History is a teacher. And African-American history can teach everyone.So,ask yourself what you know about the...
History of a People
Editor's note: African-American history, like any history, is the story of people and their experiences. African-American history month provides the opportunity to pause and consider the significance of a people and their actions. This compilation of questions and answers gives the chance to learn more about a culture that often is under-represented in history. This short quiz is not comprehensive. A complete list of the contributions that African Americans have made to history would fill libraries. This quiz is meant to fill a few minutes of time as well as to enhance knowledge of African-American history.
What famous African-American poet, whose first book of poetry was entitled Weary Blues, lived in Lawrence until he was 10?
Langston Hughes
Who was I. F. Bradley Sr.?
I. F. Bradley Sr. graduated from the University of Kansas in 1887. He was one of the first African Americans to practice law in Kansas and later served as City Justice of the Peace from 1889-1891 in Kansas City, Kan. He then was the first Assistant County Attorney of Wyandotte County from 1894-1898. In 1930 he became owner and editor of the Wyandotte Echo newspaper.
Who became the first African-American District Court Judge in Kansas in 1972?
A: Cordell D. Meeks Sr. He graduated from the University in 1937 and from the KU law school in 1940. While a freshman, he presented a list of grievances to the Dean of Men in an effort to end segregation of University clubs and societies.
Where can records from several African-American funeral homes in Kansas be found at the University of Kansas?
The Kansas Collection. These records offer insight into African-American life by documenting family history and occupations.
What was the name of the only African-American high school in Kansas?
A: Sumner High School. It was in Kansas City, Kan., and was an African-American high school from 1905 to 1978. Yearbooks, newspapers, photos, films and Parent Teacher Association minutes from the school are stored at the University as part of the Kansas Collection. They will be on display in the first floor of the Spencer Research Library through February.
Where in Kansas did George Washington Carver, the inventor of peanut butter, live between 1886 and 1888?
1. 5 miles south of Beeler. He left after he was refused admis sion into the all-Caucasian Highland College in Highland, Kan.
Sumner High School Band, 1918
Where was the only African-American hospital in Kansas?
Douglas Hospital in Douglas County.
On which team in the Negro American League did Jackie Robinson begin his professional baseball career?
The Kansas City Monarchs.
Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, becoming the third African American and the youngest person ever to receive the award?
Martin Luther King Jr.
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Who directed the Universal Negro Improvement Association, an organization of more than 6 million due-paying members that represented the interests of every significant black population in the world?
Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
Elmer C. Jackson
Who was the black composer who wrote songs for Elvis Presley including Don't be Cruel and I'm all Shook Up?
Who was the first African American to serve on the Kansas Board of Regents?
Elmer C. Jackson. Jackson earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University in 1933 and graduated from the KU law school in 1935. He established the National Bar Foundation in 1968.
David Bunt was a cabinet- maker. He became famous for making what entirely out of wood?
Who was the first African-American Rhodes Scholar?
A working automobile.
Alain L. Locke, in 1907
This black activist and Nation of Islam leader grew up in Omaha, Neb. His father was killed by the Ku Klux Klan for teaching the doctrines of Marcus Garvey. Who was this leader who was killed in 1965?
Malcolm X
Who is thought to be the first person to die in the Boston Massacre of 1770?
Crispus Attucks.
Information for this quiz was contributed by Sheryl Williams, curator, and Deborah Dandridge, archivist of the Kansas Collection; 1,999 Facts About Blacks, A Sourcebook of African-American Accommodations by Bernard M.
Accomplishment by Raymono Corbin; African American Historic Places, edited by Beth L. Savage; and the Office of Minority Affairs.
African-American History Month Calendar of Events:
*Thursday, Feb. 1: Office of Minority Affairs Panel Discussion; 7 p.m.; Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union*
Monday, Feb. 5: Keynote speaker Starletta DuPois, actress and adjunct professor at the University of Southern California; 7:30 p.m.; Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
Tuesday, Feb. 6: Diversity Dialogue — "Affirmative Action — Does It Heal or Hurt?" , 7 p.m.; Jayhawk Room, Kansas Union
Friday, Feb. 2: Gospel concert with Inspirational Gospel Voices; 7:30 p.m.; Swarthout Auditorium, Murphy Hall
Friday, Feb. 9: Mor Thiam and the Ballet Afrique Dance Company; 7:30 p.m.; Swarthout Auditorium, Murphy Hall
Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10: Symposium — "Black Women's Studies: Retrospect and Prospect"
— Featured speaker Soraya Mire, Somali filmmaker; 2 p.m.; Pine Room, Kansas Union
— Featured speaker Nell Irvin Painter, author and professor at Princeton University; 2.p.m.; Centennial Room, Kansas Union
— Featured speaker Katie Cannon,
author and professor at Temple Uni-
vity; 3:30 p.m.; Centennial Room, Kansas
Union
Featured speaker Cheryl Wall, author and professor at Rutgers University; 3:30 p.m.; Pine Room, Kansas Union
Saturday, Feb. 10: Panel discussion with Mire, Painter, Wall and Cannon; 2 p.m.; Ballroom, Kansas Union
Tuesday, Feb. 13: Lecture — "The American Health Care Crisis; My Cure"; M. Joycelyn Elders; 9 a.m.; Lied Center
■ Monday, Feb. 12; Staged Reading —
Grandpa's Ghosts: 8: m., 100 Smith Hall
Panel Discussion — "Black Male Think Tank," K9, m.Swb利库, Burge Union
Tuesday, Feb. 13: Panel Discussion — Angels in America; 7 p.m.; Jayhawk Room, Kansas Union
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb.
15-18 19th Annual Big Eight Conference on Black Student Government — "Restructure, Reunite, Revolution: The Time Has Come Again"; For more information, contact the KU Black Student Union at 864-3984
- **Tuesday, Feb. 20:** Panel Discussion — "Sisterhood"; 7 p.m.; SW Lobby, Burge Union
*Lecture — "The Future of Rap"; 8 p.m.;
Frontier Front, Burge Union*
Thursday, Feb. 22: Video and Cultural Presentation — "Monday's Girls"; 7:30 p.m.; Dyce Auditorium, Natural History Museum
Friday, Feb. 23. Forum led by Patricia Spears-Jones; 2:30 p.m.; 4064 Wescoe Hall
**Poetry Reading — Patricia Spears Jones;**
7 p.m.; Malot Room, Kansas Union
Dramatic Performance — "They Don Took Our Men an' Gone"; 7 p.m.; Dyche Auditorium, Natural History Museum
Saturday, Feb. 24: African-American Quiz Bowl; 10 a.m.; Southwest Junior High School; 2511 Inverness
- "1996 Phenomenal Woman of the Year Award"; 7 p.m.; Frontier Room, Burge Union
■ Wednesday, Feb. 28: Lecture by Judith Mabbey, professor of African and African-American Studies — "Who Am I? The Limits of Reinventing Tradition for Individual Self-Identification"; 3:30 p.m.; Governor's Room, Kansas Union
Tuesday, Feb. 27: Panel Discussion — "Involvement with Empowerment"; 7 p.m.; SW Lobby, Burge Union
- **Thursday, Feb. 29:** Panel Discussion — “Contract on Women: Interpreting the Radical Right Agenda”; 7 p.m.; Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.
The above programs are free and open to the general public. Source: African-American History Month Planning Committee and the Office of Minority Affairs
January 31, 1996
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