100+ Black History Month Trivia Questions and Answers for Team Trivia

With around 50 million Black Americans influencing the country’s culture, it’s important for teams to learn about legacies and contributions that matter. Understanding the history and achievements of African American people helps teams grow their awareness and build a more inclusive company culture. Black History Month trivia questions offer an interesting way for teams to learn together and engage in meaningful conversations.

In this blog, we’ve compiled over 100 best Black History Month trivia questions and answers for teams. You’ll find questions on everything from renowned Black leaders to major events, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Voting Rights Act. Let’s dive in. 

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Why are Black History Month Trivia Questions Great for Work Teams?

Black History Month trivia can be really helpful in spreading cultural awareness at work. A study reveals that 77% of employees surveyed consider themselves culturally competent, yet 60% still believe that “ignoring differences” creates an inclusive workplace. This shows that many employees don’t really understand what cultural competence is. 

By using trivia questions focused on Black history and culture, teams can learn about important events, leaders, and their contributions to American society. It will help encourage open conversations, empathy, and respect among teams for coworkers from diverse backgrounds. Over time, it will build a workplace where everyone feels valued and supports each other. 

100+ Black History Month Trivia Questions for Teams

Whether you’re celebrating Black History Month or hosting a trivia at work, these questions are perfect to test your team’s cultural knowledge. We’ve sorted them into different categories like Black history, icons, major movements, music, and literature to ensure you have a great trivia experience.

1. Trailblazers in Politics & Leadership 

Many African-American trailblazers, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosemary Brown, and Rita Ali, have made notable contributions to Black history. Here are Black History Month trivia questions to test your team’s knowledge on iconic leaders in the field of politics and community leadership.

Q. Who was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968?

A. Shirley Chisholm

Q. Who was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate in 1870?

A. Hiram Rhodes Revels

Q. Who became the first Black governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction?

A. P.B.S. Pinchback

Q. Who was the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives?

A. Joseph Rainey

Q. Who was the first African American to serve as U.S. Solicitor General?

A. Thurgood Marshall

Q. Who was the first African American appointed to a U.S. Cabinet position?

A. Robert C. Weaver

Q. Who was the first Black federal judge in U.S. history?

A. William H. Hastie

Q. Who became the first Black mayor of a major U.S. city in 1967?

A. Carl Stokes

Q. Who was the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge?

A. Constance Baker Motley

Q. Who was the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize?

A. Ralph Bunche

Q. Who was the first African American to serve as Secretary of the Army?

A. Clifford Alexander Jr.

Q. Who was the first African American elected to the U.S. House from Georgia during Reconstruction?

A. Jefferson F. Long

Q. Who was the first Black lieutenant governor of any U.S. state after Reconstruction?

A. Oscar Dunn (Louisiana)

Q. Who was the first African American to serve as a state Supreme Court justice?

A. Jonathan Jasper Wright

💡Pro Tip: Pair the trivia with a short 60-second “leader spotlight” video.

2. Black History & Key Events

These Black History Month trivia questions cover pivotal events, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the abolition of slavery. 

