Who was the first African-American to host the Academy Awards (Oscars)?
1. Harry Belafonte
2. Whoopie Goldberg
3. Sidney Poitier
4. Cecily Tyson
Whoopie Goldberg
In 1994, Whoopie Goldberg became both the first African-American as well as the first woman to host the Academy Awards.
Who was the first Black country music singer to appear on the Grand Ole’ Opry?
1. Milton Patton
2. Charley Pride
3. Cowboy Troy
4. Trini Triggs
Charley Pride
On Jan. 7, 1967, Charley Pride became the first African-American singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Diana Ross was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in what film?
1. "The Wiz"
2. "Mahogony"
3. "Lady Sings the Blues"
4. "Car Wash"
"Lady Sings the Blues"
In the 1972 film depicting the life of jazz singer Billie Holiday, "Lady Sings the Blues", Diana Ross played the lead role.
The longest running one-woman show featuring a Black woman focused on whom?
1. Billie Holliday
2. Dorothy Dandridge
3. Harriet Tubman
4. Lena Horne
Lena Horne
"Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" written for and starring Lena Horne ran on Broadway for 333 performances, from May 12, 1981 until her 75th birthday, June 30, 1982.
Which of the following is NOT a Spike Lee “joint”?
1. "Belle of the Nineties"
2. "Joe’s Bed-Sty Barbershop: We Cut Heads"
3. "She’s Gotta Have It"
4. "School Daze"
"Belle of the Nineties"
"Belle of the Nineties" was a 1934 film starring outspoken jokester, Mae West, and featuring Duke Ellington.
Who produced the American benefit single for African famine relief, "We are the World"?
1. Michael Jackson
2. Quincy Jones
3. Sidney Poitier
4. Patti LaBelle
Quincy Jones
Recorded in 1985, "We are the World" was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones.
Mahalia Jackson is noted for singing what kind of music?
1. Love Ballads
2. Opera
3. Blues
4. Gospel
Gospel
Recording over 30 albums, many of them golden hits, Mahalia Jackson was often called the “Mother of Gospel”.
In what year did famed singer Natalie Cole die?
1. 2013
2. 2015
3. 2014
4. 2016
2015
Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, daughter of the late singer Nat “King” Cole, died of heart failure caused by a rare lung disease, on December 31, 2015.
Who was the first jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize?
1. Miles Davis
2. Billy Strayhorn
3. Duke Ellington
4. Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
In 1997 Wynton Marsalis became the first artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for a jazz composition. He won for his "Blood on the Fields".
Whitney Houston’s "Greatest Love of All" was initially recorded by what celebrated recording artist?
1. Dionne Warwick
2. James Brown
3. Cissi Houston
4. George Benson
George Benson
George Benson originally recorded "Greatest Love of All" in 1977; eight years later Whitney Houston made the song into a chart-topping hit.
In which movie did Duke Ellington NOT appear?
1. Murder at the Vanities
2. Belle of the Nineties
3. Carmen Jones
4. The Hit Parade
Carmen Jones
The 1954 production, "Carmen Jones", featured a host of African-American actors, but Duke Ellington did not appear.
How old was Sammy Davis Jr. when he starred in "Rufus Jones for President"?
1. 7 years old
2. 16 years old
3. 10 years old
4. 13 years old
7 years old
In 1933, 7 year old Sammy Davis Jr. played his first leading role in the short film, "Rufus Jones for President".
"Soul Train" first appeared on national television in what year?
1. 1975
2. 1971
3. 1965
4. 1969
1971
On October 2, 1971 the new television dance show, "Soul Train", hit the national airways in four markets, Los Angeles, CA; Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; and Philadelphia, PA.
Diana Ross’ daughter starred in what African American sit-com?
1. "Empire"
2. "This is Us"
3. "She’s Gotta Have It"
4. "Black-ish"
"Black-ish"
Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein, landed the starring role of Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the popular sitcom "Black-ish" in 2014.
Who is often considered the “father of gospel music”?
1. Kenneth Morris
2. James Cleveland
3. Thomas Dorsey
4. William Brewster
Thomas Dorsey
Thomas Dorsey, who previously performed with blues artist Ma Rainey under the name “Georgia Tom”, created gospel music in the early 1930s.
Which of the following actors did NOT win an Oscar for a leading role?
1. James Earl Jones
2. Halle Berry
3. Denzel Washington
4. Sidney Poitier
Although his acting career has covered over 60 years, James Earl Jones never won an Oscar for a performance although he was nominated best actor in "Great White Hope". In 2011, he received an honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Aretha Franklin was inducted into which hall of fame in 1987?
1. Women Vocalists
2. Rock and Roll
3. Rock
4. Blues
Rock and Roll
In 1987, Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The protest song "We Shall Overcome" is believed to be derived from an early gospel song titled, "I’ll Overcome Someday" written by what composer?
1. Charles Tindley
2. Thomas Dorsey
3. James Cleveland
4. Pete Seeger
Charles Tindley
The lyrics of "We Shall Overcome" are derived from Charles Tindley's gospel song, "I'll Overcome Some Day" written in 1900.
What person was the only African-American to play a role in two soap operas in a single year?
1. James Earl Jones
2. Cecily Tyson
3. Gloria Naylor
4. Diahann Carroll
James Earl Jones
In 1966, James Earl Jones played the role of Jim Frazier on The Guiding Light and, in the same year, played the role of Jerry Turner on As the World Turns.
In what year did "The Oprah Winfrey Show" first appear nationally?
1. 1986
2. 1980
3. 1983
4. 1990
1986
On September 8, 1986, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was broadcast nationally for the first time.
Whose autobiography is titled "Nigger"?
1. Dick Gregory
2. Nipsy Russell
3. Scott Joplin
4. James Earl Jones
Dick Gregory
"Nigger", published in September, 1964, is the autobiography of comedian and social activist Dick Gregory.
What was Whoopie Goldberg’s birth name?
1. Carolyn Rodgers
2. Wilemina Golden
3. Wilma Gooden
4. Caryn Johnson
Caryn Johnson
Whoopie Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in 1955. She got her stage name in a way that only she can explain—relates to a whoopee cushion.
Who was the original editor/publisher of "Ebony Magazine"?
1. Jacqueline Jackson
2. Jack H. Jackson
3. John H. Johnson
4. John Peterson
John H. Johnson
"Ebony Magazine", founded by John H. Johnson, published continuously from 1945 to 2016 when it was sold to private equity firm Clear View Group.
Which artists won the first Grammy for rap music?
1. LL Cool J
2. The Sugar Hill Gang
3. Kool Mo Dee
4. DJ Jazzy Jeff &The Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff &The Fresh Prince
In 1989 the first award for Best Rap Performance was presented to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith) for "Parents Just Don't Understand".
Who was the first Black person to conduct a professional symphony in the U.S.?
1. Everett Lee
2. Lee Dixon
3. J.C. Olden
4. Dean Dixon
Everett Lee
Everett Lee made history in 1953 when he became the first Black musician to conduct a white symphony orchestra in the south, in Louisville, Kentucky; also,in 1955 he became the first Black musician to conduct a major opera company in the US with a performance of "La Traviata" at the New York City Opera.
