Black history is American history. It's filled with stories of courage, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements. Whether you’re hosting a game night, a trivia night, or are bored on a car ride and you want to have fun and learn at the same time, what better way to do it than to learn about Black history? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of key figures, events, and milestones in African American history.
Trailblazers and Firsts
Many African Americans have broken barriers and achieved remarkable firsts in various fields.
- Sidney Poitier made history as the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film "Lilies of the Field" in 1963.
- In 2002, Halle Berry made history by becoming the first African American woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film "Monster's Ball".
- Charlotte E. Ray was the first African American woman to graduate from Harvard Law School. She made history by breaking barriers and paving the way for other women of color to pursue legal education.
- Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967 and served on the Court for 24 years.
- Guion Bluford was the first African American to fly in space, making history with his journey beyond Earth's atmosphere. His achievement not only broke barriers but also inspired many others to pursue their dreams of space exploration.
- Ralph Bunche was the first African American to win a Nobel Prize for Peace in 1950 for his mediation efforts in the Middle East. His work in negotiating the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors was instrumental in ending the first Arab-Israeli war.
- James Earl Jones was the first African American to win a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in "The Great White Hope" in 1969.
- August Wilson was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama for his play "Fences" in 1987. Wilson's work is known for capturing the African American experience and showcasing the complexities of race, family, and society in America.
- Wynton Marsalis was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for music due to his significant contributions to jazz and classical music.
- Hilton Als was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for criticism due to his exceptional talent, insight, and contributions to the field of criticism.
Pulitzer Prize Winners
African Americans have also been recognized for their excellence in journalism, literature, and the arts with Pulitzer Prizes.
- Ralph Bunche was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism. He was a prominent political scientist, diplomat, and mediator who played a key role in the United Nations and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the United Nations in 1950.
- John Hope Franklin was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for history for his groundbreaking work in the field.
- David Levering Lewis was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for biography for his work on W.E.B. Du Bois.
- Emmet Gowin was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for photography. His groundbreaking work in capturing intimate portraits and landscapes set him apart in the world of photography, earning him this prestigious award.
- Alice Dunnigan became the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1950.
- George L. Leonard Pitts Jr. was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for local reporting.
- Leonard Pitts Jr. was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for commentary, making him a trailblazer in the field of journalism.
- Doug Marlette was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. He was known for his sharp wit and ability to tackle complex social and political issues through his cartoons.
- David Hume Kennerly was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography. He achieved this milestone in recognition of his exceptional talent and skill in capturing impactful and newsworthy moments through his photography.
- Gordon Parks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for feature photography due to his groundbreaking work as a photographer, filmmaker, and writer.
- Eugene Robinson was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, showcasing his exceptional talent and skill in journalism.
- Thomas L. Friedman, won the award while working for The New York Times, and was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting.
- Eugene Robinson, a journalist who worked for The Washington Post, was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting.
Black History Month Trivia Questions
Here are some trivia questions to test your knowledge of Black history:
- Where did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous "I Have a Dream" speech? (Washington, D.C.)
- What year did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. receive the Nobel Peace Prize? (1964)
- What was the name of the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., in 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech? (The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom)
- Madam C.J. Walker is known as the first Black self-made millionaire.
Black Artists/Musicians Trivia Questions
Here are some trivia questions about Black artists and musicians:
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- What is the name of the influential record label founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. in 1959 and launched a unique musical styling of the same name? (Motown)
- Who was the first Black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1996?
Black History Facts
Here are some facts about Black history:
- The first slave ship to arrive in the United States is recorded in 1619.
- Sojourner Truth escaped to freedom in 1826 and sued her former owner for her child’s freedom. She was the first slave to successfully sue a white man for a slave’s freedom.
- Tulsa, Oklahoma is home to what is widely considered one of the biggest race riots in United States history. It took place in a neighborhood known as Greenwood in 1921.
- Slave Codes were created during slavery. The slaves had to follow the rules of those who owned them, but also had to follow the restrictions applied to them by the states as well.
- The Ku Klux Klan, also known as the KKK was created in response to the Civil War results.
- The Black Panther Party organized an effort to successfully feed as many hungry children as possible, reaching up to 10,000 children a day.
- Moses Fleetwood Walker is officially credited as the first African American to play Major League Baseball, joining the league in 1883.
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a gospel artist who rose to prominence in the 1930’s. She pushed the boundaries of gospel music with her unique style of heavy distortion of her electric guitar.
- The Little Rock Nine refers to the nine students that integrated a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.
- George Washington Carver is known for peanut butter, but really he was born into slavery, became a botanist and staunch environmentalist.
Madame C.J. Walker
Madame C.J. Walker created, manufactured, and distributed a line of hair care and beauty products, specifically designed for African American women, which took her from very humble beginnings to being acknowledged as the first self-made female American in America. As a young woman, Sarah Breedlove suffered from a condition that resulted in her loosing much of her hair. When she discovered that the traditional remedies of the time were ineffective in addressing her problem, she started experimenting with different solutions and concoctions until discovering one that solved her problem. This lead to the mass production of her formula which she marketed. Along with her husband Charles Joseph Walker, they traveled the country, selling her products door to door and at social functions and gatherings. She marketed her product using her married name, forming the Madame C.J. Walker Company. She trained other African American women in her process, opened a beauty school, and hired hundreds of women throughout the country as her sales agents, providing them with the opportunity to earn a decent income at a time when there were few jobs available for Black women other than domestic service jobs. Madame C.J. Walker was recognized as a successful entrepreneur, a generous philanthropist, and a political activist for the rights of women throughout the nation.
We encourage you to celebrate Black History Month in a way that makes sense for you and your team, in a respectful, tactful, and inclusive way. Black history is American history, and it's important to learn about and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to our society.
Learn more about African American history in Austin, then try this online quiz and test your knowledge.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor? | Sidney Poitier |
| Who was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress? | Halle Berry |
| Who was the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States? | Thurgood Marshall |
| Who was the first African American to fly in space? | Guion Bluford |
| Who was the first African American to win a Nobel Prize for Peace? | Ralph Bunche |
The 'Self Made' story of American millionaire Madam C.J. Walker
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