Black Historical Figures
BLACK INVENTORS & INNOVATIONS
ICONS OF CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Iconic Black Moments
100

This abolitionist escaped slavery and helped others escape through the Underground Railroad.

Who is Harriet Tubman?

100

He invented the modern traffic light and the gas mask.

Who is Garrett Morgan?

100

Known as the “Queen of Soul.”

Who is Aretha Franklin?

100

He delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.

Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?

100

At the 2022 Oscars, this actor slapped a comedian after a joke about his wife, sparking a global conversation on celebrity, respect, and accountability.

Who is Will Smith?

200

He was the first Black president of the United States.

Who is Barack Obama?

200

Though he did not invent peanut butter, this scientist developed hundreds of uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes to help improve Southern agriculture.

Who is George Washington Carver?

200

Who is considered to be the queen of rap?

Who is Nicki Minaj?

200

This group advocated for Black power and self-defense in the 1960s.

What is the Black Panther Party?

200

In 2009, this rapper interrupted a singer’s MTV VMA acceptance speech, shouting, “I’mma let you finish!”

Who is Kanye West?

300

This lawyer argued the Brown v. Board of Education case before the Supreme Court.

Who is Thurgood Marshall?

300

She created hair-care products and became one of America’s first self-made female millionaires.


Who is Madam C.J. Walker?

300

This Brooklyn-born rapper became one of the most influential figures in 1990s hip-hop.

Who is The Notorious B.I.G.?

300

This group, founded in 1909, fought for civil rights, voting rights, and against racial discrimination in the United States.

What is the NAACP?

300

During a 2021 interview, this NBA star went viral for saying, “I don’t run it,” sparking countless memes and social media jokes.

Who is LaMelo Ball?

400

She was a mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts to space at NASA.

Who is Katherine Johnson?

400

This engineer invented the Super Soaker water gun.

Who is Lonnie Johnson?

400

This Harlem Renaissance poet and playwright celebrated Black life and culture in America.

Who is Langston Hughes?

400

This group advocated for Black power and self-defense in the 1960s.

What is the Black Panther Party?

400

This rapper and actor popularized the dismissive phrase “Bye, Felicia” in the 1995 movie Friday, which later became a viral meme.

Who is Ice Cube?

500

This Pan-African leader and founder of the UNIA promoted Black pride and self-reliance.

Who is Marcus Garvey?

500

This 19th-century African American chef is credited with perfecting modern ice cream recipes in the U.S.

Who is Augustus Jackson?

500

This artist’s album Lemonade explored Black identity, womanhood, and history.

Who is Beyoncé?

500

Her arrest as a teenager for refusing to move on a bus became a key legal precedent in the fight against segregation.

Who is Claudette Colvin?

500

This rapper made headlines for claiming he is “the greatest artist alive” on social media, creating viral jokes and memes.

Who is Kanye West?

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