Inventors
Science & Technology
Science & Technology
Katherine Johnson (1918–2020) was a pioneering African American NASA mathematician and "human computer" renowned for her extraordinary manual calculations of orbital mechanics. Her precise work was critical to this spaceflight.
What is the Mercury OR Gemini OR Apollo mission?
Michael Jackson is widely considered the most globally recognized Black musician of all time. His 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling record in history, leading to this "royal" nickname.
What or who is the "King of Pop"?
This parade is taking place this Sunday in Downtown Oakland (2/22/26).
What is the Black Joy Parade?
This is the theme for this year's Black History Month.
What is Black Beyond Borders: Global Influence, Innovation, and Imagination?
This american civil rights activist, politician (including presidential candidate), and ordained Baptist minister, a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and James Bevel during the civil rights movement, became one of the most prominent civil rights leaders of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Who is Rev. Jesse Jackson?
This invention, crucial for traffic safety, was created by inventor Garrett Morgan in the early 20th century.
What is the traffic light?
This singer, songwriter, actress, model, dancer, choreographer, and music video director's accolades include a Golden Globe Award and two Critics Choice Awards, along with nominations for an Academy Award, two Actor Awards, a British Academy Film Award, eight NAACP Image Awards and a Grammy Award.
Who is Teyana Taylor?
This independent rapper and entrepreneur from Vallejo, has built a massive following and earned millions by bypassing traditional music industry models. His hit song "I'm from the Bay" is making its way to partner with a High School band near you.
Who is LaRussell?
This term describes the voluntary and involuntary movement of Africans and their descendants to various parts of the world.
What is the Black Diaspora?
Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his efforts in resolving to end apartheid in this country.
What is South Africa?
Brian Fox is a pioneering American computer programmer best known for creating the GNU Bash shell and developing the first interactive, web-based online banking system in the U.S. in 1995 for this bank.
What is Wells Fargo?
Two-time olympic champion, Laila Edwards, is the first Black woman on the U.S. women’s Olympic team in this sport.
What is (ice) hockey?
This Oakland musican won their first-ever Grammy Awards, securing wins for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for their hit single that references folded clothing.
Who is Kehlani?
Song: Folded
Black faith leaders organized a 40-day boycott beginning in March 2025 after a major retailer ended key diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives — including its REACH strategy and supplier diversity goals — prompting calls from organizers for the company to restore those commitments. This retailer was boycotted.
What is Target?
Ralph Bunche is the first African American to be awarded this globally recognized prize?
What is the Nobel Peace Prize?
Gladys West is a mathematician inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame by the United States Air Force in 2018 because of her contributions to this technology.
What is Global Positioning System? or What is GPS?
Elana Meyers Taylor is the most decorated Black athletes in Winter Olympic history. She competes in this sport.
What is bobsled?
This politician has been the U.S. representative for California's 12th congressional district since January 2025.
Who is Lateefah Simon?
Yasuke, served the 16th-century warlord Oda Nobunaga in Japan. Renowned for his immense strength, towering stature (approx. 6 feet 2 inches), and loyalty, he became a trusted retainer, bodyguard, and weapon-bearer. Yasuke is famous for being the first foreign-born person to achieve this status in japanese military nobility.
What is a Samurai?
He is known as Black Samurai.
Virgil Abloh is a Chicago-born designer, entrepreneur, stylist, and DJ who became the first African-American artistic director of this French fashion house menswear collections in 2018.
What is Louis Vuitton?
Roy C. Clay, mathematician and entrepreneur is often called the “Godfather of Black Silicon Valley.” In the 1960s, he developed Hewlett Packard’s first of this technology/device.
What is a minicomputer?
Note: He later led HP's R&D group, where he famously pioneered recruiting engineers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
These cultural traditions and art forms with strong roots in African culture were first introduced to Greek life in the early 1900s by Alpha Kappa Alpha and the Divine 9.
What are stepping and strolling?
*Stepping is the art of creating a rhythmic beat utilizing the entire body— clapping or stomping or both. On the other hand, strolling is a synchronized modern dance style that many fraternities and sororities have come to embrace.
The exhibit Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain focuses on Black displacement and resistance is currently on display at this museum.
What is Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)?
Anna Julia Cooper, was an educator, author, and activist, wrote this "The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity”. The quote originates from her 1892 book, "A Voice from the South" and is prominently featured on this official, government-issued travel document.
What is a US passport?
Bayard Rustin was an American political activist and prominent leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. Rustin was the principal organizer with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 of this event.
What is the March on Washington?
Also known as of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.