Politicians
She was the first African American woman to serve as United States Secretary of State, and the first African American and the first woman to serve as the President’s National Security Advisor.
Who is Condoleezza Rice
Founded by Barry Gordy in 1959, this company became one of the most successful black-owned companies in the nation, and cultivated the careers of music greats such as Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
What is Motown Records
After completing the STS-8 mission aboard the Challenger, this engineer and astronaut became the first black man in space.
Who is Guion Bluford
This writer and sociologist was co-founder of the NAACP, and was one of the most famous social activists during the Harlem Renaissance
Who was W.E.B. Du Bois
This Olympic track star won three gold medals and two silver medals, and still holds the world records in 100-meter and 200-meter races, which were set in 1988
Who was Florence "Flo-Jo" Griffith-Joyner
In 1993, this Illinois native became (and still is, to date) the first African American woman elected to the United States Senate.
Who is Carol Braun
This event lasted five days and left 43 dead and 467 injured; it is reputed to have deepened the divide between whites and blacks in Detroit, instigate a frantic spike in “white flight” out of the city, and created extremist groups within each racial group.
What was the 1967 Riots
He invited electronic control devices for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the control unit for pacemakers
Who was Otis Boykin
This was the birthplace of the Harlem Renaissance, which was called a literary and intellectual flowering that fostered a new black cultural identity in the 1920s and 19302.
What is Harlem, New York City, NY
Also a social activist and philanthropist, he was the first boxer to win the world heavyweight championship three times
Who was Muhammad Ali
In 1998, he became the first African American general in the United States Army.
Who was Benjamin Oliver Davis
In 1974, he was elected as the first black mayor of Detroit.
Who was Coleman Young
In 1993, she became both the first African-American and the first woman to serve as Surgeon General, and is famous for her controversial views on masturbation, stating "Masturbation is a part of human sexuality, and perhaps it should be taught".
Who is Jocelyn Elders
Credited as one of the founding father of the Harlem Renaissance, this playwright/poet/novelist became famous for his first published poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers".
Who was Langston Hughes
He broke the color barrier in baseball and became the first African American to play in the major leagues
Who was Jackie Robinson
In 1967, he became the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Who was Thurgood Marshall
This Detroit native refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Alabama, which spurred a nation-wide effort to end segregation of public facilities.
Who was Rosa Parks
He invented the "SuperSoaker" in 1989
Who is Lonnie Johnson
This official publication of the National Urban League employed Harlem Renaissance writers and editors, published poems and short stories by African Americans, and promoted African American literature
What is Opportunity Magazine
Following her careers in college and professional basketball, she became the first female member of the Harlem Globetrotters in 1985
This foreign policy advisor became the first African American woman to serve as an ambassador to the United Nations.
He delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech first in Detroit, before taking it to Washington.
Who was Martin Luther King Jr.
He is credited with performing the first open heart surgery on July 9th, 1853
Who was Daniel Williams
This theatre rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance, during which time it was reputed to only hire black entertainers; of these were James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday
What is The Apollo Theatre
In 1961, he broke the color barrier in golf when he became the first African American to play in the PGA tour
Who was Charlie Sifford