African American history is rich and full of fascinating stories, achievements, and cultural milestones. From inventors and scientists to musicians and activists, African Americans have made a lasting impact on society. Trivia about African American history not only teaches us about these remarkable individuals but also celebrates their contributions to our world. It’s a fun way to learn while honoring the legacies of those who came before us.
Today, we will share some interesting and surprising trivia that highlights the incredible creativity, resilience, and strength of African Americans throughout history. These facts will touch on various fields like art, science, sports, and civil rights. Whether you’re a trivia expert or just looking for some fun facts to share with friends, this collection will inspire and inform. Let’s shine a light on these important figures and moments that have shaped our culture and society!
African American Trivia
Heroes of the African American Legacy
1. Who was the first African American woman to become a self-made millionaire? (Answer: Madam C.J. Walker)
2. What famous African American figure led the civil rights movement and delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech? (Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.)
3. Which African American scientist is known for his work with peanuts and crop rotation? (Answer: George Washington Carver)
4. Who was the first African American woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature? (Answer: Toni Morrison)
5. What prominent African American abolitionist was known for his powerful speeches against slavery? (Answer: Frederick Douglass)
6. Who was the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice? (Answer: Thurgood Marshall)
7. Which noted African American composer is known for jazz works such as “Rhapsody in Blue”? (Answer: George Gershwin, though he’s Jewish American, it’s worth noting the collaborative jazz styles)
8. Who was one of the first African American women to be a national female pilot, and what was her name? (Answer: Bessie Coleman)
9. What African American activist is known for her fight against lynching and co-founding the NAACP? (Answer: Ida B. Wells)
10. Who is known for founding the Black Panther Party in 1966? (Answer: Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale)
Artistic Expressions in African American History
1. Who painted “The Migration Series,” depicting the migration of African Americans to northern cities? (Answer: Jacob Lawrence)
2. What famous African American singer was known as the “Lady Day”? (Answer: Billie Holiday)
3. Which artist is known for the quilt-making tradition in African American culture? (Answer: Faith Ringgold)
4. Who wrote the famous poem “Still I Rise”? (Answer: Maya Angelou)
5. What influential African American playwright wrote “A Raisin in the Sun”? (Answer: Lorraine Hansberry)
6. Who is considered the father of the blues? (Answer: W.C. Handy)
7. Which African American dancer was famous for her performance of “The Banana Dance”? (Answer: Josephine Baker)
8. Who created the iconic art piece “The Problem We All Live With”? (Answer: Norman Rockwell)
9. What trailblazing African American musician was a key figure in the creation of bebop jazz? (Answer: Charlie Parker)
10. Which African American sculptor created works that focused on themes of family and heritage? (Answer: Elizabeth Catlett)
Innovations by African American Pioneers
1. Who invented the first successful gas mask? (Answer: Garrett Morgan)
2. What African American man invented the three-way traffic light? (Answer: Garrett Morgan)
3. Who invented the first home security system? (Answer: Alice Parker)
4. Who is known for developing the process to create the first black light? (Answer: Patricia Bath)
5. What African American inventor created the modern toilet? (Answer: Thomas Elkins)
6. Who invented the hairbrush? (Answer: George T. Sampson)
7. Who invented the automatic elevator doors? (Answer: Alexander Miles)
8. What African American scientist developed a method to create a vaccine for a common viral disease? (Answer: Dr. Charles Drew)
9. Who invented the folding cabinet bed? (Answer: Sarah E. Goode)
10. Who created an improved, more efficient way to produce peanut butter? (Answer: Marcellus Gilmore Perkins)
African Americans in Sports: Breaking Barriers
1. Who was the first African American to play Major League Baseball? (Answer: Jackie Robinson)
2. What African American golfer was the first to win a major tournament in 1964? (Answer: Charlie Sifford)
3. Who was the first African American heavyweight boxing champion? (Answer: Jack Johnson)
4. Who is known as the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal? (Answer: Hattie Carwell)
5. Which African American gymnast won six gold medals in the 1996 Olympic Games? (Answer: Dominique Dawes)
6. Who is regarded as the first African American to compete in a NASCAR race? (Answer: Wendell Scott)
