, and inventor was commissioned to help layout Washington, D.C.? Benjamin Banneker
87. Who became the only African American member of the famous "Edison Pioneers," Thomas Edison's collaborators and prepared the blueprints for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone? Lewis Latimer
88. What African American patented the corn harvester? Henry T. Blair
89. What inventor was instrumental in the development of automatic lubricators for machinery? Elijah McCoy
90. Who was the first African American to head the Centers for Disease Control? David Satcher
91. Who became the first African American U.S. surgeon general? Joycelyn Elders
92. Who invented the riding saddle for horses? W.D. David
93. What scientist experimented with injections of Vitamin C in cats and dogs in order to find a cure for epilepsy? Wendell Belfield
94. St. Elmo Brady, the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry in America, received his degree from what school in 1916? University of Illinois 95. Prior to Joseph Lee‟s bread making invention, how many people were needed to produce the same amount of loaves per day? Twelve
96. These black soldiers were trained to become pilots in World War II. They were mostly assigned to Italy where they destroyed enemy planes. Who were they? Tuskegee Airmen
97. What measuring instrument was invented by Frederick Jones? Thermosta
98. Who invented the common dust mop? T.W. Steward
99. Who was the first African American cave explorer and the first guide and explorer of Mammoth Cave, the world's longest cave system? Stephen Bishop
100. The Stargell Foundation is recognized for what area of research? Sickle Cell Anemia
101. The ironing board was invented by what Black American woman? Sarah Boone
102. Who invented the automatic car washer and directional signals for cars? Richard Spikes
103. Who was the first Black American woman doctor? Rebecca Lee
104. Hyram S. Thomas was a chef who created what popular snack? Potato chip
105. What was the name of the first all-Black Medical school? Meharry Medical College
106. Who was the first Black American professionally trained as a registered nurse in the United States? Mary Mahoney
107. What black female inventor patented a home security system? Marie Brown
108. Who invented the burglar alarm? Louis Alexander
109. Who invented the electron microscope? John Coleman
110. What famous sports figure received a patent on an improved monkey wrench? Jack Johnson
111. Who invented the pencil sharpener? J.L. Love
112. Who invented the lawn mower? J.A. Burr
113. What common saying refers to a famous Black American inventor? Is it the real McCoy?
114. August Jackson created what well-known desert? Ice Cream
115. Who was known as the “Black Edison”? Granville T. Woods
116. Who developed a drug used to treat glaucoma, an eye disease? Dr. Percy Julian
117. G.T. Sampson invented what popular home appliance in 1892? Clothes dryer
Sports
118. Who was the first Black National League baseball player to hit 600 home runs? Willie Mays
119. This athlete was a running back for the Chicago Bears. He ran 1,852 yards to help the team reach the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. What was his name? Walter Payton 120. Who was the first African American to win a medal in the Winter Olympics? A Debi Thomas
121. In 1968, Arthur Ashe became the first Black American to win what major tennis tournament? U.S. Open
122. At the age of 24, this golfer won the 82nd PGA Championship on August 20, 2000. Name him. Tiger Woods
123. For what team did Jackie Robinson play in 1947? The Brooklyn Dodgers
124. The men’s basketball team won a Gold Medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. The team was known as what? the “Dream Team”
125. In 1956 Althea Gibson became the first African American woman to win a Grand Slam title in what sport? Tennis
126. The first African American NBA head coach from Kentucky, Bernie Bickerstaff coached what team from 1985-1990? Seattle SuperSonics
127. Julius Erving began his career with the ABA‟s Virginia Squires. He played in the NBA in 1976 until he retired. For what NBA team did he play? Philadelphia 76ers
128. What professional baseball player finished his career with 755 home runs? Henry Aaron
129. What female track star set world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash? Florence Griffith- Joyner
130. Who are the only two brothers to ever hold the heavyweight boxing title? Michael and Leon Spinks
131. Who was the first African American to lead the NFL in rushing? Jim Brown
132. What famous boxer was born with the name Cassius Clay? Muhammad Ali
133. Who was the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy? Ernie Davis
134. On May 25, 1935, who set world records in three different track events? Jesse Owens
135. For what baseball team did Ernie Banks play? Chicago Cubs
136. Who was known as Dr. J.? Julius Erving
137. What is basketball star Michael Jordan's nickname? Air Jordan
138. What track star won four gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics? Carl Lewis