Artists & Musicians
Trailblazers
Changemakers
Authors & Poets
Black Excellence
100

In October 2017, it was announced that Kehinde Wiley had been chosen by this former president to paint his official portrait that would later appear in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery "America's Presidents" exhibition.

Who is Barack Obama?

100

Teen CEO Moziah Bridges has appeared on Shark Tank, was inducted into the Tennessee State Museum Costume and Textile Institute in 2014, and sealed a partnership with the NBA in 2017 to make this custom accessory for all 30 teams.

What is a bow tie (or necktie)?

100

Ghuan Featherstone is the co-founder of Urban Saddles, a nonprofit outside of Los Angeles, California, that uses horsemanship to provide a safe place for youth, build community, and help people rethink the way they picture this iconic western figure.

What is a cowboy?

100

Pulitzer-Prize winning reporter and investigative journalist known for her coverage of civil rights, Nikole Hannah-Jones, recently made headlines when she chose to teach at Howard University after this institution initially refused to grant her tenure.

What is UNC-Chapel Hill?

100

Later a film director and diplomat, Sidney Poitier KBE (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) was the first African American and first Bahamian actor to win this for his role in Lilies of the Field in 1964, the same year as the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

What is an Academy Award (or Oscar)?

200

For the first time in the history of the Pulitzer Prize, this American rapper was recognized in 2018 "for distinguished musical composition" rather than an artist belonging to the classical or jazz community. You might have seen him during halftime at the Super Bowl!

Who is Kendrick Lamar?

200

The candle company model of Super Business Girl teaches children how to make money for themselves and proceeds from sales buy supplies, clothes, and food for needy children. As the co-founder and CEO, 13-year-old Asia Newson has been named "Detroit's youngest" this.

What is an entrepreneur?

200

She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first African American and first Asian American vice president.

Who is Kamala Devi Harris?

200

This American poet and activist's work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. She was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate and the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history despite growing up with a speech impediment.

Who is Amanda Gorman?

200

Best known for her talk show broadcast from Chicago, the highest-rated television program of its kind in history that ran in national syndication for 25 years, she has been dubbed the "Queen of All Media," was once the world's only Black billionaire, and is considered the greatest Black philanthropist in U.S. history.

Who is Oprah Winfrey?

300

This body-positive American singer, rapper, songwriter, and flutist, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has won three Grammy Awards, two Soul Train Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and a BET Award.

Who is Lizzo?

300

This African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records, primarily due to her homemade line of hair care products for women of color.

Who is Madam C.J. (Sarah Breedlove) Walker?

300

Maya Penn is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, animator, artist, and CEO of an eco-friendly company that she started at the age of 8 to encourage more sustainability in this industry.

What is fashion?

300

Nikki Giovanni, one of the world's most well-known African-American poets, writers, commentators, activists, and University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, received this for 54 seconds after addressing the university campus (including the then-President of the U.S.) following a mass shooting. The gunman was a student she had requested to be removed from her class.

What is a standing ovation?

300

Although she began playing competitive basketball in Kindergarten, being a child model led this American triple threat (actor/singer/dancer) to win Kids' Choice, Teen Choice, People's Choice, Satellite, Saturn, and Emmy Awards among other accolades for her roles in productions such as Spider-Man and Euphoria.

Who is Zendaya?

400

This American jazz and swing music singer, nicknamed "Lady Day", had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing. She became a target of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner for bringing awareness to racial injustice with her iconic hit song "Strange Fruit".

Who is Billie Holiday?

400

André Leon Talley was an American fashion journalist, stylist, creative director, and editor-at-large of Vogue magazine. Although he was born in Washington, D.C., and died in New York last month at the age of 73, he was raised by his grandmother in this state.

What is North Carolina?

400

In March of 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was likely the first Black person to assert her constitutional rights and really challenge the law in court when she was arrested for doing this on the bus.

What is refusing to give up her seat?

400

Author of works such as The Bluest Eye and Beloved, this writer was the first African American woman to receive a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.

Who is Toni Morrison?

400

This American producer, philanthropist, and actress is one of only 24 people in history and the only African American to receive the Triple Crown of Acting (an Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award) resulting from her work in performances such as Fences, The Help, and How to Get Away with Murder.

Who is Viola Davis?

500

Awarded since 1963 "for especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," this honor has been bestowed upon Marian Anderson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder just to name a few.

What is the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

500

Full Circle is a group of Black climbers and mountaineers about building global community and changing the narrative for how the Black community interacts with outdoor spaces. The team is training to join the more than 4,000 others (and only eight Black people among them) who have summited this peak, the highest in the world.

What is Mount Everest?

500

DeRay Mckesson is an American civil rights activist, podcaster, and former school administrator. Active in the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland, he was an early supporter of this movement.

What is Black Lives Matter?

500

After her rapist was found dead, she refused to talk from age 7 to nearly 13 years old, believing her voice could kill. This American poet, actor, writer, director, and civil rights activist went on to earn more than 50 honorary degrees and numerous awards for her work and is the first Black woman to be depicted on a U.S. quarter.

Who is Maya Angelou?

500

This American singer, jazz pianist, and actor recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. He inspired his equally talented daughter, Natalie, to re-record some of his greatest hits such as "Unforgettable" and "When I Fall in Love" by blending their vocals.

Who is Nat "King" Cole?