Quiz Yourself with 120 Funny Black Trivia Questions and Answers
Ready to test your knowledge and have some fun along the way? Dive into our collection of funny black trivia questions and answers. Whether you’re looking to break the ice at a party or simply want to learn something new about the rich tapestry of Black culture, these trivia questions are perfect for lightening the mood while educating.
So gather around with friends or family, and let’s see how much you really know!
Funny Black Trivia Questions and Answers
Historical Achievements
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- Who was so good at arguing he ended up on the Supreme Court?
Answer: Thurgood Marshall. He made history in 1967 and never lost an argument at home again. - What politician said ‘Unbought and unbossed’ and made Congress a lot cooler?
Answer: Shirley Chisholm in 1968. She wasn’t just part of the furniture! - Who won a Nobel Peace Prize and probably never had to pay for drinks again?
Answer: Ralph Bunche, 1950. Mediating peace has its perks! - Who could’ve invented the ‘No, you move’ meme in Montgomery?
Answer: Rosa Parks, 1955. She definitely knew how to stand her ground by sitting down. - Who made opera cool before the Met was ready in 1949?
Answer: William Grant Still with his opera “Troubled Island” – probably thought opera needed more drama. - Who started the trend of owning a TV station before YouTube made it a thing?
Answer: WGPR in Detroit, 1975. Because why not? - Who was out of this world before it was cool in 1983?
Answer: Guion S. Bluford, the space man! - Who made running the free world look easy in 2008?
Answer: Barack Obama. Talk about upgrading your office space! - Who was the first to get an Oscar for turning down a job in ‘Lilies of the Field’ 1963?
Answer: Sidney Poitier. Sometimes, saying no really pays off! - Who took ‘higher learning’ to the next level in space, 1992?
Answer: Mae Jemison, reaching for the stars, literally. - Which artist got Time to stop for a cover in 1941?
Answer: Jacob Lawrence, making sure everyone got the time to see his art. - Who broke the color barrier in baseball and stole bases like a boss?
Answer: Jackie Robinson, 1947. He was stealing bases and hearts! - Who was America’s invisible man with way too much visibility in 1952?
Answer: Ralph Ellison, famous for being seen but not heard. - First lady of high jumps and Olympic golds in 1948?
Answer: Alice Coachman, jumping over standards and setting her own. - Who made haunting memories a Pulitzer Prize-winning story in 1988?
Answer: Toni Morrison with “Beloved.” Spooky how good it is!
Cultural Contributions
- Who made piano rags the pop music of the late 1800s?
Answer: Scott Joplin, the ragtime king who probably never had to fold his own laundry. - Who turned jumping into a dance craze during the Harlem Renaissance?
Answer: Whoever started the Lindy Hop. Maybe they were just trying to see over the crowd? - King of Pop and epic music videos?
Answer: Michael Jackson. Yes, he made zombies and sidewalks light up cool. - Who made demanding respect sound so good?
Answer: Aretha Franklin. All she wanted was a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. - Who was writing plays, chopping wood, and winning hearts in Harlem?
Answer: Langston Hughes, a man of words and axes. - What ‘Queen of Funk’ could out-sing any disco ball?
Answer: Chaka Khan, whose voice was probably registered as a lethal weapon. - What singer could make you cry ‘tears on my pillow’?
Answer: Little Anthony. He was not responsible for any water damage. - Which group made you check the rhyme and your Adidas?
Answer: Run-D.M.C. They were tougher than leather! - Who painted their way to peace and broke color barriers?
Answer: Alma Thomas. Her art was louder than words. - Who taught America its family tree has deep roots in Africa?
Answer: Alex Haley with “Roots.” It turns out we’re all invited to the family reunion. - First Black director to make Oscars history with a Best Picture?
Answer: Steve McQueen for “12 Years a Slave.” He turned history into gold! - Who used a typewriter to write plays that won more awards than his shelf could handle?
Answer: August Wilson. His typewriter was probably the hardest-working one in show business. - Who designed Jackie O’s wedding dress and made every other dress look underdressed?
Answer: Ann Lowe, making every bride wish for a do-over. - Who gave streaming music a new beat?
Answer: Jay-Z with Tidal. Because why should tech billionaires have all the fun? - Who could laugh about family life better than any sitcom?
Answer: Eddie Murphy, in “Raw” and “Delirious,” teaching life lessons one laugh at a time.
