Practice questions
African American History Bowl
1. What is the title of this iconic engraving? (The First Vote)
2. He became the first African American appointed to the U. S. Supreme Court. Who is he? (Thurgood Marshall)
3. In 2019, Forbes Magazine named this Rapper/Entertainer/businessman the first hip-hop billionaire. Who is he? (Jay-Z)
4. What famous African American’s face did the US Treasury announced to place on the twenty-dollar bill in 2016? (Harriet Tubman)
5. Who was the first African American to win an Oscar Award in film? (Hattie McDaniel)
6. Thomas Edison’s elite scientist team included one African-American engineer and scientist.Who was he? (Louis Latimer)
- Name the magazine that featured this picture. (Harper’s Weekly)
- Name the historical time period of this picture. (Reconstruction)
- Name the artist of this picture (Alfred Rudolph Waud)
2. He became the first African American appointed to the U. S. Supreme Court. Who is he? (Thurgood Marshall)
- How many years did Thurgood Marshall serve on the Supreme Court? (24 years)
- His belief that the poor deserved the same legal representation in court as the rich guided his practice and led to this nickname for him. ( “Little Man’s Lawyer”)
- Who replaced Marshall on the Supreme Court? (Clarence Thomas)
3. In 2019, Forbes Magazine named this Rapper/Entertainer/businessman the first hip-hop billionaire. Who is he? (Jay-Z)
- From what did he reference in developing his stage name? (New York Subway line)
- What is Jay-Z’s given name? (Shawn Carter)
- Who is his wife? (Beyonce’)
4. What famous African American’s face did the US Treasury announced to place on the twenty-dollar bill in 2016? (Harriet Tubman)
- Whose face would she replace? (Andrew Jackson)
- The unveiling was timed to coincide with what 100th anniversary? (19th Amendment)
- What was the reason given for the delay until 2028? (counterfeiting issues)
5. Who was the first African American to win an Oscar Award in film? (Hattie McDaniel)
- Name the Oscar category for McDaniel’s Award. (Best Supporting Actress)
- How many years passed before another African American would win an Oscar? (23 years)
- In 1963 who won the Best Actor Oscar and name the movie. (Sidney Poitier, Lilies of the Field)
6. Thomas Edison’s elite scientist team included one African-American engineer and scientist.Who was he? (Louis Latimer)
- Name Latimer’s invention that extended the burning time for light bulbs. (The carbon filament)
- He was a member of an elite research team called… (Edison’s Pioneers)
- Name the invention that he co-patented with Charles Brown for railroad cars. (Water Closet (improved toilet system)
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Hispanic Heritage HISTORY BOWL
1. What was the name of the meeting in 1927 in Harlingen, Texas where Mexican Americans and Mexican nationalist met to discuss organizing against discrimination? (El comite Provisional Organizador Pro-Raza)
2. A veteran of four space flights, she is the first Hispanic woman in space. Who is she? (Ellen Ochoa)
3. What Supreme Court case declared that Mexican Americans and all other racial groups had equal protection under the 14th Amendment? (Hernandez v. Texas)
4. Name the Latina judge named to the country's highest court. (Judge Sonia Sotomayor)
5. Name the Spanish-American physician and biochemist, and joint winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Dr. Severo Ochoa)
- Who headed the meeting? (Alonzo S. Gonzales)
- What was the major issue that divided the group? (Whether Mexican Citizens should be involved in Texas political issues)
- Name the new group that resulted from this meeting? (Leagues of Latin American Citizens and League of United Latin American Citizens)
2. A veteran of four space flights, she is the first Hispanic woman in space. Who is she? (Ellen Ochoa)
- Ellen Ochoa is also a co-inventor on patents for electronic optical systems. How many patents did she co-invent? (Three)
- Ellen Ochoa holds both a Masters and Doctoral degrees from _____________ University, which is also an Alma Mater of Mae Jemison. (Stanford University)
- Currently, Dr. Ochoa currently serves as Director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in what city? (Houston)
3. What Supreme Court case declared that Mexican Americans and all other racial groups had equal protection under the 14th Amendment? (Hernandez v. Texas)
- Why was the 14th Amendment violated in Pedro Hernandez's case when he was convicted to life in prison? (Because he was convicted by an all-white jury, the 14th Amendment provision states that all citizens have the right to a trial by a jury of peers)
- No Mexican-Americans had served as jurors in Jackson County in over ________ years. (25)
- Who argues that Hernandez was being denied the equal protection afforded to white and black citizens due to a murky racial distinction? He also noted that 14 percent of Jackson County's population had Mexican Surnames, but no Mexican-American were called to serve on juries. (Attorney Gus Garcia)
4. Name the Latina judge named to the country's highest court. (Judge Sonia Sotomayor)
- What nickname was given to Sonia when sh read her 2001 speech for the University of California, Berkeley? (The Wise Latina)
- What year was Judge Sonia Sotomayor named to the U.S. Supreme Court? (2009)
- What landmark ruling shares the same year Sotomayor was born in 1954? (Brown v. Board of Education)
5. Name the Spanish-American physician and biochemist, and joint winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Dr. Severo Ochoa)
- Name the scientist who was his joint winner. (Arthur Kornberg)
- What did he discover? (An enzyme in bacteria that enabled him to synthesize ribonucleic acid (RNA)
- What is ribonucleic acid (RNA) mainly used for today? (RNA/DNA combinations to improve memory and mental sharpness, treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease, treat depression, increase energy)