Which of the following is NOT a Spike Lee “joint”?
1. "Joe’s Bed-Sty Barbershop: We Cut Heads"
2. "School Daze"
3. "She’s Gotta Have It"
4. "Belle of the Nineties"
"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. Sidney Poitier
3. Quincy Jones
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.
In which movie did Duke Ellington NOT appear?
1. Belle of the Nineties
2. Murder at the Vanities
3. The Hit Parade
4. Carmen Jones
Carmen Jones
The 1954 production, "Carmen Jones", featured a host of African-American actors, but Duke Ellington did not appear.
Who was the first jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize?
1. Billy Strayhorn
2. Miles Davis
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".
Who was the original editor/publisher of "Ebony Magazine"?
1. John H. Johnson
2. Jacqueline Jackson
3. John Peterson
4. Jack H. Jackson
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.
Who is often considered the “father of gospel music”?
1. Kenneth Morris
2. William Brewster
3. James Cleveland
4. Thomas Dorsey
Thomas Dorsey
Thomas Dorsey, who previously performed with blues artist Ma Rainey under the name “Georgia Tom”, created gospel music in the early 1930s.
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. Pete Seeger
2. James Cleveland
3. Charles Tindley
4. Thomas Dorsey
Charles Tindley
The lyrics of "We Shall Overcome" are derived from Charles Tindley's gospel song, "I'll Overcome Some Day" written in 1900.
How old was Sammy Davis Jr. when he starred in "Rufus Jones for President"?
1. 16 years old
2. 10 years old
3. 7 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".
What person was the only African-American to play a role in two soap operas in a single year?
1. James Earl Jones
2. Diahann Carroll
3. Cecily Tyson
4. Gloria Naylor
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.
Who was the first Black person to conduct a professional symphony in the U.S.?
1. Lee Dixon
2. Everett Lee
3. Dean Dixon
4. J.C. Olden
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.
Who was the first African-American to host the Academy Awards (Oscars)?
1. Whoopie Goldberg
2. Harry Belafonte
3. Cecily Tyson
4. Sidney Poitier
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. Cowboy Troy
3. Charley Pride
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’ daughter starred in what African American sit-com?
1. "Empire"
2. "She’s Gotta Have It"
3. "Black-ish"
4. "This is Us"
"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.
Which of the following actors did NOT win an Oscar for a leading role?
1. Halle Berry
2. James Earl Jones
3. Sidney Poitier
4. Denzel Washington
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.
What was Whoopie Goldberg’s birth name?
1. Wilemina Golden
2. Wilma Gooden
3. Carolyn Rodgers
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.
The longest running one-woman show featuring a Black woman focused on whom?
1. Billie Holliday
2. Harriet Tubman
3. Lena Horne
4. Dorothy Dandridge
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.
In what year did famed singer Natalie Cole die?
1. 2014
2. 2016
3. 2015
4. 2013
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.
Which artists won the first Grammy for rap music?
1. Kool Mo Dee
2. The Sugar Hill Gang
3. DJ Jazzy Jeff &The Fresh Prince
4. LL Cool J
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".
Mahalia Jackson is noted for singing what kind of music?
1. Opera
2. Blues
3. Love Ballads
4. Gospel
Gospel
Recording over 30 albums, many of them golden hits, Mahalia Jackson was often called the “Mother of Gospel”.
Aretha Franklin was inducted into which hall of fame in 1987?
1. Rock and Roll
2. Rock
3. Women Vocalists
4. Blues
Rock and Roll
In 1987, Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Diana Ross was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in what film?
1. "Lady Sings the Blues"
2. "The Wiz"
3. "Mahogony"
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.
Whose autobiography is titled "Nigger"?
1. Dick Gregory
2. Scott Joplin
3. James Earl Jones
4. Nipsy Russell
Dick Gregory
"Nigger", published in September, 1964, is the autobiography of comedian and social activist Dick Gregory.
Whitney Houston’s "Greatest Love of All" was initially recorded by what celebrated recording artist?
1. James Brown
2. Cissi Houston
3. Dionne Warwick
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 what year did "The Oprah Winfrey Show" first appear nationally?
1. 1980
2. 1986
3. 1990
4. 1983
1986
On September 8, 1986, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was broadcast nationally for the first time.
"Soul Train" first appeared on national television in what year?
1. 1975
2. 1965
3. 1969
4. 1971
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.