Q. What year is recognized as the start of Black History Month in the United States?

A. 1976

Q. Who created Negro History Week in 1926, which later became Black History Month?

A. Carter G. Woodson

Q. Which historic event ended slavery in the United States in 1863?

A. The Emancipation Proclamation

Q. Which 1957 event forced President Eisenhower to send federal troops to enforce school integration?

A. The Little Rock Nine entering Central High School

Q. What date is celebrated as Juneteenth, marking the announcement of freedom in Texas?

A. June 19, 1865

Q. What was the name of the all-Black Army unit known for its bravery during the Civil War?

A. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment

Q. What year did the Voting Rights Act strengthen protections for Black voters?

A. 1965

Q. Which US Supreme Court case struck down laws banning interracial marriage?

A. Loving v. Virginia

Q. Which 1921 event destroyed a thriving Black business district in Oklahoma?

A. The Tulsa Race Massacre

Q. What was the name of the first Black-owned hospital founded in the U.S. in 1891?

A. Provident Hospital 

Q. What year was the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) founded?

A. 1837 (Cheyney University)

Q. What name is given to the mass relocation of African Americans from the South to Northern cities starting in 1916?

A. The Great Migration

Q. Which 1960s movement promoted racial pride, empowerment, and self-determination?

A. The Black Power Movement

Q. Which organization was founded in 1966 to challenge police brutality and support Black communities?

A. The Black Panther Party

Q. How long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last?

A. 381 days

Q. Who co-founded the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California?

A. Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale

Q. In what year was Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis?

A. 1968

Q. In what year was the NAACP founded?

A. 1909

Q. Which 1963 campaign in Alabama used peaceful protests to challenge segregation in one of the South’s most segregated cities?

A. The Birmingham Campaign

Q. What name is given to the first Selma march where protesters were attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge?

A. Bloody Sunday

Q. What 1954 Supreme Court case ruled school segregation unconstitutional?

A. Brown v. Board of Education  

Q. In what year did the 13th Amendment abolish slavery in the United States?

A. 1865

Q. Which 1955 act of defiance by Rosa Parks sparked a major bus boycott in Montgomery?

A. Her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger

3. Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was a pivotal period in US history when Black communities asserted their identity, challenged social barriers, and broke down stereotypes. Here are Black History Month trivia questions and answers based on this era. 

Q. Which novelist wrote the literary classic Their Eyes Were Watching God during the Harlem Renaissance era?

A. Zora Neale Hursto

Q. Which activist’s UNIA movement pushed ideas of Black pride and self-determination during this era?

A. Marcus Garvey

Q. Which Harlem nightclub became famous for its all-Black entertainment lineups?

A. The Cotton Club

Q. What publication led by W.E.B. Du Bois helped shape political thought during this period?

A. The Crisis

Q. What movement during Harlem encouraged global unity among people of African descent?

A. Pan-Africanism

Q. The Harlem Renaissance helped challenge which widespread problem of the time?

A. Racial discrimination and stereotypes

Q. What national event created new factory jobs that drew African Americans northward before the Renaissance?

A. World War I

Q. Which Black-owned newspaper based in New York played a major role in covering Harlem’s political and social life?

A. The New York Amsterdam News and The New York Age

Q. What major economic issue affected Harlem toward the end of the Renaissance in the 1930s?

A. The Great Depression

Q. What new sense of identity and confidence among African Americans is often associated with the Harlem Renaissance?

A. “New Negro”

💡Pro Tip: Play a Harlem jazz playlist during the round.

4. Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a major event in Black history to end racial discrimination and ensure equal rights for all African Americans. Use these Black History Month trivia questions to see how much your team knows about this movement’s landmark protests and historic victories.

Q. Which group was formed in 1960 to organize sit-ins and student activism across the South?

A. SNCC

Q. What name was given to activists who rode interstate buses in 1961 to challenge segregation laws?

A. Freedom Riders

Q. Which civil rights group coordinated the Freedom Rides of 1961?

A. CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)

Q. Which 1963 event in Washington, D.C., drew over 200,000 people in support of civil rights and jobs?

A. The March on Washington

Q. Which organization, founded by MLK, promoted nonviolent resistance across the South?

A. SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference)

Q. Which 1960s slogan promoted nonviolent protest as the central strategy of civil rights activists?

A. “We Shall Overcome”

Q. Which federal act in 1968 targeted discrimination in housing?

A. The Fair Housing Act

Q. Which city saw major student-led sit-ins spread after the Greensboro protest?

A. Nashville

Q. Which group of civil rights lawyers focused on legal cases challenging segregation across the country?

A. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF)

Q. Which 1963 campaign in Mississippi focused on registering Black voters?

A. The Freedom Vote

Q. What protest strategy used by the Civil Rights Movement encouraged people to stop riding segregated buses long-term?

A. Economic boycotts

Q. Which three civil rights workers were killed during Freedom Summer, drawing national attention?

A. James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner

Q. Who started the Meredith March Against Fear before being shot and wounded?

A. James Meredith

Q. Which 1960s movement promoted economic justice alongside civil rights?

A. The Poor People’s Campaign

Q. Which civil rights leader founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters?

A. A. Philip Randolph

5. Music Legends & Genres

Here are some questions on Black musicians like Louis Armstrong, Marvin Gaye, and Duke Ellington, who reinvented jazz, R&B, and soul music.

