Civil Rights and Labor Leaders Quiz

This pioneering African American labor leader and civil rights activist played a major role in both the labor and civil rights movements. He was the first president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Who is he?

• Booker T. Washington

• A. Philip Randolph

• W.E.B. Du Bois

• George Washington Carver

This woman was not only a labor leader but also a civil rights activist. She became an iconic figure by organizing African American women workers and founded the National Negro Labor Council. Who is she?

• Ella Baker

• Fannie Lou Hamer

• Dorothy Height

• A. Philip Randolph

This American author and labor leader was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement in the 1920s that highlighted African American arts and culture. Best known for his writing on the struggles of African American workers, he explored the impact of industrialization on Black families and advocated for labor rights through his work as an editor of a major labor newspaper. Deeply concerned with racial inequality, he wrote about the challenges Black workers faced in both the workplace and broader society, addressing issues of labor rights and racial injustice.

• Langston Hughes

• Zora Neale Hurston

• James Baldwin

• John Henry

This organization, founded in 1909, has been at the forefront of fighting for African American civil rights and combating inequality.  Known for its legal challenges to segregation and discrimination, it continues to advocate for social justice, equal rights, and the advancement of African Americans in labor and other sectors. The organization has played a key role in combating inequality, and discriminatory laws, and has been involved in labor rights struggles for Black workers.

• National Urban League

• NAACP

• Black Panther Party

• CORE

This African American labor activist was the first woman to lead a major union and advocated for the rights of women working in households. She helped the National Domestic Workers Union grow, advocating for the rights of women working in households. Her efforts were critical in ensuring that domestic workers—most of whom were African American women—were paid fairly and treated with respect. Her leadership laid the foundation for future labor reforms, making her an influential figure in the labor movement.

• Harriet Tubman

• Dorothy Lee

• Sarah Lou Harkness

• Maida Springer

Known as the "father of Black history," this historian, educator, and scholar was passionate about highlighting the contributions of African Americans in history and labor. In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to promote the study of Black history. His efforts were instrumental in creating Negro History Week, which later evolved into Black History Month.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

• Carter G. Woodson

• Booker T. Washington

• W.E.B. Du Bois

This legendary African American leader, diplomat, and civil rights advocate became the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He worked tirelessly to improve conditions for workers in labor movements throughout the U.S., helping ensure more equitable working conditions for African American workers.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

• Jackie Robinson

• Ralph Bunche

• Langston Hughes

This influential African American leader, born in 1885, was a prominent civil rights advocate and labor activist who co-founded the National Urban League. The organization worked to improve employment opportunities and economic conditions for African Americans, particularly in urban areas.

• Marcus Garvey

• W.E.B. Du Bois

• A. Philip Randolph

• Eugene K. Jones

This trailblazing African American woman was a powerful voice for labor rights and social change. In 1921, she was the second African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. and the first one to receive one in economics in the United States. In 1927, she was the first Black woman to receive a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and went on to become the first Black woman to practice law in the state. In 1946 she was appointed to the President's Committee of Civil Rights established by President Harry Truman.

• Shirley Chisholm

• Constance Baker Motley

• Sadie T.M. Alexander

• Daisy Bates

This powerful African American voice became the first woman to serve as a U.S. Secretary of Labor, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Who is she?

• Shirley Chisholm

• Constance Baker Motley

• Frances Perkins