African American Women Authors Quiz

Answer: Phillis Wheatly

Phillis Wheatley was transported to Boston as a small child on a slave ship called "the Phillis". She was taken in by the Wheatley family, who taught her to read and write. Her knowledge of subjects that included Biblical studies, geography, literature, science, astronomy, mathematics, and history, impressed many colonial leaders who read her works. Her works focusing on religion and patriotism made her one of the most read readers of her time.

Wheatley used many of her poems to support the cause of the American Revolution and praised General George Washington's troops for their heroic acts. She spoke out against slavery, but many colonial leaders were afraid to address the issue because they wanted unity among the colonies. Her works speaking out against slavery were later used to influence the abolitionist movement.

Wheatley was able to earn her freedom and marry a free African American named John Peters in 1778. She worked as a housemaid to support her husband and three children. Wheatley continued to write poems until her death; she died of childbirth complications in December 1784.

Answer: Alice Walker

Alice Walker was the youngest child of eight. She was blind in one eye due to a childhood accident from playing with her brother. During her childhood, Walker found comfort in reading and writing.

Walker was active in civil rights during her college education and met Martin Luther King Jr. She married a white civil rights attorney and became a history consultant. Many of her first works of poetry and novels reflected her time with the civil rights movement.

Walker's work, "The Color Purple", became publicized in the film and theater industry. It related to many audiences with topics of abuse, civil rights, womanhood, and childhood trauma. The main character in the novel, Celie, learns to see herself as a valuable part of the universe, despite many obstacles.

Answer: Harriet Jacobs

Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery in North Carolina. She was sexually abused by her masters as a child. When she became an adult, her children were threatened if she did not perform their requests.

Jacobs manage to escape to the northern states, where she obtained freedom with her children. She linked up with abolitionists to share her story of slavery and abuse. In spite of being in free territory, she had to look out for bounty hunters that frequently sought out runaway slaves for rewards during the Civil War.

Her published story in "Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl" sparked attention to the horrors of slavery. It was published in Great Britain in 1862, and received praise from the London Daily News. Abolitionists used her work to push for reform in the United States and Great Britain.

Answer: Shirley Graham Du Bois

Shirley Graham served a music teacher and librarian at different universities before being involved in civil rights. She found a passion in speaking and writing, by joining African American movements.

She met W.E.B Du Bois while she was speaking for civil rights movements hosted by the All African People's Conference. She became active in speaking for socialism, believing that socialist systems offered more equal opportunities for African nations such as the Republic of Ghana.

When her first husband passed away she married W. E. B. Du Bois in 1951. They spoke for African American rights in Africa, China, and many nations across the globe. She continued to be active until she passed of breast cancer in 1977.

Answer: Annie Allen

Gwendolyn Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry on May 1, 1950, making her the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize.

Her book "Annie Allen" tells of a girl growing into womanhood. The poems tell the story of her birth, her mom, her reaction to racism, her view of love, war, and death. Annie reflects on a world that she wishes to change and be a part of.

Gwendolyn Brooks was born in Kansas and raised in Chicago. She based most of her works on ordinary people she had observed in her communities.

Brooks' family history also influenced her view on racism and equality. Her mother had been a teacher at the school that had been involved in the Brown vs. Board of Education case. Her grandfather had escaped slavery to fight for the Union in the Civil War.

Answer: True

"Beloved" was based on the true story of Margret Garner and her daughter. The duo escaped to freedom, but were pursued by slave hunters that wanted to bring them back south. In an attempt to spare her two year old daughter from the horror of slavery, Margret killed her. She was captured before she could commit suicide.

Morrison started her writing career in the 1970s as part of a group of poets at Howard University. Her first book, the "Bluest Eye", told the story of an African American girl growing up during the Great Depression. She continued to write poetry and novels focusing on African American culture, winning many awards for her works.

Morrison became active in politics and spoke for causes. When her son died, she started writing about veterans and cancer awareness. Her book "Home" was a tribute to honor her loss and her son's memory.

Morrison passed away from pneumonia in 2019. At her memorial she was honored by many celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, David Murray, and Angela Davis, for her life's work.

Answer: True

Mary Church Terrell's were both former slaves. Her father became a successful businessman and one of the south's first African American millionaires. Her mother ran a salon shop. Due to her parents' success, Terrell was able to earn a bachelor's and a master's degree, a privilege that was not given to most African Americans before Brown vs. Board of Education. She spent two years teaching at Wilberforce College, where she met her husband and became friends with several leaders in the civil rights movement.

When her friend Thomas Moss was hanged by white activist in 1892, Mary became involved in spreading the message about the horrors African Americans were facing. She joined Ida B. Wells and other African American Women to speak out about racism and hangings. She also campaigned for women's rights.

Terrell began writing books to draw attention to civil rights heroes and leaders. Her works included books on Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, and Susan B. Anthony. She published several books detailing the life of African Americans' struggles, including "Society Among the Colored People of Washington", "A Plea for the White South by a Colored Woman", and her autobiography.

Mary Terrell lived to see the 19th amendment passed. She also lived to see the Supreme Court rule on Brown vs. Board of Education, which ended segregation in schools. She died two months after the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling at the age of 90.

Answer: Rosa Parks: My Story

Rosa Parks published "Rosa Parks: My Story" in 1992, 37 years after her incident with the Montgomery bus boycotts.

She was not the first person to give up her seat. Several others before her had taken their cases to court and won. Claudette Colvin had given up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama nine months before Rosa Parks, and challenged her case in court. The courts had ruled that laws requiring segregation were unconstitutional. However nothing was changed until Rosa Park's incident provoked the boycotts. The Montgomery transit system lost tons of revenue and the civil rights movement gained momentum. Rosa Parks became an active voice for the civil rights cause.

After the civil rights era, Rosa Parks detail the accounts of civil rights movements in her books. As an author she encouraged younger people to fight for causes and issues that they believed were important.

Answer: Ann Petry

Ann Petry's 1946 novel "The Street" became the first novel by an African American woman to sell more than a million copies.

The novel's main character, Lutie Johnson, struggles to support herself and her son in Harlem. She believes if she saves money and works hard she can succeed and fulfill the American dream. Several people around her try to take advantage of her situation and try to lead Lutie down a tangled web of lies.

The novel won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award.

Answer: Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was known for being a poet and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry. In addition to her authoring career she has written plays for theater and screenplays for movies.

"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" was Maya's work detailing her life up until the age of 17. Maya survived many hardships including racism, rape, and family trauma.

Before writing the novel, Maya had worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For many years she did not celebrate her birthday because it was the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. During her depression, she met the cartoonist Jules Ralph Feiffer and other people who shared stories of their childhood. Their uplifting stories inspired her to encourage others with her life. Maya was dared to write "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" as a challenge from her editor, Robert Loomis.

"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" won the Literarian Award in 2013.