Black History
Quiz
How well do you know
African -American
leaders from history.
Who Am I
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I am a comedian.
My nickname is “America’s Black Dad.”
I was on a comedy t.v. show in 1969 and a guest
host on The Tonight Show.
I have more than 34 albums out.
I have written nine books and became a celebrity
author.
I won the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2003.
I was in movies such as Uptown Saturday Night
in 1974, California Suite in 1976, and Mother,
Jugs and Speed also in 1976.
Bill Cosby
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William Henry Cosby
Jr. is a American actor,
comedian, television
producer, and activist. He
was the first major
entertainer to cancel an
appearance in Cincinnati
due to a boycott after the
Cincinnati riots. Bill Cosby
has criticized rap music for
it’s negatve effect on
African-American culture.
Who Am I ?
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I was born October 17, 1956.
When I was three my family and I moved
to Chicago, Illinois.
I graduated from Stanford University.
I was 1 of 15 people selected for astronaut
training.
I was an astronaut.
I appeared in Star Trek.
Mae Jemison
Mae Jemison was the
first African American
woman to enter
space. She is still
alive today. She won
the Kilby Science
award, Turner
Trumpet Award, and
many more. She was
a science mission
specialist on the STS47 Spacelab J Flight.
Who Am I ?
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I was born July 10th 1875.
I was one of 17 children.
I went to the Moody Bible School for negro
women.
In 1904 I founded in a school for negro girls.
I was the first African American woman to serve
as a Consultant to the U.S Secretary of
Education
I won the Haitian Medal of Honor the countries
highest award and The Order Of the Star of
Africa.
In Daytona Beach, Florida, a college is named for
me.
Mary McLeod Bethune
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Mary McLeod
Bethune was born
July 10th, 1875, in
Maysville, South
Carolina. She was
one of 17 children. In
1904 she founded
The Normal and
Industrial Institute for
negro girls.Today a
college in Daytona
Beach, Florida, The
Bethune - Cookman
College is named
after her.
Who Am I ?
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I was born on February 20, 1927.
At age 16 I was sent to live with my older
brother in Miami, Florida.
I was the first African American male to
win an Academy Award for Best Actor.
I won many awards such as the 2002
Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.
I was in the movie No Way Out.
I also played in the movie Blackboard
Jungle.
Sidney Poitier
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Sidney Poitier was born on
February 20, 1927 on the
high sea en route to Miami,
Florida. At age 16 he was
sent to live with his older
brother. He had tried the
theater twice, and the 2nd
time he was discovered. He
was offered a role in No
Way Out and after that led
many more opportunities.
He was the first African
American male to be
nominated and to win an
Academy Award for Best
Actor.
Who Am I
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I was born in Missouri in 1864.
During the Civil Was I was kidnapped by
Confederate night raiders.
I studied agriculture and mechanical science
at Iowa State College.
I created one of the most popular food items
we enjoy today.
My nickname was “The Plant Doctor.”
I was particularly interested in peanuts.
George Washington Carver
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George Washington
Carver was the
inventor of peanut
butter and discovered
over 300 other uses
for peanuts. He also
improved products
such as adhesives,
axle grease, bleach,
and many others.
Who Am I
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I was born in slavery.
I became a spy for the Union during the
Civil War.
I was the first African American woman to
plan and lead a military operation.
I became a conductor of the Underground
Railroad.
I helped over 300 people escape slavery.
Harriet Tubman
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Harriet Tubman
was the leader of
the Undergound
Railroad and
helped over 300
people escape
slavery. She died
on March 10,
1913.
Who Am I
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I began writing poetry in the 5th
grade.
Listening to jazz inspired my poetry.
I was one of the main writers during
the Harlem Renaisance of 1924.
I wrote the book Not Without
Laughter in 1929.
I was a writer for television in its
early years.
Langston Hughes
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Langston Hughes
wrote sixteen books
of poetry, two novels,
three collections of
short stories, twenty
plays, many radio and
television scripts,
three
autobiographies, and
even an opera. He
died of cancer in
1967.
Who Am I
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I am a former four star general.
I served as National Security Advisor to
President Reagan.
I became the 65th United States Secretary
of State.
I helped build the case for the invasion of
Iraq.
I continue to help in the rebuilding of Iraq
today.
Colin Powell
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Colin Powell is the
chairman of the
America’s Promise
organization which
continues to help
survivors of the
Hurricane Katrina
disaster.
Who Am I ?
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I was born July 10, 1943, in Richmond
Virginia.
I was the first African-American to win the
men’s singles Wimbledon Tennis
Championship.
I won 3 Grand Slam tennis titles in my
career.
I was the first black player to be selected
to the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team.
Arthur Ashe
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Arthur Ashe was one
of the world’s greatest
tennis players during
the 1960s and 1970s.
After his career he
was elected to the
Tennis Hall of Fame.
Sadly, he died of
AIDS, contracted
through a blood
transfusion, in 1993.
Who Am I ?
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I was born November 28,1929, in
Detroit.
I dropped out of high school to
become a boxer.
I fought in the Korean War.
