Black History Trivia
Black History trivia invites readers to explore major figures, pivotal events, and lasting cultural contributions from across the African diaspora. From civil rights milestones to breakthroughs in arts, science, sports, and politics, the topic offers a family-friendly way to test knowledge while gaining historical perspective. Its tone can range from easy and funny to more challenging questions rooted in well-documented history.
Easy Black History Trivia
13 questions
These easy Black History trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.
Question 1
What holiday marks June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas?
Answer: Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas.
Question 2
Who broke Major League Baseballās modern color line with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947?
Answer: Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseballās modern color line with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Question 3
Which civil rights figure refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955?
Answer: Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955.
Question 4
Who delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington in 1963?
Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington in 1963.
Question 5
Who became the first Black president of the United States in 2008?
Answer: Barack Obama
Barack Obama became the first Black president of the United States in 2008.
Question 6
Which woman is best known for leading enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad?
Answer: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman is best known for leading enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Question 7
Who published the autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" in 1845?
Answer: Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass published "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" in 1845.
Question 8
Who became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice in 1967?
Answer: Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice in 1967.
Question 9
What major Supreme Court case was decided in 1954?
Answer: Brown v. Board of Education
The U.S. Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Question 10
The Civil Rights Act was signed into law in what year?
- A.1964
- B.1954
- C.1963
- D.1965
Answer: 1964
The Civil Rights Act was signed into law in 1964.
Question 11
The Voting Rights Act became law in which year?
- A.1963
- B.1964
- C.1968
- D.1965
Answer: 1965
The Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965.
Question 12
Who became the first Black U.S. senator in 1870?
Answer: Hiram Revels
Hiram Revels of Mississippi became the first Black U.S. senator in 1870.
Question 13
Who became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968?
Answer: Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968.
Black History Family Trivia
12 questions
These family Black History trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.
Question 1
Who wrote the 1969 memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"?
Answer: Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou wrote the 1969 memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.".
Question 2
Which author wrote the book "Roots," published in 1976?
- A.James Baldwin
- B.Ralph Ellison
- C.Richard Wright
- D.Alex Haley
Answer: Alex Haley
Alex Haley wrote "Roots," published in 1976.
Question 3
"Native Son," published in 1940, was written by which author?
- A.Ralph Ellison
- B.James Baldwin
- C.Alex Haley
- D.Richard Wright
Answer: Richard Wright
Richard Wright wrote the novel "Native Son," which was published in 1940.
Question 4
Who is the author of the 1952 novel "Invisible Man"?
Answer: Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison wrote the novel "Invisible Man," published in 1952.
Question 5
Which writer created "Their Eyes Were Watching God" in 1937?
- A.Zora Neale Hurston
- B.Lorraine Hansberry
- C.Maya Angelou
- D.Gwendolyn Brooks
Answer: Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God," published in 1937.
Question 6
Who wrote the play "A Raisin in the Sun," first performed in 1959?
Answer: Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry wrote the play "A Raisin in the Sun," first performed in 1959.
Question 7
Published in 1963, "The Fire Next Time" was written by whom?
- A.James Baldwin
- B.Alex Haley
- C.Richard Wright
- D.Ralph Ellison
Answer: James Baldwin
James Baldwin published "The Fire Next Time" in 1963.
Question 8
Which author wrote the 1982 novel "The Color Purple"?
Answer: Alice Walker
Alice Walker wrote the novel "The Color Purple," published in 1982.
Question 9
Who wrote the novel "Kindred," published in 1979?
- A.Zora Neale Hurston
- B.Octavia E. Butler
- C.Alice Walker
- D.Maya Angelou
Answer: Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler wrote the novel "Kindred," published in 1979.
Question 10
Which dancer founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958?
Answer: Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958.
Question 11
Playful one: whose dance company shares the founder's own name in the title, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater?
Answer: Alvin Ailey
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded by Alvin Ailey in 1958.
Question 12
Which Harlem Renaissance figure was a leading jazz composer and bandleader?
- A.Duke Ellington
- B.Louis Armstrong
- C.Stevie Wonder
- D.Alvin Ailey
Answer: Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington was a leading jazz composer and bandleader of the Harlem Renaissance era.
Fun Black History Trivia
13 questions
These fun Black History trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.
Question 1
Which inventor helped bring order to the road by patenting a traffic signal design in 1923?
