Black History Month Scramble Since 1976, every U.S. president has offi cially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Th e event, which started as “Negro History Week,” was created by noted historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Th is year’s Black History Month Scramble focuses on Hollywood. African Americans have made signifi cant contributions throughout history on stage, in movies and as writers and directors. Test your knowledge and see how much you know about these amazing individuals. When you are fi nished, unscramble the circled James Earl Jones’ career letters to fi nd the 2015 theme for Black History Month. (Answers at of more than 60 years the bottom.) has made him known as “one of America’s most distinguishedAmerica'smost and ver- 1.ThisAfricanͲAmericanactor,playwright,director,andproducerisbestknownforhis distinguishedandversatile" rolesasMorpheusintheMatrixsciencefictionfilmtrilogy,IkeTurnerintheTina satile”actorsand actors"one ofandthe “one TurnerbiopicWhat’sLoveGottoDoWithItandasFuriousStylesinBoyzntheHood. ofgreatest the greatestactorsin Americanactors in history."  American history.” 



2.ThisHollywoodactressandformerfashionmodelwonanAcademyAwardforBestActressin2002for herperformanceintheromanticdramaMonster'sBall,becomingthefirstAfricanAmericantowinfor thatcategory.     



3.TheColorPurplewasanepistolarynovelbythisAmericanauthor,whowonthe1983PulitzerPrizefor FictionandtheNationalBookAwardforFiction.Thenovelwaslateradaptedintoafilmandmusicalof thesamename.  



4.HeisaBahamianͲAmericanactor,filmdirector,authoranddiplomat.In1964,hebecamethefirstblack persontowinanAcademyAwardforBestActor,forhisroleinLiliesoftheField.  



5.ThisAfricanͲAmericanactress,singer,anddancerisperhapsbestknownforbeingthefirstblackactress tobenominatedforanAcademyAwardforBestActress,forherperformanceinthe1954filmCarmen Jones.  

 6.ThisAfricanͲAmericanactorisknownfortheawardͲwinningchildren’stelevisionseries,Reading Rainbow,airedbyPBSfrom1983until2009,thatencouragedreadingamongchildren.Heisalsoknown forhisperformancesinRoots,StarTrekandPerception.  



7.SheisbestknownforherroleasMammyinGonewiththeWindforwhichshewontheAcademyAward forBestSupportingActress,makingherthefirstAfricanAmericantowinanAcademyAwardin1939.        

 8.ThisAfricanͲAmericantelevisionandstageactressandsinger’ssuccessfulcareerhasspannednearlysix decades.SheplayedtheroleofDominiqueDeverauxonthepopularprimetimesoapopera,Dynasty.  

 9.ThisAfricanͲAmericanfilmactorisbestrememberedforhisAcademyAwardͲwinningroleasRodTidwell inCameronCrowe'sJerryMaguire.      

 10.ThisAfricanͲAmericanactor,filmdirectorandnarrator,hasreceivedAcademyAwardnominationsforhis performancesinStreetSmart,DrivingMissDaisy,TheShawshankRedemptionandInvictus,andwonthe BestSupportingActorOscarin2005forMillionDollarBaby.  

 Unscramble the circled letters to fi nd the 2015 theme for Black History Month! ScrambleWord:

       









10) Morgan Freeman. Scramble Answer: A Century of Black Life, History and Culture and History Life, Black of Century A Answer: Scramble Freeman. Morgan 10)

Dandridge; 6) LaVar Burton; 7) Hattie McDaniel; 8) Diahann Carroll; 9) Cuba Gooding, Jr.; Jr.; Gooding, Cuba 9) Carroll; Diahann 8) McDaniel; Hattie 7) Burton; LaVar 6) Dandridge;

1) Laurence Fishburne; 2) Halle Berry; 3) Alice Walker; 4) Sidney Poitier; 5) Dorothy Dorothy 5) Poitier; Sidney 4) Walker; Alice 3) Berry; Halle 2) Fishburne; Laurence 1) Answers:

Created by Karen M. Winston, 2015, for AgeWise.