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Quizzes > History > Modern History

Ready to Test Your Black History Month Knowledge?

Think you can ace these Black History Month quiz questions? Dive in now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art collage of silhouettes and icons highlighting Black History Month quiz topics on a coral background

Celebrate Black History Month by putting your black history month questions knowledge to the test! Along the way, discover lesser-known heroes alongside celebrated icons, and see how much you really know about Black History Month. This free, friendly quiz invites history lovers and curious minds alike to revisit key figures, milestone events, and cultural breakthroughs. You'll tackle trivia questions for Black History Month, uncover inspiring stories, and dive into black history month trivia questions and answers. Then, sharpen your memory through black history month quiz questions. Ready to dive in? Take our quick black history month quiz or challenge yourself with more quiz questions - start now and honor these legacies!

Who is known as the father of Black History Month?
Frederick Douglass
Malcolm X
Carter G. Woodson
W.E.B. Du Bois
Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926, which later evolved into what we now celebrate as Black History Month. His efforts aimed to promote and preserve the achievements of African Americans. He founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History to further this mission. source
In which month is Black History Month celebrated in the United States?
January
February
April
March
Black History Month is observed every February in the United States, commemorating the ongoing contributions and achievements of African Americans. The month was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1976. Celebrations include educational events, community gatherings, and commemorative exhibits. source
Which organization was founded by Carter G. Woodson to promote African American history?
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
Universal Negro Improvement Association
In 1915, Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to encourage scholarly research and publication about Black history. ASALH organized Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month. It remains active today, sponsoring events and publications to highlight African American contributions. source
Who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice?
Earl Warren
Sonia Sotomayor
Clarence Thomas
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall became the first African American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Before that, he served as a lawyer for the NAACP and argued the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. His tenure on the Court lasted until 1991, influencing civil rights jurisprudence. source
Which scientist was the first African American woman to earn a doctorate at MIT?
Marie Maynard Daly
Shirley Ann Jackson
Katherine Johnson
Mae Jemison
Shirley Ann Jackson earned her doctorate in physics from MIT in 1973, becoming the first African American woman to do so. She later became a prominent researcher and served as chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Her pioneering work opened doors for women and minorities in science and engineering. source
Who refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, sparking a pivotal civil rights movement event?
Coretta Scott King
Rosa Parks
Claudette Colvin
Harriet Tubman
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of civil disobedience led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a foundational event in the U.S. civil rights movement. The boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., lasted over a year and ended segregation on public buses. source
Who was the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1950?
W.E.B. Du Bois
Martin Luther King Jr.
Ralph Bunche
Barack Obama
Diplomat Ralph Bunche received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for mediating the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and neighboring Arab states. He was the first African American to win a Nobel Prize in any category. His work established a legacy for future American diplomats of diverse backgrounds. source
What year was the original Negro History Week established by Carter G. Woodson?
1940
1936
1915
1926
Carter G. Woodson introduced Negro History Week in February 1926 to encourage the study of African American history. He chose the second week in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. This observance was the precursor to Black History Month, officially recognized in 1976. source
Who delivered the famous 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963?
Malcolm X
Medgar Evers
Martin Luther King Jr.
John Lewis
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The speech highlighted King's vision for racial equality and civil rights. It remains one of the most celebrated orations in American history. source
Which Supreme Court decision outlawed segregation in public schools in 1954?
Plessy v. Ferguson
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Brown v. Board of Education
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education declared state laws establishing separate public schools for Black and white students unconstitutional. It overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. This ruling was a major milestone in the U.S. civil rights movement. source
Which Harlem Renaissance poet wrote the poem 'I, Too'?
Langston Hughes
Zora Neale Hurston
Claude McKay
Countee Cullen
'I, Too' is one of Langston Hughes's most famous poems, first published in 1926. It asserts the strength and optimism of African Americans despite segregation and discrimination. Hughes was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, using his work to challenge racial inequality. source
Who was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress?
Barbara Jordan
Maxine Waters
Carol Moseley Braun
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968, representing New York's 12th Congressional District. She was the first African American woman to serve in Congress. Chisholm also became the first Black candidate for a major party's presidential nomination in 1972. source
Which organization, led by Malcolm X for a period, advocated for Black self-reliance and empowerment?
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
Nation of Islam
NAACP
Black Panther Party
Malcolm X became a minister and national spokesperson for the Nation of Islam in the early 1950s. The organization emphasized Black economic independence, cultural pride, and self-defense. Under his leadership, membership grew significantly before his departure in 1964. source
What landmark legislation, passed in 1965, aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting?
Voting Rights Act
Fair Housing Act
Civil Rights Act
Emancipation Proclamation
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted to outlaw discriminatory voting practices adopted in many Southern states after the Civil War. It banned literacy tests and provided federal oversight of voter registration where discriminatory practices were common. The Act significantly increased African American voter registration and participation. source
Who was the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2002?
Sidney Poitier
Denzel Washington
Morgan Freeman
Jamie Foxx
Denzel Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2002 for his role in 'Training Day.' Although Sidney Poitier was the first African American actor to win any acting Oscar (Best Actor in 1964), Washington's win in 2002 marked a modern milestone. His performance garnered critical acclaim for its complexity. source
Which author wrote the novel 'Beloved', which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction?
Octavia Butler
Alice Walker
Maya Angelou
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison's novel 'Beloved' won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988. The story examines the traumatic legacy of slavery in post-Civil War America. Morrison's lyrical writing and deep psychological insight have made the novel a classic of American literature. source
What was the name of the ship that brought the first Africans to English North America in 1619?
Black Swan
Anne
Mayflower
White Lion
In August 1619, the White Lion, an English privateer ship, delivered the first recorded Africans to Point Comfort in Virginia. These individuals were traded for provisions and became the first enslaved Africans in the British colonies. This event marks a significant moment in American history. source
Which African American astronaut was the first to travel into space?
Mae Jemison
Ronald McNair
Guion S. Bluford
Frederick Gregory
Guion S. Bluford became the first African American in space on August 30, 1983, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-8. His achievement paved the way for greater diversity in NASA's astronaut corps. source
Who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914?
W.E.B. Du Bois
Booker T. Washington
Marcus Garvey
WEB Du Bois
Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica in 1914 before establishing its international headquarters in New York City. The UNIA promoted Black economic independence and pan-African solidarity. Garvey's movement grew to millions of members worldwide in the 1920s. source
In what year did Jackie Robinson break Major League Baseball's color barrier?
1939
1961
1954
1947
Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball's modern era. His success challenged segregation in sports and American society. Robinson's career opened doors for future generations of Black athletes. source
Which 1896 Supreme Court case upheld racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine?
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Gaines v. Canada
Plessy v. Ferguson
Brown v. Board of Education
In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities were constitutional under the 'separate but equal' doctrine. This decision provided legal support for segregation for nearly six decades. It was not overturned until Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. source
Who was the first African American to earn a medical degree in the United States in 1847?
Charles Richard Drew
Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Daniel Hale Williams
James McCune Smith
James McCune Smith earned his medical degree from the University of Glasgow in 1837 because American institutions barred Black students. He became the first African American to hold a medical degree in the U.S. and practiced in New York City from 1837 onward. He was also a prominent abolitionist and writer. source
Who was the co-founder of the Black Panther Party known for his activism and leadership?
Angela Davis
Huey P. Newton
Bobby Seale
Stokely Carmichael
Huey P. Newton co-founded the Black Panther Party in 1966 alongside Bobby Seale in Oakland, California. The party advocated for Black empowerment, community self-defense, and social programs. Newton's leadership and philosophy made him a symbol of resistance to racial oppression. source
Which 19th-century abolitionist delivered the 'Ain't I a Woman?' speech at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention?
Lucretia Mott
Frederick Douglass
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth delivered her famous 'Ain't I a Woman?' speech in 1851 at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. As a former enslaved woman, she challenged prevailing notions of racial and gender inferiority. Her eloquent oratory remains a pivotal moment in both abolitionist and women's rights history. source
Which African empire is recognized for its role in the Yoruba diaspora and was a major cultural center before colonialism?
Kingdom of Kongo
Songhai Empire
Oyo Empire
Mali Empire
The Oyo Empire, at its height in the 17th and 18th centuries, was one of West Africa's most powerful states in what is now southwestern Nigeria. Many people taken from this region during the trans-Atlantic slave trade maintained Yoruba cultural traditions in the Americas. The empire's political and military systems influenced diaspora communities heavily. source
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Key Figures -

