Black Firsts
Black Inventions
Indiana
Entertainment, Art, Sports
All that Jazz
100
Though he died before his first trip into outer space, this person was the first trained and selected African-American Astronaut in 1967.
Who is Major Robert H Lawrence?
100
This person invented 118 uses for sweet potato and 75 uses for the pecan.
Who is George Washington Carver?
100
Moved here in 1910 and opened a factory and beauty school
Who is Madame C.J. Walker
100
First African-American to win a medal at the winter Olympic Games.
Who is Debbie Thomas
100
Chuck Berry was known for what dance?
What is the duck walk
200
The first African-American Woman to receive a Pulitzer prize for fiction.
Who is Alice Walker
200
This person invented the Super Soaker.
Who is Lonnie Johnson?
200
The only all black high school at one point
What is Crispus Attucks High School
200
Louis Armstrong was known by what other name?
Who is Satchmo?
200
Notorious for their Afros, dark apparel, and willingness for armed self-defense, but their manifesto for change launched programs that benefited black communities.
What is the Black Panther Party
300
This person founded the first black professional basketball team.
Who is Robert J. Douglas?
300
This person was the first African-American to receive a patent. The patent was for dry scoring (better known as dry cleaning).
Who is Thomas Jennings
300
The longest continuously operated African-American newspaper
What is The Indianapolis Recorder
300
Her second book, Annie Allen, won the 1950 Pulitzer prize, the first time a book by a black poet had won that coveted distinction
Who is Gwendolyn Brooks
300
This individual was a soldier but was only able to receive widows pension.
Who is Harriet Tubman?
400
This person was the first to successfully separate two twins conjoined at the back of the head.
Who is Dr. Benjamin Carson Sr.?
400
This person co-invented and co-patented the gamma electric cell, which created a foundation for cell-phone technology.
Who is Dr. Henry T. Sampson?
400
This street once symbolized pride, perseverance and progress - the centerpiece of black Indianapolis business, culture and society
What is Indiana Avenue
400
The "King of Pop," Michael Jackson, co-wrote this single with Motown legend Lionel Richie. The track became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
What is We Are the World
400
This clinical experiment/study was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service to study the natural progression of a particular untreated STD. Black men were offered free medical care, we're not told they had the STD, and we're not treated for the disease.
What is the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
500
This person was the first live actor to be hired by Disney and he played the role of Uncle Remus.
Who is James Baskett?
500
Dr. George Carruthers was head of the ultra-violet measurements branch of the Naval Research Laboratory, he was instrumental in the design of this device.
What is lunar surface ultra-violet cameras?
500
Henry Jackson Lewis was the first African-American political cartoonist and in 1889 he started working for one of Indianapolis' first newspapers.
What is The Freeman?
500
One of the world's most important blues singers, songwriters and musicians, influencing popular rock acts like the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.
Who is Chester Arthur "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett
500
Won the first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance but boycotted the awards because the category was barred from television.
Who is Will Smith (The Fresh Prince)