African-American history 101

Black Collegian, Feb 2001

African Background

1. What is the name given by DNA specialists to the world's first human as identified in Africa and determined by the study of genetic history?

2. Who was the first African warrior-king to unite Upper and Lower Egypt four millennia ago?

3. Name the two undoubted Africans who conquered and ruled all of Egypt at least 600 years before the birth of Christ.

4. Identified as the mother of Akhenaten, the world's first proponent of the idea of one God, this Egyptian Queen was described by her contemporaries as"coal " in complexion and undoubtedly African in her facial features.What was her name?

5. A 10th century African king on a round trip between his kingdom of ancient Mali and Mecca in Arabia was so wealthy that spending by his 40,000-person entourage upset the economies of the nations through which they passed. Identify this African King.

6. Songhai, the greatest and largest of the "Big Three" pre-colonial West African empires, was founded by a warrior family which supplied several generations of rulers with the same name. What was the name?

7. What was the name of a major pre-colonial African University whose professors were required to sign their individual names to the diplomas of every graduating student who had attended their classes?

8. Called the "African Attila, " this mighty warrior, in the 1820s, organized an exceptionally disciplined army of 100,000 soldiers and at age 34 conquered territory larger in size than the country of France. What was his actual name?

9. In East Africa, there're remnants of magnificent 14th century stone structures once known as the "African Acropolis" and "The Temple." Falsely attributed to European architects, these artifacts are now seen as the works of Africans exclusively. Identify these artifacts by the names now most commonly used to describe them.

10. Of scores of states and societies in pre-colonial West Africa, name the two largest and most famous.

11. In slavery era TransAtlantic trade involving Africa, Europe and the "New World,"what products were most commonly shipped from (a) Europe to African societies and (b) the "New World" slave societies to Europe?

12. European control of the African continent evolved from negotiated waterfront landing rights to military conquest, ending in the parcelling out of Africa to major European powers in the 1880s at an infamous conference held in what city?

13. In the 20th century African political independence movements, what types of associations did Black activists first organize in their freedom struggles?

14. With a larger circulation than any other newspaper published by Blacks anywhere and often carrying articles written in English, French and Spanish, the Negro World reached at least 500,000 readers per issue. It was published by what organization?

15. In 1914, France sanctioned the election of Blaise Diagne, the first Black from any European colony to hold a seat in a mainland law-making body. Identify this body

16. In Kenya, the famed Mau Mau movement represented reaction to political subordination, economic oppression and outright racism, but in the wake of the movement emerged the "George Washin-gton" of Kenya. What was his name?

17. More than one Nobel Prize has been awarded persons on the African continent. Identify the first African Nobel Prize recipient by name, country and year of award.

18. During the past century, of the 54 countries on the continent of Africa, all but one has been a "possession," "colony" or "protectorate" of some European power. What's the one exception?

19. Perhaps the most famous African of the 20th century, Nelson Mandela was freed in 1990 after spending 27 years behind bars as a political prisoner. Name the prison site where he served most of his sentence.

20. What language is most commonly spoken by Blacks in the western hemisphere?

African-American Firsts

21. In the colonial era, the first free Black self-governing community in North America was established in 1752 in Spanish-controlled Florida. Name this community.

22.The first publication produced by a person in defense of an African-American community was issued in 1794 by Richard Allen, the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal church, rejecting accusations of over charging for services in a Philadelphia city emergency Name the date and the occasion of the allegations.

23. While African Americans made up large proportions of sailors on early American ships, the first person to own a small fleet of seagoing vessels was based in Massachusetts and in 1813 financed his own "back-to-Africa" movement. Identify this merchant seaman.

24. Given the name "Isabella" and speaking Dutch from infancy, the first Black female professional antislavery orator, she has been given credit for a speech in English she never made. What was her stage name and what was the title of a litany written in her honor?

25. Trained in Boston's New England Female Medical College in 1864, the first African -American female holder of the degree Doctor of Medicine built up a huge practice in Richmond, Virginia. What was the name of this pioneer professional?