Activists & Justices
Who was the first African-American Justice appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court?
A. Clarence Thomas
B. Ketanji Brown Jackson
C. Thurgood Marshall
D. Charles Hamilton Houston
C. Thurgood Marshall
Which NASA mathematician’s calculations were critical to the success of early U.S. space missions and were featured in Hidden Figures?
A. Mary Jackson
B. Dorothy Vaughan
C. Katherine Johnson
D. Mae Jemison
C. Katherine Johnson
Which African-American professor is a leading scholar in African and African-American studies and hosted the TV series Finding Your Roots?
A. Cornel West
B. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
C. W.E.B. Du Bois
D. Ta-Nehisi Coates
B. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Which gymnast has won more World Championship medals than any other in history and is also known for speaking out about mental health and self-confidence?
A. Gabby Douglas
B. Simone Biles
C. Aly Raisman
D. Sunisa Lee
B. Simone Biles
Carter G. Woodson is often called the “Father of Black History Month,” and this year marks a big milestone—the anniversary of the very first celebration! In what year was Black History Week founded?
A. 1915
B. 1976
C. 1926
D. 2015
C. 1926
Before becoming a Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall was best known for his work as:
A. A U.S. Senator
B. Lead attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
C. A federal judge
D. Secretary of State
B. Lead attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal improved road safety by adding which key feature?
A. Solar-powered lights
B. A warning signal between stop and go
C. A voice alert system
D. Pedestrian countdown timers
B. A warning signal between stop and go
Which professor is best known for developing the concept of “intersectionality”?
A. Bell Hooks
B. Angela Davis
C. Kimberlé Crenshaw
D. Patricia Hill Collins
C. Kimberlé Crenshaw
Which filmmaker became the first African American to direct a Marvel movie with Black Panther and later became the first Black director to have four films earn over $100 million in the U.S.?
A. Jordan Peele
B. Spike Lee
C. Ava DuVernay
D. Ryan Coogler
D. Ryan Coogler
Dapper Dan is best known for:
A. High-fashion runway shows in Paris
B. Luxury streetwear that blends hip-hop and high fashion
C. Designing athletic shoes
D. Costume design for films
B. Luxury streetwear that blends hip-hop and high fashion
Which Supreme Court Justice is the first African-American woman to serve on the Court?
A. Kamala Harris
B. Ketanji Brown Jackson
C. Condoleezza Rice
D. Loretta Lynch
B. Ketanji Brown Jackson
Who was NASA’s first African-American female engineer?
A. Christine Darden
B. Katherine Johnson
C. Mary Jackson
D. Annie Easley
C. Mary Jackson
Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African-American to win which award?
A. National Book Award
B. Nobel Prize in Literature
C. Pulitzer Prize
D. Presidential Medal of Freedom
C. Pulitzer Prize
Which poet became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history in 2021?
A. Amanda Gorman
B. Claudia Rankine
C. Sonia Sanchez
D. Audre Lorde
A. Amanda Gorman
Which fashion designer was the first Black artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear line?
A. Dapper Dan
B. Virgil Abloh
C. Tracy Reese
D. Sean Combs
B. Virgil Abloh
Which community program was the Black Panther Party especially known for organizing in the late 1960s?
A. After-school sports leagues
B. Free breakfast programs for children
C. Public transportation services
D. College scholarship funds
B. Free breakfast programs for children
Christine Darden made major contributions to NASA in which area?
A. Rocket propulsion
B. Supersonic flight and aerodynamics
C. Computer programming
D. Space medicine
B. Supersonic flight and aerodynamics
Which poet wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
A. Gwendolyn Brooks
B. Maya Angelou
C. Nikki Giovanni
D. Rita Dove
B. Maya Angelou
Which basketball star became the first-ever WNBA Finals MVP after leading the Houston Comets to their first championship in 1997 and helped the team win four championships in a row?
A. Cynthia Cooper
B. Lisa Leslie
C. Sheryl Swoopes
D. Tamika Catchings
A. Cynthia Cooper
Cornel West is best known for his work in which academic fields?
A. Engineering and Physics
B. Philosophy, Politics, and Race Studies
C. Medicine and Biology
D. Economics and Finance
B. Philosophy, Politics, and Race Studies
Which idea became a key part of Malcolm X’s message later in his life?
A. Total political isolation
B. Strict segregation of races
C. Black self-determination and global human rights
D. Avoiding cooperation with other groups
C. Black self-determination and global human rights
In addition to developing 300 uses for peanuts, what other invention is George Washington Carver known for?
A. Synthetic rubber
B. Hair straightening products
C. Paints and dyes made from plants
D. The cotton gin
C. Paints and dyes made from plants
14. Langston Hughes is most closely associated with which literary movement?
A. The Beat Generation
B. The Harlem Renaissance
C. Modernism
D. The Black Arts Movement
B. The Harlem Renaissance
Which young pop star from South Africa became the first South African solo artist in 55 years to reach the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the youngest African artist to win a Grammy for Best African Music Performance?
A. Tems
B. Ayra Starr
C. Tyla
D. Sho Madjozi
C. Tyla
Which African-American fashion designer is known for elegant womenswear and dressing First Lady Michelle Obama?
A. Tracy Reese
B. Kerby Jean-Raymond
C. Virgil Abloh
D. Patrick Kelly
A. Tracy Reese