Q. Which genre developed from gospel, blues, and R&B to become a major Black cultural movement in the 1950s and 1960s?

A. Soul music

Q. Who is known as the “Queen of Soul”?

A. Aretha Franklin

Q. Which jazz composer is famous for the symphonic jazz work “Black, Brown and Beige”?

A. Duke Ellington

Q. Who was the first major Black star of jazz?

A. Louis Armstrong

Q. Which guitarist is celebrated for revolutionizing rock music with the electric sound?

A. Jimi Hendrix

Q. Who is known as the “First Lady of Song”?

A. Ella Fitzgerald

Q. Which singer is known for the classic blues song “Downhearted Blues”?

A. Bessie Smith

Q. Which Black musician popularized reggae music worldwide?

A. Bob Marley

Q. Which artist helped introduce Afrobeat to global audiences?

A. Fela Kuti

Q. Who was the first female rapper to win a Grammy?

A. Queen Latifah

Q. Which genre originated in the Bronx in the 1970s with DJs and MCs?

A. Hip-hop

Q. Which jazz legend performed “Strange Fruit,” a historic protest song?

A. Billie Holiday

Q. Who was the first Black woman to headline the Metropolitan Opera in New York?

A. Marian Anderson

Q. Which hip-hop artist became the first solo rapper inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

A. Jay-Z

💡Pro Tip : Add a 5-second audio clip guessing round

6. Art and Literature

Black artists and poets, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement, have significantly shaped African American history. See how many of these your team can remember with these trivia questions for Black History Month. 

Q. Which artist is famous for collage-based works celebrating Black life?

A. Romare Bearden

Q. Who was the first African American woman to have a play performed on Broadway?

A. Lorraine Hansberry

Q. Who painted the mural series Aspects of Negro Life in the 1930s?

A. Aaron Douglas

Q. Who was the first African American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?

A. Toni Morrison

Q. Who became the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1950?

A. Gwendolyn Brooks

Q. Who wrote the autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

A. Maya Angelou

Q. Who painted the famous series “Migration Series” depicting the Great Migration?

A. Jacob Lawrence

Q. Which artist created the vibrant, quilt-like collages known as photomontages?

A. Bisa Butler

Q. Which author wrote the novel Native Son in 1940?

A. Richard Wright

Q. Which sculptor created “Africa Awakening”?

A. Elizabeth Catlett

7. Sports & Milestones

From Jesse Owens’ Olympic victories to Wilma Rudolph’s sprinting records, these trivia questions are all about Black athletes and their achievements. 

Q. Who became the first Black woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame?

A. Effa Manley

Q. Who became the first African American to play Major League Baseball in 1947?

A. Jackie Robinson

Q. Who was the first African American woman to win Wimbledon?

A. Althea Gibson

Q. Who became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl?

A. Doug Williams

Q. Who was the first African American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby in 1875?

A. Oliver Lewis

Q. Which boxer earned the nickname “The Brown Bomber” and held the heavyweight title for nearly 12 years?

A. Joe Louis

Q. Which tennis player became the first Black man to win a Grand Slam singles title?

A. Arthur Ashe

Q. Which golfer became the first Black man to play in the PGA Tour after the “Caucasian-only” rule ended?

A. Charlie Sifford

Q. Who was the first African American heavyweight boxing champion in 1908?

A. Jack Johnson

Q. Who became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in 1948?

A. Alice Marie Coachman Davis

8. Black Innovation & Breakthroughs

These Black History Month trivia questions highlight the contributions of African American innovators across various fields, like science, medicine, and technology. 