Iconic Figures
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- Who talked more trash and floated better than a butterfly?
Answer: Muhammad Ali. He could sting like a bee too, but his words stung even more! - Who made reading cool again from her TV show couch?
Answer: Oprah Winfrey. If Oprah likes a book, it better be on your shelf too! - Who was the queen of rock ‘n’ roll with the fiercest legs in music history?
Answer: Tina Turner. Those legs weren’t just for great dance moves; they were revolutionary! - Which genius made it okay to wear the same outfit every day?
Answer: Steve Jobs. Oh, wait, wrong genius. It’s Albert Einstein with his signature grey suit! - Who could preach, lead, and dream all at the same time?
Answer: Martin Luther King Jr. He didn’t just give speeches; he gave us visions. - Who runs the world according to their hit song?
Answer: Beyoncé. Hint: It’s girls. Girls run this motha! - Who made playing jazz on the trumpet a presidential affair?
Answer: Louis Armstrong. He probably could’ve won an election with that smile! - Who turned tennis into a nail-biting, history-making spectacle?
Answer: Serena Williams. She serves aces both on and off the court. - Who brought Wakanda to life and had us all saying ‘Wakanda forever’?
Answer: Chadwick Boseman. Long live the king! - Who painted the town, literally, with vibrant, pulsating colors?
Answer: Jean-Michel Basquiat. His art wasn’t just art; it was a vibe. - Who danced on air and made us all want to take tap lessons?
Answer: Fred Astaire. Just kidding, it’s Gregory Hines! - Who made us laugh with a red table and some tough talk?
Answer: Jada Pinkett Smith. The Red Table Talk is where secrets come to life! - Who sang about ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ and made us all believers?
Answer: Sam Cooke. He didn’t just sing songs; he preached anthems. - Which director makes movies that are equal parts spooky, thrilling, and thought-provoking?
Answer: Jordan Peele. He’s the guy who made us afraid of teacups. - Who gave us the cosmos but made it cool and comprehensible?
Answer: Neil deGrasse Tyson. He’s the only one who can explain the universe without making you snore.
Cinema and Television
- Who turned a mobster saga into an offer no one could refuse on the big screen?
Answer: Francis Ford Coppola with “The Godfather.” But it’s Marlon Brando who really made you an offer! - What TV family showed us the upscale African American lifestyle in Brooklyn?
Answer: The Huxtables in “The Cosby Show.” They made sweaters cool again. - Who’s the most famous fictional spy who likes his martinis shaken, not stirred?
Answer: James Bond. Yes, we know he’s not real, but don’t tell his fans! - Which sitcom made us all wish we could chill in a coffee shop all day with friends?
Answer: “Friends.” Because who doesn’t want friends who don’t have to go to work? - Who made cooking look like an action movie in the kitchen?
Answer: Gordon Ramsay. His secret ingredient? A dash of fury. - Who is the mother of dragons, breaker of chains, and the freer of slaves?
Answer: Daenerys Targaryen. Too bad she didn’t have a dragon for every problem. - Which TV lawyer made wearing suits look like the best job in the world?
Answer: Harvey Specter from “Suits.” He’s the reason you own a tie. - What happens when you mix chemistry with crime? Hint: It’s explosive.
Answer: “Breaking Bad.” Walter White’s recipe for disaster. - Who’s the doctor who can travel through time but can’t seem to find his way out of trouble?
Answer: Doctor Who. Maybe a map would help? - Which character from ‘The Office’ thinks that’s what she said?
Answer: Michael Scott. And yes, he said it one too many times. - Who is the queen of talk shows who also loves bread?
Answer: Oprah Winfrey again. Because one mention is never enough for Oprah! - What’s the show where you can win money just by knowing trivia?
Answer: “Jeopardy!” Where your knowledge of potent potables actually pays off. - Which TV host can spin wheels better than a DJ?
Answer: Pat Sajak on “Wheel of Fortune.” Vanna White helps, too. - Who made living in New York seem impossibly glamorous on a writer’s salary?
Answer: Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City.” Because rent is just a number. - Which family made modern family dynamics a prime-time hit?
Answer: The Pritchetts and Dunphys on “Modern Family.” Family gatherings were never the same.
Music and Dance
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- Who made us all want to wear purple raincoats and doves cry?
