Historical Figures
January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968
Won the Nobel Prize in 1964
Only non-president to have a national holiday
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?
Emerged in the late 19th/early 20th century New Orleans
Blends African rhythmic traditions with blues, spirituals, and ragtime
Pioneered by known legends like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Charlie ParkerWhat is Jazz?
Lasted from the early 1500s to the 1860
Forcibly transported over 12.5 million Africans
Driven by Portugal, Britain, and France
What is the Transatlantic slave trade?
Created by George Crum, a Native American/African American chef or his sister, Kate Wicks
Created in Saratoga Springs, NY, 1853 to annoy a customer
Is a known crispy, beloved snack
What is a Potato Chip?
This person said “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
Who was Rosa Parks?
Born May 19, 1925 - February 21, 1965
Was a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam
Founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity
Who is Malcolm X?
Originated in the rural South
Combines West African, Indigenous, and European traditions
Gained popularity during the 1960s Civil Rights movement
What is Soul Food?
Lasted from 1954 to 1968
A social movement which aimed to abolish segregation and overall discrimination among African-Americans in the U.S
Methods included boycotts, sit-ins, and Marches
Invented by Alfred L. Cralle in 1897, an African American businessman
Common utensil used for ice creamAlso used to portion mashed potatoes and butter
What is the ice cream scoop?
This person said “A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things.”
WHO is Barack Obama?
Born May 8, 1753 - December 5, 1784
Considered the first African-American author of published poetry
Died from pneumonia following childbirth
Who is Phillis Wheatley?
Founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga
Week-long non-religious cultural festival from December 26 to January 1
Honors African-American heritage, family, and community
What is Kwanzaa?
Was the first formal, written protest against slavery in the American colonies
Challenged slavery based on biblical morality
Document was drafted and signed on February 18, 1688 and rediscovered in 1844
What was the 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition?
Patented by Garrett Morgan, an African American inventor and businessman from Cleveland, Ohio in 1923.
Designed to manage traffic flow and prevent accidents
Emerged from Morgan’s observation of accidents at intersections and his desire to improve public safetyWhat is the traffic light?
This person said “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
Muhammad Ali
Born September 8, 1954
First African-American child to attend a former whites-only school, William Frantz Elementary School
Inspired Norman Rockwell’s painting, “The Problem We All Live With”
Who is Ruby Bridges?
Movement lasted from 1918 to 1937
A golden age of African-American culture, literature, music, and art
Prominent figures included Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du boos, and Alain LockeWhat is the Harlem Renaissance?
Began on September 9, 1739 in the colony of South Carolina
Was the largest slave rebellion in the Southern Colonial era
Resulted in the Negro Act of 1740, increased militia patrols and white fears
What was the Stono Rebellion?
Invented by Jerry Lawson in the mid 1970s
This technology enabled the creation of software libraries for games
What is the video game cartridge?
This person said “The soul that is within me no man can degrade.”
Frederick Douglass
Born August 26, 1918 - February 24, 2020
Calculated trajectories for Alan Shepard’s 1961 flight, John Glenn’s 1962 orbit, and the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landingWho is Katherine Johnson?
Emerged from 20th-century urban communities
Combines Southern American English dialects, African language influences, and the creole languages
Is frequently stigmatized in professional or academic settWhat is African American Vernacular English?
An outbreak of racial violence that affected at least 26 cities across the U.S.
A week long race conflict was triggered by the murder of Eugene Williams in Chicago
Served as a vital foundation for the civil rights movement
What was the Red Summer of 1919?
Invented by Sarah Boone in 1892.
Made as a cheap device to used in smoothing women’s clothes
What is the ironing board?
This person said “One of the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.”
WHO is Oprah Winfrey?