Family History
The Mattocks Family has a Family Historian.
Who is Zakiya/Joycelyn Zaid?
This Motown group told us “My Girl” was bringing sunshine on a cloudy day.
Who are The Temptations?
He is best known as the King of Pop.
Who is Michael Jackson?
In 2008, this man became the first African American elected President of the United States.
Who is Barack Obama?
Your cousin says, “I’m bringing my new potato salad recipe to the family reunion. It has raisins, apples, and a little cinnamon.”
What is Oh heck nah, bring the plates instead?
This annual celebration on June 19 honors the end of slavery in the United States and is often called America’s second Independence Day.
What is Juneteenth?
He is our oldest known ancestor. He married Sarah Bell in 1851.
Who is Alfred Mattocks?
This “Queen of Soul” demanded a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T in her 1967 hit.
Who is Aretha Franklin?
She is the youngest daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Who is Rumi Carter?
In 1983, this singer performed a dance move called the Moonwalk on national television, and everybody tried it the next day.
Who is Michael Jackson?
You walk into Grandma’s house, sit in her favorite chair, and touch the thermostat without asking.
What is Oh heck nah, you better put that back where it was?
In many African American households, this day of the week is traditionally known for a big family meal featuring dishes like fried chicken, greens, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread.
What is Sunday dinner?
The Mattocks Family has deep roots in this town in North Carolina.
What is Silverdale, NC?
This family group had everyone singing “ABC” and “I Want You Back” in the 1970s.
Who are The Jackson 5?
She is a billionaire from Barbados with a beauty empire.
Who is Rihanna Fenty?
This organization gave the world “Motown magic” with artists like Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye, forever changing popular music.
What is Motown Records?
Your uncle shows up to the cookout with lighter fluid, a Bluetooth speaker, and says, “I’m about to DJ and grill today.”
What is Oh heck nah, pick one job?
Before becoming a streaming favorite, this 1990s sitcom gave us the Banks family, the Carlton dance, and the phrase “How come he don’t want me, man?”
What is The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
Before becoming a solo superstar, Lionel Richie was the lead singer of this group known for “Easy” and “Brick House.”
Who are The Commodores?
Before becoming a billionaire entertainment mogul, this woman made history as the first Black woman to own and produce her own nationally syndicated talk show.
Who is Oprah Winfrey?
In 2018, this superhero film turned “Wakanda Forever” into a worldwide cultural celebration.
What is Black Panther?
Someone at the family reunion says, “We don’t need name tags. Everybody should know everybody.”
What is Oh heck nah, half these cousins just met today?
This famous 1988 film introduced many people to the fictional African kingdom of Zamunda and the phrase “Good morning, my neighbors!”
What is Coming to America?
This legendary singer asked “What’s Going On” in his soulful 1971 masterpiece.
Who is Marvin Gaye?
This actor played King T’Challa in the groundbreaking Marvel film Black Panther.
Who is Chadwick Boseman?
This athlete became the most decorated gymnast in history and proved greatness can come in a 4-foot-8 package.
Who is Simone Biles?
A guest leaves the gathering carrying five covered plates and says, “These are just a few leftovers.”
What is Oh heck nah, you packed tomorrow’s lunch too?
Often called the “Divine Nine,” this group represents historically Black fraternities and sororities founded to promote scholarship, service, and brotherhood/sisterhood.
What is the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)?
This 90s R&B group sang “End of the Road” and helped define the sound of the decade.
Who are Boyz II Men?
This actress became the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Monster’s Ball.
Who is Halle Berry?
She became the first Black woman to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
Who is Whoopi Goldberg?
Someone walks into the cookout and immediately asks, “Who made the macaroni and cheese?”
What is Oh heck nah, they know the rules?
At family reunions, cookouts, and weddings, crowds often line up to perform this dance created from a 2000 song by DJ Casper.
What is the Cha Cha Slide?
This artist released Channel Orange and Blonde and became one of the most influential alternative R&B voices of the 2010s.
Who is Frank Ocean?
This actor is famous for roles in Training Day, Malcolm X, Remember the Titans, and The Equalizer films.
Who is Denzel Washington?
This NASA mathematician’s calculations helped send astronauts into space and later inspired the movie Hidden Figures.
Who is Katherine Johnson?
A family member says, “I don’t dance,” right before the DJ plays “Before I Let Go.”
What is Oh heck nah, everybody’s getting up for this one?
This cultural tradition involves playful, competitive exchanges of clever insults, often beginning with jokes about someone’s mama.
What is playing the dozens?
This Grammy-winning artist gave us Ctrl and songs like “Good Days” and “Kill Bill.”
Who is SZA?
This singer and actress became the youngest person to win all four major entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Who is Jennifer Hudson?
This billionaire businessman built a media empire, created a famous Madea character, and became the first African American to independently own a major film production studio.
Who is Tyler Perry?
Somebody shows up two hours late and asks, “Why y’all start eating without me?”
What is Oh heck naw, the blessing was at 3:00?
This television show starring Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad introduced audiences to Hillman College, a fictional historically Black college.
What is A Different World?
This R&B duo, made up of two sisters, gave us albums like Ungodly Hour and became known for their powerful vocals and harmonies.
Who are Chloe x Halle?
This comedian and actor starred as multiple members of the Klump family in The Nutty Professor and voiced Donkey in Shrek.
Who is Eddie Murphy?
This tennis superstar won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and changed the game with her power, style, and dominance.
Who is Serena Williams?
A relative who hasn’t helped plan anything arrives and says, “Next year we should do this completely different.”
What is Oh heck nah, congratulations, you’re on next year’s committee?
This card game is a staple at many Black family gatherings, where “reneging” might get talked about for years.
What is Spades?
This R&B singer released Over It and Still Over It, bringing a new generation of fans to heartbreak anthems.
Who is Summer Walker?
This actor became the first African American man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field in 1964.
Who is Sidney Poitier?
In 2021, this poet became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, delivering “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration.
Who is Amanda Gorman?
A cousin joins the family group chat and immediately sends 47 messages before saying, “Sorry, catching up.”
What is Oh heck nah, somebody mute these notifications?
This person is trusted with the grill and may guard their secret seasoning like a family treasure.
Who is the Uncle on the grill?