I founded and managed Motown
Records in Detroit.
I discovered such acts as The
Supremes and The Temptations.
Berry Gordy Jr.
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Berry Gordy Jr.
was one of the
most influential
men in music
during the 1960s,
70s, and 80s. He
was inducted into
the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in
1990.
Who Am I ?
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I was born August 11, 1921, in
Ithaca, New York.
My first book was published in 1967
and told the saga of an American
family.
My most famous work was the book
“Roots.”
Alex Haley
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Alex Haley’s
“Roots” won the
National Book
Award in 1976.
“Roots” tells the
story of an
American family
struggling with the
effects of slavery.
Who Am I ?
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I was born in slavery in 1797 on the
Colonel James Hardenbergh estate in
Swartekill, a Dutch settlement, in New
York.
I escaped slavery along with my infant
child.
I worked my whole life to end slavery by
giving speeches and showing examples of
what life as a slave was like.
My image is on a $1 U.S. coin today.
Sojourner Truth
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Sojourner Truth
made her most
famous speech at
a women’s
convention in
Akron, Ohio. The
inspiring speech
was called, “Ain’t I
a Woman?”
Who Am I ?
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I was born July 18, 1918.
I was imprisoned for many years by
the Apartheid government of South
Africa.
I was the 11th President of South
Africa, the first to be elected in a fully
-representative democratic election.
I received the Nobel Peace Prize in
1993.
Nelson Mandela
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Nelson Mandela was
the symbol of
resistance as the antiapartheid movement
gained strength in
South Africa. His
efforts led to a new
government where
blacks are fully
represented.
Who Am I ?
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I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942.
I won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympic
games in Rome.
I was drafted into the army but refused to
fight in Vietnam due to my religious
beliefs. I was sent to jail.
I won boxing’s heavyweight championship
of the world 3 times.
I am still one of the most recognizable
athletes in the world.
Muhammad Ali
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Muhammad Ali
was crowned
Sportsman of the
Century by Sports
Illustrated. He has
been on the cover
of Sports
Illustrated more
times than any
other athlete.
Who Am I ?
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I have been in the music industry as a
performer, composer, arranger, and
producer for over 50 years.
I won the academy Award for Best
Original Score for the movie In Cold Blood
in 1967.
I produced Michael Jackson’s album
“Thriller” which sold over 50 million copies
worldwide.
I produced the single “We Are the World.”
Quincy Jones
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Quincy Jones’
work has earned
him more than 70
Grammy
nominations and
25 Grammy
Awards to this day.
He received a
Grammy Legends
Award in 1991.
Who Am I ?
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I earned a bachelors degree from
Harvard.
I helped found the NAACP.
I became a citizen of Ghana.
I was called the founder of PanAfricanism.
I worked as editor-in-chief of the
NAACP publication for 25 years.
W.E.B. DuBois
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W.E.B. DuBois
was the most
prominent
intellectual leader
and political
activist on behalf
of African
Americans in the
first half of the
20th century.
Who Am I ?
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I was born April 19, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey.
I was a two time All American in football at Rutgers
University and earned 15 varsity letters.
I earned a law degree from Columbia School of Law in
1923, but quit the practice of law when a white secretary at
the law firm where I worked refused to take dictation from
me.
I became one of the best known singers and stage actors
all over the world.
In 1946 I founded the American Crusade Against Lynching.
Paul Robeson
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In 1950 the U.S.
government took
away Paul Robeson’s
travel visa because of
his outspoken support
of the Soviet Union.
In the U.S. he was
accused of being a
communist and nearly
all of his movies and
musical recordings
were pulled from
circulation.
Who Am I
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I was born March 12, 1932 in New Orleans.
I received a Bachelors of Science from
Howard University in 1951.
I ran for Congress unsuccessfully in 1970.
I was elected to Congress in 1972 from the
state of Georgia.
I published 2 books, A Way Out of No Way
and An Easy Burden.
I was mayor of Atlanta from 1981 to 1989.
President Carter appointed me as an
Ambassador to the United Nations.
Andrew Young
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Andrew Young was
awarded the
Presidential Medal of
Freedom and earned
more than 45
honorary degrees.
He was instrumental
in the U.S. ‘s decision
to stop supporting
Portugese attempts to
hold their colonies in
South Africa.
Who Am I
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I was born Dec. 23 1867, in Delta, Louisiana.
I was an orphan at age 7, married at age 14.
I founded my own hair care and cosmetics
company.
I was America’s first female self made millionaire.
By 1917 my company was the largest African American owned business in the U.S.
My company gave employment to thousands of
African - American women.
Madame C.J. Walker
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Upon her death, Madame
C.J. Walker left 2/3 of her
estate to educational
institutions and charities.
“I am a woman who came
from the cotton fields of
the South. From there I
was promoted to the
washtub. From there I was
promoted to the cook
kitchen. And from there I
promoted myself into the
business of manufacturing
hair goods and
preparations...I have built
my own factory on my own
ground.”
Thanks for
taking the quiz.
Mr. Wozniak’s class.