- A.Lewis Latimer
- B.Charles Drew
- C.Garrett Morgan
- D.Granville T. Woods
Answer: Garrett Morgan
Garrett Morgan patented a traffic signal design in 1923.
Question 2
Before your room could glow, which innovator helped improve the carbon filament used in early light bulbs?
- A.Lewis Latimer
- B.Percy Julian
- C.Garrett Morgan
- D.Daniel Hale Williams
Answer: Lewis Latimer
Lewis Latimer helped improve the carbon filament used in early light bulbs.
Question 3
Who built a hair-care empire and became one of Americaās first self-made female millionaires?
- A.Madam C. J. Walker
- B.Ketanji Brown Jackson
- C.Wilma Rudolph
Answer: Madam C. J. Walker
Madam C. J. Walker became one of Americaās first self-made female millionaires through hair-care products.
Question 4
In 1893 in Chicago, who performed one of the first successful heart surgeries?
- A.Charles Drew
- B.Percy Julian
- C.Guion Bluford
- D.Daniel Hale Williams
Answer: Daniel Hale Williams
Daniel Hale Williams performed one of the first successful heart surgeries in 1893 in Chicago.
Question 5
Which medical pioneer is known for developing methods to store blood plasma?
- A.Lewis Latimer
- B.Colin Powell
- C.Charles Drew
- D.Daniel Hale Williams
Answer: Charles Drew
Charles Drew pioneered methods for storing blood plasma.
Question 6
Who racked up dozens of patents and earned the nickname "Black Edison"?
- A.Garrett Morgan
- B.Lonnie Johnson
- C.George Crum
- D.Granville T. Woods
Answer: Granville T. Woods
Granville T. Woods received dozens of patents and was nicknamed the "Black Edison.".
Question 7
What former NASA engineer turned backyard water battles into chaos by inventing the Super Soaker?
- A.Guion Bluford
- B.Granville T. Woods
- C.Lewis Latimer
- D.Lonnie Johnson
Answer: Lonnie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson, a former NASA engineer, invented the Super Soaker water gun.
Question 8
Which chemist became known for synthesizing medicinal compounds from plants?
- A.Daniel Hale Williams
- B.Lewis Latimer
- C.Percy Julian
- D.Charles Drew
Answer: Percy Julian
Percy Julian was a chemist known for synthesizing medicinal compounds from plants.
Question 9
Popular tradition often credits which 1853 culinary figure with inventing potato chips?
- A.George Crum
- B.Garrett Morgan
- C.Granville T. Woods
- D.Percy Julian
Answer: George Crum
George Crum is often credited in popular tradition with inventing potato chips in 1853.
Question 10
Which beauty powerhouse launched Pat McGrath Labs in 2015 after becoming one of the worldās most influential makeup artists?
- A.Venus Williams
- B.Pat McGrath
- C.Madam C. J. Walker
- D.Kamala Harris
Answer: Pat McGrath
Pat McGrath became one of the worldās most influential makeup artists and launched Pat McGrath Labs in 2015.
Question 11
Who made history as the first African American in space in 1983?
- A.Colin Powell
- B.Charles Drew
- C.Guion Bluford
- D.Lonnie Johnson
Answer: Guion Bluford
Guion Bluford became the first African American in space in 1983.
Question 12
In 2022, who became the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court?
- A.Kamala Harris
- B.Colin Powell
- C.Ketanji Brown Jackson
Answer: Ketanji Brown Jackson
Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.
Question 13
Which statesman became the first Black U.S. secretary of state in 2001?
- A.Colin Powell
- B.Kamala Harris
- C.Ketanji Brown Jackson
- D.Guion Bluford
Answer: Colin Powell
Colin Powell became the first Black U.S. secretary of state in 2001.
Funny Black History Trivia
13 questions
These funny Black History trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.
Question 1
Which entertainer collected the full awards infinity gauntlet by achieving EGOT status?
Answer: Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status.
Question 2
Who released the concert film "Richard Pryor: Live in Concert" in 1979?
Answer: Richard Pryor
The 1979 concert film "Richard Pryor: Live in Concert" was released by Richard Pryor.
Question 3
Which comedy star spent part of the early 1980s on "Saturday Night Live" before becoming a huge movie name?
- A.Chris Rock
- B.Steve Harvey
- C.Flip Wilson
- D.Eddie Murphy
Answer: Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy was a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" in the early 1980s.
Question 4
On "Sanford and Son," who played the junk-dealing king Fred Sanford?