Q. Who developed the blood-banking system used during World War II?

A. Dr. Charles Drew

Q. Who invented the Laserphaco Probe used for advanced cataract surgery?

A. Dr. Patricia Bath

Q. Who developed hundreds of uses for crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes?

A. George Washington Carver

Q. Which surgical technician developed the “blue baby” procedure for children with congenital heart defects?

A. Vivien Thomas

Q. Who earned the nickname “The Black Edison” for inventing the multiplex telegraph and improving electric railways?

A. Granville T. Woods

Q. Which inventor patented a refrigeration system used in ice-making and food storage in the early 1900s?

A. Frederick McKinley Jones

Q. Who developed the first practical automatic elevator doors in 1920?

A. Alexander Miles

Q. Who designed the first gas mask and a safety hood used in World War I?

A. Garrett Morgan

Q. Who became the first African American female neurosurgeon in the U.S.?

A. Alexa Canady

Q. Who invented the automatic lubricator known as the “Real McCoy”?

A. Elijah McCoy

Q. Who invented the mail-chute device used in multi-story buildings?

A. J. P. Knight

💡Pro Tip : Create a “Guess the Picture” speed round.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Black History Month trivia?

Black History Month trivia is a question-and-answer game based on everything related to Black history and culture. It tests your team’s knowledge on topics like Black leaders, the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act, and the Harlem Renaissance.

What are the best categories for Black History Month trivia?

Some good categories for fun trivia questions for Black History Month include key events, African-American leaders, the Harlem Renaissance, art, literature, and music.

How to host Black History Month trivia virtually?

To host virtual Black History Month trivia games, select an online video conferencing platform like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Create a list of Black History Month trivia questions for work​ and hire a host to lead the session. Send out meeting invites with all the necessary details so team members can join the event. Alternatively, opt for remote team building platforms like Hooray Teams to enjoy a fully hosted experience. 

How many Black History Month trivia questions should we prepare for one session?

You’d need around 25 to 40 Black History Month trivia questions for a 60-minute session. However, you can add or reduce the number as per your team’s preferences. 

How many people can participate in Black History Month trivia?

Black History Month trivia is a versatile game and can be adapted for both small and large teams when played in groups.

What is the duration of Black History Month trivia?

Black History Month trivia usually lasts for around 60 minutes, but you can customize the duration based on your team’s schedule and preferences. 

What are some easy trivia questions for black history month?

Some easy black history month trivia questions for work are:

• What month is officially celebrated as Black History Month in the U.S.?

February

• Which bus boycott began after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in 1955?

The Montgomery Bus Boycott

• What was Black History Month previously called?

Negro History Week

• What yearly celebration marks the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free?

Juneteenth

• What year did Negro History Week begin?

1926

What are some medium Black History Month trivia questions?

Some medium-level Black History Month trivia questions can be:

• Which historic district in Tulsa was destroyed during the 1921 race massacre?

Black Wall Street or Greenwood

• Which 1940s military group became famous as the first African American fighter pilots?

The Tuskegee Airmen

• What 1896 Supreme Court case upheld “separate but equal,” strengthening segregation laws?

Plessy v. Ferguson

• Which event marked the first major student-led sit-ins of the Civil Rights era in 1960?

The Greensboro Sit-ins

• What 1963 campaign brought national attention when children were arrested for marching in Birmingham?

The Children’s Crusade

What are some hard Black History Month trivia questions?

Some hard-level fun trivia questions for black history month are:

• What event in 1921 destroyed a thriving Black business district known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Tulsa Race Massacre

• Which Supreme Court case ended school segregation in 1954?

Brown v. Board of Education

• Which 1967 protest in Detroit became one of the largest urban uprisings of the 1960s?

The Detroit Riot

• What 1919 period of racial violence saw riots break out in dozens of U.S. cities?

The Red Summer

• Who was the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry in the United States (1773)?

Phillis Wheatley