Answer: Prince. The man who could turn any color into a fashion statement. - What dance move made everyone look slightly unhinged at parties in the 80s?
Answer: The Moonwalk, thanks to Michael Jackson. Slippery floors everywhere rejoice! - Who convinced the world to wear baggy pants and just “Jump Around”?
Answer: MC Hammer. You can’t touch this… or apparently, the ground. - Which legendary jazz musician could make a trumpet sing better than some vocalists?
Answer: Louis Armstrong. He didn’t just play the trumpet, he wooed it. - Who made a one-glove look iconic while fighting for the title of the ‘Queen of Pop’?
Answer: Madonna tried, but Michael Jackson owned it. - Which dance style involves breaking, popping, and locking that everyone tried but few mastered?
Answer: Breakdancing. If you could do it without calling an ambulance, you were probably a pro. - What song had everyone looking for love in ‘All the Wrong Places’?
Answer: “Looking for Love” by Johnny Lee, famously used in “Urban Cowboy,” which made everyone cowboy up! - Who showed the world that you could be tough and twirl on roller skates?
Answer: Beyoncé in her “Blow” music video. Skating rinks never looked cooler. - Who turned flamboyant piano playing and outrageous outfits into a global phenomenon?
Answer: Elton John. He was the original king of pop glam. - Which artist made us ‘Happy’ enough to dance joyfully in the streets?
Answer: Pharrell Williams. Because who else could wear a giant hat and still spread joy? - What ’90s dance craze involved a lot of jumping and pausing in awkward positions?
Answer: The Macarena. If you didn’t get stuck mid-move, did you even do it right? - Who brought ‘Vogue’ from the underground ballrooms to the mainstream?
Answer: Madonna. Strike a pose—there’s nothing to it! - Which artist asked if you could feel the love tonight, and we all said yes?
Answer: Elton John, making lions romantic since 1994. - What dance involves a lot of arm swinging and leg flailing but looks amazing when done right?
Answer: Irish Step Dancing. It’s all about looking cool from the waist up. - Who managed to dance and sing in heels higher than most people’s pain threshold?
Answer: Beyoncé again, because why not? She runs the world, after all.
Sports Milestones
- Who dunked from the free-throw line and made it look easy?
Answer: Michael Jordan. Air Jordan wasn’t just a sneaker brand! - Which tennis sisters have won more shiny things than your average pirate?
Answer: Venus and Serena Williams. Doubles, singles, they win it all. - Who ran so fast, he could probably turn back time?
Answer: Usain Bolt. If you blinked, you missed him. - Which boxer could ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’?
Answer: Muhammad Ali. He was the original trash-talking poet. - Who made golf cool before anyone really thought golf was cool?
Answer: Tiger Woods. He made Sunday red a thing. - Which soccer player could bend it better than any of us will ever do?
Answer: David Beckham. He bent balls, hearts, and commercials. - Who tackled more giants than Jack in the Beanstalk?
Answer: Lawrence Taylor. He was a nightmare on the field, a fairy tale for his team. - What sprinter could outrun shadows on a sunny day?
Answer: Florence Griffith Joyner, aka Flo-Jo. Nails longer than most races. - Who cycled their way to fame, fortune, and a lot of yellow shirts?
Answer: Lance Armstrong. He had a few ups and downs, to say the least. - Which swimmer won enough gold medals to decorate a Christmas tree?
Answer: Michael Phelps. He swims faster than most people drive. - Who hit tennis balls so hard, they should have had an “ouch” printed on them?
Answer: Serena Williams. Her serve should require a warning label. - Which figure skater could spin so fast, they started in one zip code and stopped in another?
Answer: Michelle Kwan. Grace on ice but a blur in motion. - Who managed to win the Tour de France seven times?
Answer: Lance Armstrong, before we all had a complicated relationship with his wins. - Who’s the hockey player so great they named a whole award after him?
Answer: Wayne Gretzky, because when you’re that good, they give you things. - Which NFL player danced into the end zone more than a dance troupe?
Answer: Deion Sanders. Prime Time wasn’t just his nickname; it was a warning to opponents.
Innovations and Inventions
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- Who made peanut butter a thing, and probably saved a million kids’ lunches?
Answer: George Washington Carver. He’s the unsung hero of your sandwich. - Who decided to cool the world down one ice cream scoop at a time?
