Black History Trivia Questions and Answers

Black history is an essential part of our collective history, highlighting the achievements, struggles, and contributions of Black individuals throughout the centuries.

It is crucial to recognize and honor the significant milestones and remarkable figures who have shaped the world we live in today.

From civil rights activists to artists, scientists to athletes, these Black History Trivia questions will take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of Black history.

For more quizzes, see our trivia quiz sitemap.

Section 1: Civil Rights Movements

1. Who was the prominent civil rights leader who delivered the iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963?
   Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Which African American woman refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
   Answer: Rosa Parks.
3. Who was the first African American to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court?
   Answer: Thurgood Marshall.
4. What was the name of the organization founded by Malcolm X to promote Black self-defense and civil rights?
   Answer: The Black Panther Party.
5. Which legislation, signed into law in 1964, outlawed racial segregation and discrimination?
   Answer: The Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Section 2: Trailblazing Figures

6. Who was the first African American to become the President of the United States?
   Answer: Barack Obama.
7. Who became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?
   Answer: Toni Morrison.
8. Which Black mathematician and NASA scientist played a vital role in the success of the early U.S. space missions?
   Answer: Katherine Johnson.
9. Who was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress?
   Answer: Halle Berry.
10. Which African American baseball player broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball?
    Answer: Jackie Robinson.

Section 3: Cultural Icons

11. Who is often referred to as the "King of Pop" and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time?
    Answer: Michael Jackson.
12. Which African American poet and author wrote the renowned poem "Still I Rise"?
    Answer: Maya Angelou.
13. Who is the legendary African American singer known as the "Queen of Soul"?
    Answer: Aretha Franklin.
14. Which iconic African American musician and guitarist is often called the "Father of Rock and Roll"?
    Answer: Chuck Berry.
15. Who is the influential African American author of the novel "Invisible Man"?
    Answer: Ralph Ellison.

Section 4: African American Inventors

16. Which African American inventor is known for creating the modern traffic signal?
    Answer: Garrett Morgan.
17. Who invented the portable X-ray machine used during World War I?
    Answer: Dr. Charles Drew.
18. Which African American inventor developed the carbon filament used in the creation of the incandescent light bulb?
    Answer: Lewis Howard Latimer.
19. Who invented the home security system with a closed-circuit television?
    Answer: Marie Van Brittan Brown.
20. Which African American scientist is credited with discovering multiple uses for peanuts?
    Answer: George Washington Carver.

Section 5: Sports Achievements

21. Who is the fastest man in the world and holds multiple Olympic gold medals in sprinting?
    Answer: Usain Bolt.
22. **Which African American tennis player broke the color barrier in professional tennis?**
    Answer: Arthur Ashe.
23. Who is the first African American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in gymnastics?
    Answer: Simone Biles.
24. Which African American boxer was known as "The Greatest" and won numerous heavyweight titles?
    Answer: Muhammad Ali.
25. Who is the first African American quarterback to win the Super Bowl?
    Answer: Doug Williams.

Section 6: African American Literature

26. Who wrote the autobiography "The Autobiography of Malcolm X"?
    Answer: Malcolm X (with assistance from Alex Haley).
27. Which African American writer and anthropologist authored the novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God"?
    Answer: Zora Neale Hurston.
28. Who is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Color Purple"?
    Answer: Alice Walker.
29. Which African American author wrote the acclaimed novel "Beloved"?
    Answer: Toni Morrison.
30. Who is the author of the influential memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"?
    Answer: Maya Angelou.

Section 7: Historical Figures

31. Who was the first African American to serve as the President of the United States?
    Answer: Barack Obama.
32. Which African American woman is known for her efforts as a conductor on the Underground Railroad?
    Answer: Harriet Tubman.
33. Who is the African American abolitionist and writer of the autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass"?
    Answer: Frederick Douglass.
34. Which African American scientist and inventor is credited with inventing numerous products, including the gas mask and the traffic signal?
    Answer: Garrett Morgan.
35. Who was the African American educator and advisor to presidents who founded the Tuskegee Institute?
    Answer: Booker T. Washington.

Section 8: African American Music

36. Which African American singer-songwriter is often referred to as the "Godfather of Soul"?
    Answer: James Brown.
37. Who is the influential African American musician and composer known for his jazz compositions such as "Take the 'A' Train"?
    Answer: Duke Ellington.
38. Which African American singer and actress was nicknamed the "First Lady of Song"?
    Answer: Ella Fitzgerald.
39. Who is the African American musician known for his iconic guitar playing and hit songs like "Purple Haze" and "Hey Joe"?
    Answer: Jimi Hendrix.
40. Which African American rapper and actor is considered one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time?
    Answer: Tupac Shakur.

Section 9: African American Scientists

41. Which African American scientist is credited with developing the theory of relativity?
    Answer: Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson.
42. Who is the African American physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project and played a significant role in the development of the atomic bomb?
    Answer: J. Robert Oppenheimer.
43. Which African American mathematician calculated the trajectory for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon?
    Answer: Katherine Johnson.
44. Who is the African American chemist and inventor known for creating the synthetic fiber known as Kevlar?
    Answer: Stephanie Kwolek.
45. Which African American physician is famous for his research on blood transfusions and the development of the blood bank?
    Answer: Dr. Charles Drew.

Section 10: Notable Firsts

46. Who was the first African American woman to be elected to the United States Congress?
    Answer: Shirley Chisholm.
47. Who was the first African American woman to win the Miss America pageant?
    Answer: Vanessa Williams.
48. Which African American astronaut became the first Black woman to travel into space?
    Answer: Mae Jemison.
49. Who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice?
    Answer: Thurgood Marshall.
50. Which African American woman became the first female self-made millionaire in the United States?
    Answer: Madam C.J. Walker.

Conclusion On Black History Trivia

Black history is a vital part of our shared human history, and recognizing the achievements and contributions of Black individuals is essential for fostering a more inclusive and equal society.

Through this collection of 50 Black history trivia questions and answers, we hope to inspire learning, appreciation, and celebration of the remarkable individuals who have paved the way for progress and change.

Let us continue to honor and amplify the voices and stories of Black trailblazers, making history in their own right.