Food
This crispy, golden dish now a comfort food staple was perfected by enslaved cooks in the American South who combined African seasoning traditions with European frying techniques.
What is fried chicken?
In 1947, this baseball player broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Who is Jackie Robinson?
In 1955, this woman’s refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama sparked a yearlong bus boycott and became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement.
Who is Rosa Parks?
This Houston-born superstar made history as the most awarded artist in Grammy history.
Who is Beyoncé?
Hampton University’s athletic teams are known by this fierce nickname, representing strength and determination on and off the field.
What are the Pirates?
George Washington Carver revolutionized Southern agriculture with hundreds of inventions using this humble legume, from flour to milk.
What is the peanut?
Known as “The Greatest,” this heavyweight boxing champion was famous for saying he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
Who is Muhammad Ali?
Known for his “I Have a Dream” speech, this reverend led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and became the most visible spokesperson of the Civil Rights Movement.
Who is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?
This 2018 Marvel film became the first superhero movie with a predominantly Black cast and won three Academy Awards, celebrating African culture and power.
What is Black Panther?
NASA’s first Black female engineer and Hampton alumna.
Who is Mary W. Jackson?
Often served at Sunday dinners, this sweet potato-based dessert became a soul food favorite and reflects West African roots where yams were a dietary staple.
What is sweet potato pie?
This tennis star became the first Black athlete, male or female, to win a Grand Slam title, paving the way for generations of players.
Who is Althea Gibson?
A powerful speaker and member of the Nation of Islam, he advocated for Black pride and self-determination before founding the Organization of Afro-American Unity.
Who is Malcolm X?
This author’s 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain and his essays in The Fire Next Time confronted race, identity, and faith in America.
Who is James Baldwin?
This sacred land is only allowed to be walked on by graduate Hampton University students.
What is Ogden Circle?
Created by African American chefs in New Orleans, this spicy rice dish with sausage, seafood, and vegetables has roots in West African jollof rice.
What is jambalaya?
In 2018, this gymnast made history as the most decorated gymnast in World Championship history, known for her incredible power and gravity-defying skills.
Who is Simone Biles?
This Harvard-educated scholar co-founded the NAACP in 1909 and wrote The Souls of Black Folk, where he introduced the concept of “double consciousness.”
Who is W.E.B Du Bois?
Known for bold prints and empowering designs, this fashion icon became the first Black designer to head a major luxury brand when he joined Louis Vuitton’s menswear in 2018.
Who is Virgil Abloh?
Before it was Hampton University, the school was called this, named after its mission to educate newly freed African Americans.
What is Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute?
This creamy, cheesy dish now a holiday must-have was first elevated in America by enslaved chefs trained in European cooking techniques like James Hemings, Thomas Jefferson’s chef.
What is macaroni and cheese?
This NBA legend, known for his signature shoe, remains one of the highest scorers in basketball history.
Who is Michael Jordan?
Founded in 2013 after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer, this global movement calls for an end to systemic racism and police violence against Black people.
What is Black Lives Matter?
A multi-talented artist, he won both an Emmy and Grammy for his politically charged hit “This Is America,” and also starred in the TV series Atlanta.
Who is Donald Glover (Childish Gambino)?
This historic building on Hampton’s campus was constructed by students in 1870 and served as a school for Native Americans; today, it stands as a National Historic Landmark and a symbol of the university’s legacy.
What is the Hampton University Museum?