Black history Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. His debut ended over fifty years of racial segregation in Major League Baseball known as the color barrier. Robinson won the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award and later the Most Valuable Player title. Major League Baseball retired his uniform number 42 league-wide in 1997.

Wilma Rudolph achieved this record during the 1960 Rome Olympics by winning gold in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and the 4×100-meter relay. Her performance was notable because she overcame childhood polio, which required the use of leg braces for several years. Widely regarded as the fastest woman in the world, her victories significantly improved the global visibility of female track and field.

Garrett Morgan was an African American inventor who developed safety devices that changed modern transit and emergency responses. In 1914, he patented a smoke hood, an early version of the gas mask used to filter hazardous air. In 1923, Morgan patented a three-position traffic signal designed to improve intersection safety by providing a warning to drivers before they were required to stop completely.

W.E.B. Du Bois completed his doctorate in 1895, marking a historic achievement at Harvard University. As a prominent sociologist and civil rights leader, he co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to advocate for legal and social justice. His influential work, The Souls of Black Folk, explored the concept of double consciousness, describing the internal conflict experienced by marginalized groups within society.

Katherine Johnson was a NASA mathematician whose precise orbital mechanics calculations ensured the safety of early crewed spaceflights. Before his historic 1962 orbit, John Glenn requested that she personally verify the complex computer trajectories. Her extensive career also included calculating the exact flight path for the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. In 2015, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her scientific work.

George Washington Carver was a pioneering scientist at the Tuskegee Institute who revolutionized Southern agriculture. He advocated for crop rotation to restore soil nutrients depleted by intensive cotton farming. By developing hundreds of products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, he provided alternative markets for struggling farmers. His research into sustainable methods helped rural families improve their nutrition and economic stability during the early twentieth century.

Booker T. Washington established the Tuskegee Institute in 1881 to offer practical vocational training for African Americans. Born into slavery, Washington became a significant leader advocating for economic advancement through specialized labor skills. His educational model prioritized teaching trade crafts like agriculture and masonry, which aimed to provide graduates with the necessary tools for financial independence and community growth across the South.

Sidney Poitier made cinematic history by winning the Academy Award for his role as Homer Smith, a traveling handyman assisting a group of German nuns. This achievement marked a significant milestone for Black performers in Hollywood, occurring twenty-five years after Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win any Oscar. Poitier later served as a diplomat and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mae Jemison entered orbit on September 12, 1992, during the STS-47 mission. Before joining NASA, she earned degrees in chemical engineering and African American studies and later became a medical doctor. As a mission specialist, she conducted experiments on bone cell research and motion sickness. Her historic flight proved significant for representation in science and engineering fields and space exploration globally.

Charles Drew was a pioneering African American surgeon who developed innovative techniques for processing and storing blood plasma. During World War Two, he led the Blood for Britain project and later served as the first director of the American Red Cross blood bank. His research showed that plasma lasts longer than whole blood, allowing for long-distance transportation and saving countless lives on the battlefield.

Toni Morrison was an American novelist and professor who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Her literary career focused on the African American experience, particularly themes of identity and community. Before her Nobel win, she earned a Pulitzer Prize for her 1987 novel Beloved. Morrison was also a professor at Princeton University and spent years as a senior editor for other Black writers.

Shirley Chisholm was elected in 1968 to represent New York’s 12th district in the House of Representatives. As the first African American woman in Congress, she focused on child welfare and education policies. In 1972, she became the first Black candidate for a major party nomination for President. Her political career centered on advocacy for minority groups and social reform.

Alice Coachman made history at the 1948 London Games by setting an Olympic record in the high jump. Despite facing segregation and limited training facilities in the United States, she won ten consecutive national championships before her Olympic debut. King George VI personally presented her gold medal. Her victory challenged racial barriers and facilitated greater inclusion for many future African American athletes in international sports.

Gwendolyn Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950 for her work Annie Allen, becoming the first African American recipient of the award. Her writing frequently examined the lives of Black citizens in Chicago. Brooks also served as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a prestigious national role. Her career spanned decades, profoundly influencing modern American literature through her distinct storytelling and technique.

Ralph Bunche was an American diplomat and political scientist who served in the early years of the United Nations. In 1950, he became the first African American to win a Nobel Peace Prize. This honor followed his successful mediation of the 1949 Armistice Agreements, which were formal truces that helped resolve the conflict between Israel and neighboring Arab states after the 1948 regional war.

Guion Bluford was an aerospace engineer and Air Force colonel who joined NASA in 1978. On the STS-8 mission, he performed various satellite deployments and research tasks. Following this historic flight, he participated in three additional space missions before retiring in 1993. His pioneering career expanded opportunities for minority astronauts and demonstrated the vital role of mission specialists in conducting complex orbital experiments.

Jesse Owens earned four gold medals during the 1936 Berlin Games, winning the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and sprint relay. His victories took place in front of Adolf Hitler, who used the event to promote the idea that specific groups were biologically superior. By dominating these events, Owens undermined German propaganda and remains a major figure in the history of international sports.

Hattie McDaniel earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Mammy in the 1939 film Gone with the Wind. This achievement marked the first time an African American received the honor. Despite her victory, McDaniel faced significant racial discrimination, including being seated at a segregated table during the 1940 ceremony and facing criticism for predominantly playing domestic servants.

Bessie Coleman faced racial and gender discrimination in the United States, where flight schools refused to admit her. To obtain her certification, she learned French and traveled to Paris to attend the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation. In 1921, she earned her international license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, later returning to America to work as a professional stunt pilot.

Born Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents, Madam C.J. Walker built an empire by developing hair care products specifically for African American women. After experiencing hair loss, she invented specialized formulas and founded the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. Beyond business, she was an active philanthropist who funded scholarships and social causes. Her financial success and independent growth established her place in history.

Thurgood Marshall was a prominent civil rights lawyer before joining the Supreme Court. He successfully argued the landmark Brown versus Board of Education case, which ended racial segregation in public schools. President Lyndon Johnson appointed him in 1967. Marshall served for twenty-four years, focusing on individual rights and social justice. His legacy continues to influence the American legal system and civil rights laws today.