History Trivia

150+ African American History Trivia Questions with Answers

• March 29, 2022

Black people have played a significant role throughout the world. African Americans have a rich history that shows their struggle and contributions to the human era. Trivia questions are the best way to know the triumphs of African Americans in US history.

1. What was Marcus Garvey's nickname?

2. Who was Big Jim Simpson?

3. How old was Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was assassinated?

4. In what year was the Fugitive Slave Law passed?

5. Who was the first Black American admiral in the US Navy?

6. Who was the first Black American Catholic Archbishop?

7. What was Elijah Muhammad's given name?

8. Who was the first Black American four-star general in US military history?

9. Black Americans were authorized to enlist in the US Navy in what year?

10. Who was the first Black American to die in the Revolutionary War?

11. Who was the first Black American member of a presidential cabinet?

12. Hyram S. Thomas was a chef who created what popular snack?

13. What Black American inventor received a patent for the guitar?

14. The ironing board was invented by what Black American woman?

15. Philadelphia and Massachusetts cobbler Jan E. Matzeliger invented what?

16. What engineer from New Orleans patented the sugar refinery?

17. Who invented the control unit for the artificial heart stimulator?

18. Who invented the folding bed?

19. Earnest Everett Just, a biologist, was known for what type of research?

20. Who patented corrosion-resistant alloy steels?

21. James Beck worth became a chief scout for what explorer in 1848?

22. In 1871, who became the first Black American governor?

23. Who invented a ticket to the dispensing machine?

24. Who invented the clothes dryer?

25. Who invented the lawnmower?

26. Who was the first Black American municipal judge?

27. In 1964, Carl T. Rowan was named Director of what US agency?

28. Who was the second African American mayor in Kentucky?

29. Who was the first elected Black American governor in Virginia?

30. What militant group embodied the term Black Power?

31. Name the first Black American to serve a full term in the US Senate?

32. In what year was Blanche K. Bruce elected to the Senate?

33. Satchel Paige was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in what year?

34. What sports team was referred to by many as the Dream Team?

35. What was Joe Louis's overall professional boxing record?

36. What famous dermatologist treated leprosy and syphilis?

37. What was Jackie Robinson's lifetime batting average?

38. When was the importation of slaves outlawed in the US?

39. Who was the first black astronaut to walk in space?

40. Who became a major league rookie in 1948?

41. How many of the original five Harlem Globetrotters were from Harlem?

42. The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 destroyed what prosperous black community?

43. Art Shell became the second Black football coach of what team?

44. Who was the youngest boxer to win the heavyweight title?

45. Who are the only two brothers that ever held the heavyweight boxing title?

46. What Clarksville, TN native won the Miss USA pageant in 2007?

47. Who was the first Black American professional football player?

48. What professional sport did Lee Elder play?

49. Who was the first Black American to compete in the Olympics?

50. What basketball star referred to as "The Mailman"?

51. Who was the first Black American to lead an NFL officiating crew?

52. Jackie Robinson excelled in four sports at what university?

53. What professional boxer is named "The Hit Man"?

54. What do Mike Garret, Ernie Davis, and Billy Simms have in common?

55. What was Earl Monroe's nickname during his basketball career?

56. Who is called "The Queen of the Blues"?

57. Who provided the voice for Darth Vader in the movie Star Wars?

58. Name the singer whose nickname is "Little Moses."

59. In what state is Tuskegee Institute located?

60. Who was the first black entertainer to sleep in the White House?

61. In 1950, Sidney Poitier made his film debut in what movie?

62. Name the first successful TV variety show starring a Black American?

63. Who was the star of the 1977 movie The Greatest?

64. Who was the first Black American musician to perform concert tours?

65. Who provided the voice for Darth Vader in the movie Star Wars?

66. Name the singer whose nickname is Little Moses.

67. In what state is Tuskegee Institute located?

68. Name three dance steps from the Disco era?

69. Who was the second black woman crowned Miss America?

70. Who became Hollywood's first Black millionaire actor?

71. What state has various black institutions of higher learning?

72. Who was the first Black American to graduate from college?

73. From what college did Martin Luther King, Jr. graduate?

74. In 1865, Fisk University found in what city?

75. Who was the first Black American to achieve fame as a sculptor?

76. Who published Escape, the first play written by a Black American?

