Black History Trivia

Which African American artist is known for her vibrant paintings of flowers and New York cityscapes, and was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance?

Alma Thomas

Who created the famous "Migration Series" depicting the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North?

Jacob Lawrence

Which Black artist is renowned for his paintings of Black domestic life and jazz scenes in the 1940s

Romare Bearden***

Who was the first African American female artist to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)?

Faith Ringgold

Which contemporary Black artist is known for her silhouette art addressing race,gender, and identity?

Kara Walker

Who painted the official portrait of Michelle Obama for the National Portrait Gallery?

Amy Sherald

Which African American sculptor is famous for her works during the Harlem Renaissance, including "Gamin"?

Augusta Savage

Who created the "Story Quilts" series combining painting, quilted fabric, and storytelling?

Faith Ringgold

Which Black artist gained fame in the 1980s for his neo-expressionist paintings and collaboration with Andy Warhol?

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Who is known for painting realistic portraits of African Americans against vibrant, patterned backgrounds?

Kehinde Wiley

Which artist created the "Flag Day" series examining American patriotism through an African American lens?

Faith Ringgold

Who painted "The Banjo Lesson" in 1893?

Henry Ossawa Tanner

Which contemporary artist is known for painting official portraits of Black celebrities and Barack Obama?

Kehinde Wiley

Who created "The Liberation of Aunt Jemima" addressing racial stereotypes?

Betye Saar

Which artist is famous for her abstract paintings inspired by space exploration and natural phenomena?

Alma Thomas

Who is known for incorporating text and neon in artwork exploring race and sexuality?

Glenn Ligon

Which photographer is renowned for her kitchen table series examining Black female identity?

Carrie Mae Weems

Who created the "Cotton Series" exploring the history of slavery and cotton production?

John Biggers

Which artist is known for creating assemblage art using African American hair?

David Hammons

Who painted "Knowledge of the Past is the Key to the Future"?

Robert Colescott

During which time period did the Harlem Renaissance primarily take place?

1918-1937

Which of these writers is considered one of the most influential poets of the Harlem Renaissance?

Langston Hughes

What neighborhood in New York City was the center of this cultural movement?

Harlem

Which musical genre became prominently associated with the Harlem Renaissance?

Jazz

What was the name of the weekly newspaper founded by Marcus Garvey that became influential during this period?

The Negro World

Which famous nightclub was known as "The World's Most Famous Playground" during the Harlem Renaissance?

Cotton Club

What term was used to describe the mass migration of Black Americans from the South to Northern cities during this period?

The Great Migration

Which visual artist was known for his paintings depicting African American life and is considered a major figure of the Harlem Renaissance?

Jacob Lawrence

What was the original name of the NAACP's official magazine, which played a crucial role in the movement?

The Crisis

Which philosopher and writer authored "The New Negro: An Interpretation" in 1925?

Alain Locke

Which female blues singer was known as the "Mother of the Blues" during the Harlem Renaissance?

Ma Rainey

What was the name of Zora Neale Hurston's most famous novel published during this period?

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Which political movement gained prominence during the Harlem Renaissance and promoted Black pride and economic independence?

Civil Rights Movement

What was the nickname given to 125th Street during the Harlem Renaissance?

The Main Stem

Which of these photographers is known for documenting life in Harlem during the Renaissance?

James Van Der Zee

What was Claude McKay's most famous poem from this period?

"If We Must Die"

Which social club was instrumental in promoting Black artists and writers during the Renaissance?

The Frogs

What term did Langston Hughes use to describe Black pride and consciousness in his poetry?

Black is Beautiful

Which wealthy white patron was known for hosting gatherings of Black artists and writers at her apartment?

Charlotte Osgood Mason

What historical event contributed to the end of the Harlem Renaissance?

The Great Depression

Which ancient African empire was known for its extensive gold trade and control of trans-Saharan trade routes?

Mali Empire

The Great Zimbabwe ruins are evidence of which empire's architectural achievements?

Zimbabwe Empire

Which empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and reached its peak under Mansa Musa?

Mali Empire

The city of Timbuktu was a major center of:

Islamic learning and scholarship

Which empire succeeded the Mali Empire and became the largest in West Africa?

Songhai Empire

The Kingdom of Kush was located in what is now modern-day:

Sudan

Which empire was known for its sophisticated bronze casting techniques?

Benin Empire

The Aksumite Empire was particularly known for:

Its adoption of Christianity

What was the primary currency used in the trans-Saharan trade by the Ghana Empire?