Answer: Redd Foxx
Redd Foxx starred is Fred Sanford on the sitcom "Sanford and Son.".
Question 5
Whose variety show debuted in 1970 with the very subtle title "The Flip Wilson Show"?
Answer: Flip Wilson
Flip Wilson hosted "The Flip Wilson Show," which debuted in 1970.
Question 6
Who co-created and starred in "Chappelleās Show," which premiered in 2003?
Answer: Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle co-created and starred in "Chappelleās Show," which premiered in 2003.
Question 7
Which Wayans created "In Living Color" in 1990 and basically handed sketch comedy a megaphone?
Answer: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Keenen Ivory Wayans created the sketch comedy series "In Living Color" in 1990.
Question 8
On "Family Matters," who brought Steve Urkel to lifeāand to everyoneās living room?
Answer: Jaleel White
"Family Matters" featured Jaleel White is Steve Urkel.
Question 9
Which star of the 1990s sitcom "Martin" played multiple characters, apparently refusing to be just one person?
Answer: Martin Lawrence
Martin Lawrence starred is multiple characters on the sitcom "Martin.".
Question 10
Before he was asking families survey questions on "Family Feud," who was nationally known as a stand-up comic?
Answer: Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey became nationally known is a stand-up comic before hosting "Family Feud.".
Question 11
Who won a Primetime Emmy for writing on "The Chris Rock Show"?
Answer: Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes won a Primetime Emmy for writing on "The Chris Rock Show.".
Question 12
Which comedian created and narrated "Everybody Hates Chris," a sitcom inspired by his youth?
Answer: Chris Rock
Chris Rock created and narrated "Everybody Hates Chris," inspired by his youth.
Question 13
Which pioneering Black stand-up comedian is linked to the Chitlinā Circuit?
Answer: Moms Mabley
Moms Mabley was a pioneering Black stand-up comedian on the Chitlinā Circuit.
Hard Black History Trivia
14 questions
These hard Black History trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.
Question 1
Which teenager was arrested in Montgomery on March 2, 1955 for refusing to give up her bus seat?
Answer: Claudette Colvin
Claudette Colvin was arrested in Montgomery for refusing to give up her bus seat on March 2, 1955.
Question 2
Who was the principal organizer behind the 1963 March on Washington?
Answer: Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.
Question 3
Which activist helped found the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 1964?
Answer: Fannie Lou Hamer
Fannie Lou Hamer is helping found the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 1964.
Question 4
At the 1976 Democratic National Convention, who delivered the keynote address representing Texas?
Answer: Barbara Jordan
Barbara Jordan of Texas delivered the keynote address at the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
Question 5
During the 1966 Meredith March, who popularized the slogan "Black Power"?
- A.James Meredith
- B.Stokely Carmichael
- C.Huey P. Newton
- D.Bayard Rustin
Answer: Stokely Carmichael
Stokely Carmichael popularized the slogan "Black Power" during the 1966 Meredith March.
Question 6
Name the scholar who co-founded the NAACP in 1909.?
Answer: W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois was a co-founder of the NAACP in 1909.
Question 7
Which journalist launched a major anti-lynching campaign in the 1890s?
Answer: Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells launched a major anti-lynching campaign in the 1890s.
Question 8
What Tulsa neighborhood was famously known as "Black Wall Street"?
Answer: The Greenwood District
The Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is "Black Wall Street.".
Question 9
In what year did the Tulsa Race Massacre occur?
Answer: 1921
The Tulsa Race Massacre took place in 1921.
Question 10
Which historic Black business district is located in Atlanta, Georgia?
Answer: Sweet Auburn
Sweet Auburn is a historic Black business district in Atlanta, Georgia.
Question 11
If a history clue points to a famous entertainment district in Memphis, Tennessee, which place is it naming?
Answer: Beale Street
Beale Street is a historic entertainment district in Memphis, Tennessee.
Question 12
Which New Orleans site is known for historic gatherings of enslaved and free Black people?
Answer: Congo Square
Congo Square in New Orleans is known for historic gatherings of enslaved and free Black people.
Question 13
Richard Allen founded which Philadelphia church in 1794?
Answer: Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia was founded by Richard Allen in 1794.
Question 14
What was the name of the predominantly Black community that once stood where part of Central Park is now located?
Answer: Seneca Village
Seneca Village is the predominantly Black community that existed where part of Central Park now stands.
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