77. Nat Love wrote what kind of stories?

78. Which Amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery?

79. What year did the 'Zoot Suit Riots' take place?

80. Who wrote, Their Eyes Were Watching God?

81. Who assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

82. Which fourteen-year-old black boy was lynched for whistling at a white woman?

83. What is the oldest civil rights organization still working today?

84. Who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association?

85. AL buses from 1955-1956?

86. What was Malcolm X's birth name?

87. Who was the most famous conductor of the underground railroad?

88. Whose autobiography is entitled "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing"?

89. Who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, Germany?

90. In what year was the Southern Christian Leadership founded?

91. In what year was the Congressional Black Caucus organized?

92. What author of 'Song of Solomon' won the Nobel Prize for literature?

93. What US President signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law?

94. Who was the first colonist slain in the Boston Massacre?

95. Who was the first Black American woman elected to a state legislature?

96. Name the first Black American President of the National Baseball League?

97. What was the name of Paul Cuffe's ship, which made an expedition to Africa?

98. Who was the first Black American to play for the New York Yankees?

99. Bessie Coleman trained and received her pilot's license in what country?

100. Name the first Black American to lead professional football in rushing?

101. Name Muhammad Ali's opponent in the famous "Thrilla in Manila" fight?

102. When did the celebration of Black History Month begin?

103. Who was the first black goalkeeper to play in Britain?

104. Who was the first African American woman to win five Grammy Awards in one year?

105. Britain first passed an official act to outlaw the institution of slavery in which year?

106. Which President officially recognized Black History Month?

107. What was the 2020 Black History Month Theme?

108. What is James St. Patrick's nickname on the show Power?

109. When did Rosa Parks' bus boycott happen?

110. Which pioneer of hair products became the first black female millionaire in the US?

111. When did Martin Luther King Jr. give his I Have A Dream Speech?

112. Who wrote the bestselling memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"?

113. Before Barack Obama became President (2009-2017), he served as what?

114. Who was the first African American Major League Baseball player?

115. Who was the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner?

116. Which footballer became the first black player to captain England in 1993?

117. What was the first historically black college in America?

118. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Who said that?

119. Which famous rap artist's real name is Nayvadius Wilburn?

120. What was the Greenwood area of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is known as in 1921?

121. In which year were the first African slaves brought to North America?

122. Rosa Parks is known for what?

123. Wood was the first black to become what?

124. Who was the first African American to serve as the United States Secretary of State?

125. Who was the first black newsreader in Britain in 1968?

126. At its peak, what was the approximate slave population in America?

127. Who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice?

128. Who was the first black person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950?

129. In what year was the Black Panther Party founded?

130. Which two members co-founded the Black Panther Party?

131. What year did the first Africans arrive in America?

132. In what year was the Congressional Black Caucus organized?

133. Who is the author of 'Native Son'?

134. Which famous boxer grew up in Prince George's County?

135. Which future Panther wrote "Soul on Ice" while in prison?

136. In 1848, people who opposed the spread of slavery called what?

137. Most African American belongs from which part of Africa?

138. Atlantic slave trade is also called what?

139. What is the name of the central character of 'Native Son'?

140. What novel is the basis for the D.W. Griffith film "The Birth of a Nation"?

141. Do you know the birthdate of King Jr?

142. In 1953 who was King Martin Luther King married to who?

143. In which year did Martin Luther King complete his Ph.D. degree?

144. Which day is known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in America?

145. Martin Luther King Jr assassinated on which date?

146. Initially, who proposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

147. Where was the first formal protest against slavery?

148. What year did the 'Zoot Suit Riots' take place?

149. During which era the Interracial marriage banned in America?

150. What was Malcolm X's birth name?

151. During which years did Obama serve as the US Senator?

152. Obama was born in which city of Hawaii?