Gold dust

Which empire's ruler made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca that showcased immense wealth?

Mali's Mansa Musa

The city of Gao was the capital of which empire?

Songhai Empire

What was the primary factor in the decline of the Ghana Empire?

Almoravid invasion

Which empire was known for its powerful navy and control of the Red Sea trade?

Axum Empire

The Great Mosque of Djenne was built in which empire?

Mali Empire

What was the main source of wealth for the Zimbabwe Empire?

Gold and copper trade

Which empire was known for its elaborate system of divine kingship

Ghana

57. The city of Koumbi Saleh was the capital of:

Ghana Empire

Which empire successfully resisted the spread of Islam the longest?

Benin Empire

59. The title "Mansa" in the Mali Empire meant:

B. Emperor or King***

Which empire was known for its elaborate terracotta sculptures?

A. Nok Culture***

61. Who became the first Black woman to become a self-made millionaire through her haircare products business?

b. Madam C.J. Walker***

62. Which Black entrepreneur founded the first Black-owned bank in the United States?

c. William Washington Browne***

63. Who is known for building a billion-dollar cosmetics empire catering specifically to Black women?

Lisa Price

Which entrepreneur founded BET (Black Entertainment Television)?

a. Robert Johnson***

What business did Arthur G. Gaston build into a multi-million dollar enterprise in

b. Insurance company***

Who is the first Black woman to become a billionaire through her own business ventures?

Oprah Winfrey

Which Black businessman founded the largest Black-owned business in the United States during the 1970s?

John H. Johnson

What type of business made John H. Johnson successful in the publishing industry?

Magazine publishing

69. Who founded World Wide Technology, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in America?

David Steward

Which entrepreneur created Essence magazine?

Edward Lewis

What industry did Reginald F. Lewis dominate with his TLC Beatrice International Holdings?

Food processing

72. Who became the first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company?

Ursula Burns

Which Black entrepreneur built a successful beauty and hair care empire in the early 1900s?

Annie Turnbo Malone

74. What business sector did Berry Gordy revolutionize with his company?

Music industry

75. Who founded Radio One (now Urban One), becoming the first Black woman to head a

publicly traded company?

Cathy Hughes

76. Which entrepreneur created Farmland Foods and became one of the largest Black-owned food companies?

77. What type of business did Maggie Lena Walker pioneer?

Banking institution

78. Which modern entrepreneur founded Vista Equity Partners?

Robert Smith

79. Who built the largest Black-owned insurance company in the North during the early

1900s?

Frank L. Gillespie

80. Which entrepreneur founded the first Black-owned cosmetics company to be sold in major department stores?

Eunice Johnson

81. Which executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln officially freed enslaved people in Confederate states?

The Emancipation Proclamation

82. What was the significance of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment?

It was the first all-Black regiment from a Northern state

83. What role did Frederick Douglass play during the Civil War?

He recruited Black soldiers for the Union Army

4. What percentage of the Union Army was composed of Black soldiers by the end of the Civil War?

10

85. Which Confederate policy regarding captured Black Union soldiers caused significant controversy?

They were executed or returned to slavery

86. What was the Fort Pillow Massacre?

A Confederate attack resulting in the mass killing of surrendered Black soldiers

87. How did the Union Army initially pay Black soldiers compared to white soldiers?

Black soldiers received less pay

88. What significant role did Black women play during the Civil War?

They worked as spies, nurses, and support staff

89. What was the "Contraband" policy regarding enslaved people who reached Union lines?

They were protected and not returned to slavery

90. Which constitutional amendment officially abolished slavery throughout the United States?

13th Amendment

91. How did Black churches contribute to the Union war effort?

They provided support networks and recruitment centers

92. What was the significance of Robert Smalls' actions during the Civil War?

He captured a Confederate ship and delivered it to the Union

93. Which Confederate state first allowed Black soldiers to serve in its army?

Tennessee

94. What impact did the Civil War have on Black literacy rates?

It led to increased opportunities for education

95. How did the Confederate government typically use enslaved labor during the war?

For military fortifications and support services

96. What role did Harriet Tubman play during the Civil War?

She served as a Union spy and scout

97. What percentage of Black soldiers who served in the Union Army died during the war?

20%

98. How did the Confiscation Acts affect enslaved people?

They declared enslaved people used by Confederates as contraband of war

99. What was the primary motivation for the Union to accept Black soldiers?

Military necessity and manpower needs

100. How did Black soldiers' service affect post-war civil rights movements?

It strengthened arguments for equal citizenship