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African American History Quiz

#1

Who is often referred to as the 'Father of Black History'?

Carter G. Woodson
Explanation

Carter G. Woodson is credited as the 'Father of Black History' for his pioneering efforts in promoting the study of African American history.

#2

Which African American woman is known for her contributions to the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape to freedom?

Harriet Tubman
Explanation

Harriet Tubman, also known as 'Moses,' was a key figure in the Underground Railroad, risking her life to lead enslaved people to freedom.

#3

Which African American author wrote the novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'?

Zora Neale Hurston
Explanation

Zora Neale Hurston, an influential African American author and anthropologist, wrote the novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God,' exploring themes of race, gender, and identity.

#4

Which African American athlete broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947?

Jackie Robinson
Explanation

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, becoming the first African American to play in the modern era of MLB.

#5

Who was the African American civil rights activist and labor leader known for organizing the Pullman Palace Car Company porters?

A. Philip Randolph
Explanation

A. Philip Randolph was a prominent African American civil rights leader and labor organizer, best known for his leadership in organizing the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

#6

Which event marked the end of legal segregation in the United States?

Civil Rights Act of 1964
Explanation

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

#7

Who was the first African American elected as the President of the United States?

Barack Obama
Explanation

Barack Obama made history as the first African American to be elected President of the United States in 2008.

#8

In 1955, whose refusal to give up her seat on a bus sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Rosa Parks
Explanation

Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.

#9

Which historical Supreme Court case declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education
Explanation

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

#10

Who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice, appointed in 1967?

Thurgood Marshall
Explanation

Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967.

#11

What organization, founded by Marcus Garvey, aimed to promote black economic and political power and was associated with the concept of 'Black Nationalism'?

UNIA
Explanation

The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), founded by Marcus Garvey, aimed to promote black economic and political empowerment, advocating for Black Nationalism.

#12

What was the significance of the Harlem Renaissance?

It marked a cultural, social, and artistic movement among African Americans
Explanation

The Harlem Renaissance was a period in the 1920s marked by a flourishing of African American culture, literature, music, and art.

#13

Who was the prominent African American leader and spokesperson for the Nation of Islam during the 1950s and 1960s?

Malcolm X
Explanation

Malcolm X was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, advocating for black empowerment, self-defense, and separation from white society.

#14

Who delivered the famous 'I Have a Dream' speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963?

Martin Luther King Jr.
Explanation

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech, advocating for racial equality and justice, during the March on Washington in 1963.

#15

Which African American mathematician and NASA space scientist played a crucial role in the success of the early U.S. space missions?

Katherine Johnson
Explanation

Katherine Johnson, a pioneering African American mathematician, calculated trajectories for NASA's early space missions, including the flight of John Glenn.

#16

Which African American activist and scholar wrote the influential work 'The Souls of Black Folk'?

W.E.B. Du Bois
Explanation

W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist, authored 'The Souls of Black Folk,' a seminal work on race relations in America.

#17

Who was the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?

Toni Morrison
Explanation

Toni Morrison, a renowned African American author, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 for her novels exploring African American identity and culture.

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