Answer: Alfred L. Cralle. He invented the ice cream scoop, making summer bearable. - Who turned traffic into a well-organized ballet with his traffic light invention?
Answer: Garrett Morgan. Thanks to him, red means stop, green means go, and yellow means… hurry up? - Whose bright idea was it to literally make a ‘bright idea’ possible with the filament for light bulbs?
Answer: Lewis Latimer. Without him, Thomas Edison would’ve been left in the dark. - Who made it cool to super-soak your friends on a hot day?
Answer: Lonnie Johnson. The Super Soaker was his way of saying, “Chill out.” - Whose idea was it to stop babies from crying and start riding?
Answer: William H. Richardson. He reimagined the baby carriage, making walks in the park a lot smoother. - Who made your home smell fresh and clean with a little pine-scent magic?
Answer: Harry A. Cole, the inventor of Pine-Sol. Because who doesn’t love the smell of pine? - Who decided to give us all a chance to play Michael Jordan one-on-one at home?
Answer: Jerry Lawson. Thanks to him and his invention of the video game console, we can all dream big. - Who looked at shoes and decided they needed a makeover for comfort?
Answer: Jan Ernst Matzeliger. He didn’t invent shoes, but he made them easier to make and more comfortable to wear. - Who helped you avoid soggy sandwiches with the portable refrigerator?
Answer: Frederick McKinley Jones. He’s the reason your road trips are snack-happy. - Who empowered the visually impaired to read the time without a glance?
Answer: Bradley Timepiece by Hyungsoo Kim, a watch designed for everyone, including the blind. - Whose idea was it to let us all become amateur filmmakers with our phones?
Answer: James West. His research in microphones helped make every smartphone a recording studio. - Who decided to take cleaning to new heights with the dustpan on a stick?
Answer: Lloyd P. Ray, making sweeping a breeze and saving backs everywhere. - Who made sure we could keep hot things hot and cool things cool with the thermostat?
Answer: Frederick Jones, because sometimes you really just need the room to be a little less stuffy. - Who turned Sundays into the best days with the invention of the home video game console?
Answer: Jerry Lawson again, because once just isn’t enough for the father of modern gaming.
Culinary Delights
- Who decided to fry chicken and make it a worldwide sensation?
Answer: While not attributed to a single inventor, soul food chefs across America can take a bow. - Who took mac ‘n’ cheese from good to great?
Answer: James Hemings, trained in France and cooked for Thomas Jefferson, elevating mac ‘n’ cheese to gourmet status. - Who made it acceptable to eat dessert before dinner with sweet potato pie?
Answer: Again, a collective nod to Southern cuisine masters who perfected this sweet, spicy pie. - What’s the secret weapon in the kitchen that starts all great soups?
Answer: The Holy Trinity in Cajun cooking—bell peppers, onions, and celery. Not so secret, but definitely mighty! - Who put the soul in soul food and kept Sunday dinners lit?
Answer: Every grandmother from the South. Not all heroes wear capes, some wear aprons. - Who made beans the cool protein and not just a musical fruit?
Answer: George Washington Carver, who promoted alternative crops like sweet potatoes and soybeans. - What dish convinced the world that okra isn’t just a slimy vegetable?
Answer: Gumbo. It’s a Mardi Gras in your mouth! - Who can take credit for turning greens into the must-have side dish?
Answer: Callie’s Ham Dinner House in Charleston for Collard Greens that will make you forget they’re actually healthy. - Who transformed rice, beans, and meat into a must-have Monday dish?
Answer: Creole chefs with Red Beans and Rice. Mondays just got a lot less mundane. - Who figured out frying dough could result in a breakfast of champions?
Answer: The creators of beignets. It’s like a doughnut, but square and French. - What’s the ultimate comfort food that no winter should be without?
Answer: Jambalaya, a Creole dish with as much warmth as a Southern hug. - Who made spicy cool long before hot wings took off?
Answer: The inventors of jerk seasoning in Jamaica, turning up the heat on flavor. - What cake decided to be a rebel and go upside-down?
Answer: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, flipping the script on what a cake should be. - Who made peanut sauce the boss of flavor town?
Answer: West African cuisines, where peanuts aren’t just snacks, they’re sauce bosses. - Who made sweet and savory meet and fall in love on a plate?
Answer: Whoever first combined chicken and waffles. A match made in culinary heaven.
