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GUESS WHO? Black History Month
MS: Middle School
Created on February 8, 2024
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GUESS WHO?
February is Black History Month. Play the game to guess the famous African Americans in history based on their accomplishments and legacy!
Discover the Historical figure with a few clues
Who is this person?
Good luck!
He was the first African American general in the United States Air Force, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of black military leaders.
Clue 1
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During World War II, he commanded the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots who overcame prejudice to become highly respected fighter pilots.
Clue 2
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Despite facing discrimination and segregation, he persevered and excelled in his military career, earning numerous awards and decorations for leadership and bravery.
Last clue!
congratulations!
BENJAMIN O. DAVIS JR.
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Who is this person?
BENJAMIN O. DAVIS JR.
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Her work often explored themes of identity, resilience, and the African American experience, earning her numerous awards and recognitions.
Clue 1
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She is a renowned poet, author, and civil rights activist, best known for her autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
Clue 2
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In addition to her prolific writing career, she was also a talented dancer and singer, performing in clubs and theaters across the United States.
Last clue!
congratulations!
Maya Angelou
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Who is this person?
Maya Angelou
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He faced racial discrimination and inequality when he was in the military, but didn't let that stop him from pursuing his love for baseball.
Clue 1
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He made history as the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB), breaking the sport's color barrier in 1947.
Clue 2
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His legacy extends far beyond baseball; He became a symbol of resilience, paving the way for future generations of African American athletes and leaving an indelible mark on the history of sports and social progress.
Last clue!
congratulations!
JACKIE ROBINSON
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Who is this person?
JACKIE ROBINSON
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She made history as the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license, breaking barriers in the aviation industry in the early 20th century.
Clue 1
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She performed daredevil aerial stunts and became known as "Queen Bess," thrilling audiences with her aerial acrobatics and fearlessness in the sky.
Clue 2
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Her legacy lives on as a pioneer for women and African Americans in aviation, inspiring future generations to reach for the skies and break down barriers.
Last clue!
congratulations!
BESSIE COLEMAN
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Who is this person?
BESSIE COLEMAN
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Alongside his musical career, he actively fought against racial segregation and discrimination, using his platform to advocate for civil rights.
Clue 1
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He is known as the "Father of Jazz" and his music revolutionized the genre with the unique trumpet playing and gravelly voice.
Clue 2
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His most famous song, "What a Wonderful World," continues to inspire people with its hopeful lyrics and soothing melody.
Last clue!
congratulations!
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
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Who is this person?
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
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Born and raised in Philadelphia, she used her platform to highlight issues affecting marginalized communities, particularly within the entertainment industry.
Clue 1
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She rose to fame as a comedian and actress making hilarious content on social media platforms like Instagram and Vine.
Clue 2
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At the 2024 Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman to win best comedic actress in over 40 years for her role in Abbott Elementary. She was also placed on the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list.
Last clue!
congratulations!
QUINTA BRUNSON
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Who is this person?
QUINTA BRUNSON
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He was nicknamed "The Greatest" and his famous catchphrase was "I am the greatest!" (Hinting at his confidence and self-belief)
Clue 1
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He was a champion who fought for what he believed in, both inside and outside the ring. (Hinting at his activism for civil rights and social justice)
Clue 2
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He floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee. (Hinting at his speed and agility in boxing)
Last clue!
congratulations!
MUHAMMAD ALI
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Who is this person?
MUHAMMAD ALI
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PLAY AGAIN
You have learned about 7 historical African-American figures. You can either play again or click on the images to learn more about specific people.
