Music
This Houston-born artist's last two albums paid homage to genres created by Black artists, whose contributions had largely disappeared from the narrative.
Who is Beyonce?
This sitcom, which aired from 1984-1992, broke barriers by portraying an affluent Black family leading successful, middle-class lives, which was rare imagery for the time.
What is The Cosby Show?
This sneaker brand, whose first shoe was designed by Nike for a star NBA player, is now worth $3.2 billion.
What is Air Jordan?
This 6' athlete introduced braids, tattoos, and street style to the NBA. Commissioner David Stern later imposed a mandatory dress code as a result of his influence.
Who is Allen Iverson?
Artist Amy Sherald developed a unique kind of "stylized realism" in her portraits, showing her subjects with grayscale skin against a monochrome background, which shifts the viewer's focus away from the subject's skin color. She was hand-picked to paint the official portrait of this former First Lady.
Who is Michelle Obama?
This highly improvised and syncopated band music, originated by Black Creole musicians, was a hit in New Orleans and began spreading around the country in the early 1900s.
What is jazz?
With a career spanning over four decades, this actor has delivered award-winning performances in films such as Glory and Malcom X.
Who is Denzel Washington?
This popular hairstyle was once used as a way for enslaved Africans to create maps & secretly communicate with one another.
What are cornrows?
Now the most decorated gymnast in history, this athlete has been named Sportswoman of the Year and AP Athlete of the Year (twice) and has been on nearly every list of powerful sportspeople, like Forbes 30 Under 30 and TIME Most Influential.
Who is Simone Biles?
This 1982 novel by author Alice Walker won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction, and has since been adapted into a popular film and musical.
What is The Color Purple?
This song, released in 1979 by the Sugarhill Gang, was the first commercial success of rap and paved the way for the rise of hip-hop as a musical genre.
What is Rapper's Delight?
Some say that this popular 90s sitcom starring a group of young friends, was an influence for NBC's Friends.
What is Living Single?
Four-time Olympic medalist Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith Joyner helped to popularize this trend, which has become a staple around the world.
What are acrylic nails?
In 1968, he became the NBA's first Black coach. While doubling as a player and coach of the Boston Celtics, he won two championship titles in three years. He also served as a civil rights activist alongside Martin Luther King, Jr.
Who is Bill Russell?
The Fire Next Time and I am Not Your Negro are some of the many published works by this renowned writer and civil rights activist.
Who is James Baldwin?
This rapper from St. Louis, MO is responsible for the hit single & popular dance "Pop, Lock, & Drop It".
Who is Huey?
This actress has voiced hundreds of animated tv and movie characters, notably Susie Carmichael from Rugrats and Kida from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. She was also on the cast of A Different World.
Who is Cree Summer?
Lonnie G. Johnson is a former Air Force and NASA engineer who invented this popular water gun.
What is the Super Soaker?
Tennis phenom Serena Williams is famously known for doing this celebratory dance during her matches.
What is the C-Walk/Crip-Walk?
This artist is considered a ground-breaking artist in the neo-expressionism art movement. His signature was a three-pointed crown and he often incorporated poetry and words throughout his pieces.
Who is Jean-Michel Basquiat?
This instrument, quintessential to American folk and country music, is an instrument brought to the U.S. by enslaved Africans.
What is the banjo?
This Emmy-winning drama based on Alex Haley’s 1976 novel, was an eight-part miniseries depicting the reality of American slavery and racial injustice. Its final episode was viewed by more than 100 million people, representing nearly 85 percent of television households at the time.
What is Roots?
This fashion trend made famous by designer Dapper Dan involved wearing clothing items such as shirts, jackets, and hats featuring multiple printed logos and brand names.
What is monogram print AKA Logomania?
Starting in 1965, this athlete was responsible for popularizing the touchdown celebration in the NFL.
Who is Homer Jones?
Saying "bad" to refer to something good and "paper" to refer to money are examples of this dialect of English, which has been widely popularized in music and social culture.
What is African-American Vernacular English (AAVE)?