7. What famous African American athlete ran the 1936 Berlin Olympics and protested against racism? (Answer: Jesse Owens)
8. Who was the first African American to compete in tennis at Wimbledon? (Answer: Althea Gibson)
9. Who became the first African American woman to play on the U.S. Olympic Hockey team? (Answer: Angela Ruggiero)
10. Who was the first African American woman to win a Gold Medal in track and field? (Answer: Alice Coachman)
Trailblazers in African American Education
1. Who was the first African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University? (Answer: W.E.B. Du Bois)
2. What African American woman established the first private school for African American children in 1885? (Answer: Nanny Helen Burroughs)
3. Who was the first African American woman to earn a PhD in mathematics? (Answer: Evelyn Boyd Granville)
4. Who founded the first historically black university? (Answer: Cheyney University)
5. Who was the first African American to serve as president of a major U.S. university? (Answer: Dr. Charles H. Thompson)
6. Who opened the first junior college for African Americans in the U.S.? (Answer: Dr. Richard R. Wright)
7. Who was known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement” and was actively involved in education? (Answer: Rosa Parks)
8. Who was the first African American woman to head a federal agency? (Answer: Mary McLeod Bethune)
9. Who founded the first African American-owned and operated insurance company? (Answer: The Afro-American Insurance Company)
10. Who was the first African American female college president in the United States? (Answer: Dr. Janet E. Williams)
African American Contributions to Science and Medicine
1. Who was the first African American to receive a medical degree in the United States? (Answer: James McCune Smith)
2. What African American physician founded the first hospital for African Americans? (Answer: Dr. Daniel Hale Williams)
3. Who is known for her pioneering work in the field of surgery and becoming the first black woman doctor? (Answer: Rebecca Lee Crumpler)
4. Who discovered the importance of blood plasma for transfusions? (Answer: Charles Drew)
5. Who is known for extensive research on the impacts of racial stress on health? (Answer: Dr. David R. Williams)
6. Who was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States? (Answer: Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler)
7. Who developed the first successful treatment for sickle cell anemia? (Answer: Dr. F. Dudley McGhee)
8. Who was the first African American woman to practice medicine in the southern United States? (Answer: Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune)
9. What scientist is known for synthesizing new pharmaceuticals? (Answer: Patricia Bath)
10. Who developed the technique for brain surgery known as transfrontal leucotomy? (Answer: Dr. John L. Hunt)
Echoes of the African American Civil Rights Movement
1. Who was the first African American to enroll at the University of Alabama, facing severe opposition? (Answer: Autherine Lucy)
2. What historical event took place in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 to promote voting rights? (Answer: The Selma-to-Montgomery marches)
3. Who was the first African American woman to run for president in the U.S.? (Answer: Shirley Chisholm)
4. What landmark court case ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional? (Answer: Brown v. Board of Education)
5. Who was the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize? (Answer: Ralph Bunche)
6. Who was instrumental in organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott? (Answer: Rosa Parks)
7. What civil rights leader founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference? (Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.)
8. Who was the first African American to chair a major political party in the U.S.? (Answer: Ron Brown)
9. What was the significance of the “Freedom Summer” of 1964? (Answer: It aimed to increase voter registration among African Americans in the South)
10. Who said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”? (Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.)
Final Thoughts
We have explored an incredible collection of trivia celebrating African American history. From heroes and innovators to artists and civil rights leaders, the contributions of African Americans have shaped our world in countless ways. These trivia questions highlight the diversity of achievements across various fields, reminding us of the resilience, creativity, and strength demonstrated throughout history. We hope you enjoyed this trivia and learned something valuable along the way.
There is so much more to discover! If you’re interested in learning about more unique topics, check out Black Trivia or delve deeper into the life of an iconic leader with MLK Trivia. Happy exploring!