Quinta Brunson is an American writer, producer, actress, and comedian from West Philadelphia, PA. She is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing, and starring in the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary. Brunson gained prominence for her online content created for BuzzFeed Video and BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. At the 2024 Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman in 40 years to win best comedic actress for her role in Abbott Elementary. Quinta Brunson was also placed on the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list. https://kids.kiddle.co/Quinta_Brunson
A multitalented writer and performer, Maya Angelou is best known for her work as an author and poet. Her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. Some of her famous poems include “Phenomenal Woman,” “Still I Rise,” and “On the Pulse of Morning,” which she recited at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993 and which earned her a Grammy Award. Angelou also enjoyed a career as a Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor and singer in plays, musicals, and onscreen. She became the first Black woman to have a screenplay produced with the 1972 movie Georgia, Georgia. In her work as a civil rights activist, she collaborated with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, among others. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient died in May 2014 at age 86. https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/maya-angelou
A multitalented writer and performer, Maya Angelou is best known for her work as an author and poet. Her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. Some of her famous poems include “Phenomenal Woman,” “Still I Rise,” and “On the Pulse of Morning,” which she recited at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993 and which earned her a Grammy Award. Angelou also enjoyed a career as a Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor and singer in plays, musicals, and onscreen. She became the first Black woman to have a screenplay produced with the 1972 movie Georgia, Georgia. In her work as a civil rights activist, she collaborated with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, among others. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient died in May 2014 at age 86. https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/maya-angelou
Muhammad Ali is considered one of the best boxer of all time. Growing up, he went by his given name, Cassius Clay. In 1964 he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Ali began boxing at the age of 12. He created a completely new playful and fleet-footed style of fighting. Muhammad Ali is courageous outside the ring as well. He uses his fame to tackle political issues. He is a champion of his religion, Islam, but also of peace and African-American causes. In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Despite this, the Sportsman of the Century continues to appear in public. He is courageously facing his illness. Muhammad Ali has not lost any of his fighting spirit. https://www.britannica.com/video/180020/Overview-life-career-Muhammad-Ali
From a New Orleans boys’ home to Hollywood, Carnegie Hall and television, the tale of Louis Armstrong’s life and triumphant six-decade career epitomizes the American success story. His trumpet playing revolutionized the world of music, and he became one of our century’s most recognized and best loved entertainers. Armstrong’s work as an instrumentalist and vocalist continue to have a profound impact on American music. As a Black man living and working in a segregated society, he symbolized the civil rights struggle that was part of the changing America in which he lived. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/louis-armstrong-about-louis-armstrong/528/
Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman to obtain an international pilot’s license, soaring to new heights that Black people in the United States had never reached before. But as a Black woman in the 1920s, she faced many obstacles because of her race and gender. Every school rejected her because she was Black and a woman. Bessie traveled to France to get her pilot license so she could return to be an aerial acrobat. Known as “Queen Bess” and “Brave Bessie,” she would do loops, barrel rolls, and figure eights in her plane—she’d even walk on the wings and parachute out. She also used her fame to fight racism and segregation, refusing to fly in shows that forced Black and white spectators to enter through separate gates. She would say that “the air is the only place free from prejudice.” https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/bessie-coleman
Baseball player Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier as its first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on to have a decade-long Hall of Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans and opponents. Also a vocal civil rights activist, Robinson served on the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater racial integration in sports. He died in 1972 at age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s jersey, No. 42, in 1997, and the league celebrates his legacy and accomplishments annually on Jackie Robinson Day. https://www.biography.com/athletes/jackie-robinson
A multitalented writer and performer, Maya Angelou is best known for her work as an author and poet. Her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. Some of her famous poems include “Phenomenal Woman,” “Still I Rise,” and “On the Pulse of Morning,” which she recited at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993 and which earned her a Grammy Award. Angelou also enjoyed a career as a Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor and singer in plays, musicals, and onscreen. She became the first Black woman to have a screenplay produced with the 1972 movie Georgia, Georgia. In her work as a civil rights activist, she collaborated with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, among others. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient died in May 2014 at age 86. https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/maya-angelou
Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman to obtain an international pilot’s license, soaring to new heights that Black people in the United States had never reached before. But as a Black woman in the 1920s, she faced many obstacles because of her race and gender. Every school rejected her because she was Black and a woman. Bessie traveled to France to get her pilot license so she could return to be an aerial acrobat. Known as “Queen Bess” and “Brave Bessie,” she would do loops, barrel rolls, and figure eights in her plane—she’d even walk on the wings and parachute out. She also used her fame to fight racism and segregation, refusing to fly in shows that forced Black and white spectators to enter through separate gates. She would say that “the air is the only place free from prejudice.” https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/bessie-coleman
From a New Orleans boys’ home to Hollywood, Carnegie Hall and television, the tale of Louis Armstrong’s life and triumphant six-decade career epitomizes the American success story. His trumpet playing revolutionized the world of music, and he became one of our century’s most recognized and best loved entertainers. Armstrong’s work as an instrumentalist and vocalist continue to have a profound impact on American music. As a Black man living and working in a segregated society, he symbolized the civil rights struggle that was part of the changing America in which he lived. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/louis-armstrong-about-louis-armstrong/528/
Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman to obtain an international pilot’s license, soaring to new heights that Black people in the United States had never reached before. But as a Black woman in the 1920s, she faced many obstacles because of her race and gender. Every school rejected her because she was Black and a woman. Bessie traveled to France to get her pilot license so she could return to be an aerial acrobat. Known as “Queen Bess” and “Brave Bessie,” she would do loops, barrel rolls, and figure eights in her plane—she’d even walk on the wings and parachute out. She also used her fame to fight racism and segregation, refusing to fly in shows that forced Black and white spectators to enter through separate gates. She would say that “the air is the only place free from prejudice.” https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/bessie-coleman
Baseball player Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier as its first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on to have a decade-long Hall of Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans and opponents. Also a vocal civil rights activist, Robinson served on the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater racial integration in sports. He died in 1972 at age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s jersey, No. 42, in 1997, and the league celebrates his legacy and accomplishments annually on Jackie Robinson Day. https://www.biography.com/athletes/jackie-robinson
Muhammad Ali is considered one of the best boxer of all time. Growing up, he went by his given name, Cassius Clay. In 1964 he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Ali began boxing at the age of 12. He created a completely new playful and fleet-footed style of fighting. Muhammad Ali is courageous outside the ring as well. He uses his fame to tackle political issues. He is a champion of his religion, Islam, but also of peace and African-American causes. In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Despite this, the Sportsman of the Century continues to appear in public. He is courageously facing his illness. Muhammad Ali has not lost any of his fighting spirit. https://www.britannica.com/video/180020/Overview-life-career-Muhammad-Ali
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., was the first African American to serve as a general in the U.S. Air Force. He was commander of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II (1939–45) and received many decorations and awards during his career. He assisted President Harry Truman with implementing desegregation within the Air Force. His honors included two Distinguished Service Medals and a Silver Star. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Benjamin-Oliver-Davis-Jr/310939
Baseball player Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier as its first Black athlete. The infielder made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, and went on to have a decade-long Hall of Fame career despite repeated threats and abuse from fans and opponents. Also a vocal civil rights activist, Robinson served on the board of the NAACP and advocated for greater racial integration in sports. He died in 1972 at age 53. MLB retired Robinson’s jersey, No. 42, in 1997, and the league celebrates his legacy and accomplishments annually on Jackie Robinson Day. https://www.biography.com/athletes/jackie-robinson
From a New Orleans boys’ home to Hollywood, Carnegie Hall and television, the tale of Louis Armstrong’s life and triumphant six-decade career epitomizes the American success story. His trumpet playing revolutionized the world of music, and he became one of our century’s most recognized and best loved entertainers. Armstrong’s work as an instrumentalist and vocalist continue to have a profound impact on American music. As a Black man living and working in a segregated society, he symbolized the civil rights struggle that was part of the changing America in which he lived. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/louis-armstrong-about-louis-armstrong/528/
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., was the first African American to serve as a general in the U.S. Air Force. He was commander of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II (1939–45) and received many decorations and awards during his career. He assisted President Harry Truman with implementing desegregation within the Air Force. His honors included two Distinguished Service Medals and a Silver Star. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Benjamin-Oliver-Davis-Jr/310939
Quinta Brunson is an American writer, producer, actress, and comedian from West Philadelphia, PA. She is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing, and starring in the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary. Brunson gained prominence for her online content created for BuzzFeed Video and BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. At the 2024 Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman in 40 years to win best comedic actress for her role in Abbott Elementary. Quinta Brunson was also placed on the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list. https://kids.kiddle.co/Quinta_Brunson
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., was the first African American to serve as a general in the U.S. Air Force. He was commander of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II (1939–45) and received many decorations and awards during his career. He assisted President Harry Truman with implementing desegregation within the Air Force. His honors included two Distinguished Service Medals and a Silver Star. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Benjamin-Oliver-Davis-Jr/310939
Quinta Brunson is an American writer, producer, actress, and comedian from West Philadelphia, PA. She is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing, and starring in the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary. Brunson gained prominence for her online content created for BuzzFeed Video and BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. At the 2024 Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman in 40 years to win best comedic actress for her role in Abbott Elementary. Quinta Brunson was also placed on the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list. https://kids.kiddle.co/Quinta_Brunson
Muhammad Ali is considered one of the best boxer of all time. Growing up, he went by his given name, Cassius Clay. In 1964 he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Ali began boxing at the age of 12. He created a completely new playful and fleet-footed style of fighting. Muhammad Ali is courageous outside the ring as well. He uses his fame to tackle political issues. He is a champion of his religion, Islam, but also of peace and African-American causes. In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Despite this, the Sportsman of the Century continues to appear in public. He is courageously facing his illness. Muhammad Ali has not lost any of his fighting spirit. https://www.britannica.com/video/180020/Overview-life-career-Muhammad-Ali