    Recall influential leaders featured in black history month questions and summarize their major achievements.

  2. Describe Pivotal Events -

    Describe major milestones in Black history highlighted in the quiz questions and explain their historical significance.

  3. Analyze Social Impact -

    Analyze the impact of landmark events and what they reveal about civil rights progress.

  4. Interpret Historical Context -

    Interpret how black history month trivia questions and answers reflect broader socio-political movements.

  5. Compare Contributions -

    Compare different achievements and contributions across eras to understand evolving challenges and triumphs.

  6. Communicate Insights -

    Effectively communicate quiz insights and encourage informed discussions with peers.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Origins of Black History Month -

    When tackling black history month questions about the holiday's beginnings, remember historian Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week in 1926, expanded to a month in 1976 by presidential proclamation. A mnemonic "26→Week Mix, 76→Month Fix" helps lock in the key dates. This origin story underpins many black history month quiz questions.

  2. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad -

    Often featured in black history month quiz questions, Harriet Tubman guided around 70 enslaved people to freedom and used coded songs like "Follow the Drinking Gourd" to signal routes. Visualize the North Star as a compass - "Gourd = North Star" helps you recall the secret lyrics. Tubman's bravery and tactics are staple trivia questions for Black History Month.

  3. Reconstruction Amendments (13th - 15th) -

    Common black history month trivia questions and answers explore the 13th (1865, abolished slavery), 14th (1868, guaranteed citizenship) and 15th (1870, voting rights) Amendments. Use the acronym "FCV" (Freed, Citizenship, Vote) to memorize their sequence and impact. These three reforms reshaped U.S. law and appear in many quiz rounds.

  4. Brown v. Board of Education (1954) -

    Black history month quiz questions often ask about this landmark Supreme Court case that overturned "separate but equal" from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Think "Separate No More" (SNM) to recall its decision dismantled legalized school segregation. Understanding Brown's legacy is crucial for any trivia questions for Black History Month.

  5. Contemporary Milestones -

    Modern black history month questions celebrate Barack Obama's 2008 election as the first Black U.S. President and Kamala Harris's 2020 inauguration as first Black and South Asian Vice President. A timeline mnemonic "08→President, 20→VP" cements these achievements. Highlighting these breakthroughs boosts confidence when answering current-event quiz prompts.

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