By Michele Lee, Intern, Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Affairs

Every February, people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as a part of Black History Month. Black Americans have been integral to the development and advancement of innovation in the United States, with more than 30% employed in management, business, science and arts occupations. Test your knowledge with our Black History Month Trivia Questions based on the 2023 Census Facts for Features statistics.

1. Who was the first person to establish Black History Week in February?

a. Abraham Lincoln

b. Carter G. Woodson

c. Fredrick Douglass

2. What year did Black History week begin?

a. 1926

b. 1943

c. 2003

3. How many black-owned employer businesses are there in the United States in 2020?

a. 1,000 - 5,000

b. 10,000 – 20,000

c. 100,000 – 150,000

4. What percent of African Americans have a high school degree or higher?

a. 83%

b. 98%

C. 90%

5. Black or African Americans make up what percent of the U.S. population?

a. 8%

b. 15%

c. 24%

6. How many Black civilian military veterans are in the U.S.?

a. 1,000,000

b. 1,500,000

c. 2,000,000

For more information on key statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau including the projected Black population, voting registration, marital status, and jobs, please see the latest issue of the Facts for Features: National Black (African American) History Month 2023. 

Answers:

1. B. American historian Carter G. Woodson first established Black Week nearly a century ago. He decided the event was to be celebrated during the second week of February since it coincided with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Fredrick Douglass (Feb. 14)

2. A. Woodson began celebrating this event on the second week of February in 1926.

3. C. There are 140,918 Black-owned employer businesses in the U.S. as of 2020.

4. C. 90.3% of African Americans ages 25 and older have a high school diploma or higher as of 2021.

5. B. There are 49,586,352 Black or African Americans in the U.S., making up 15% of our nation’s population combined.

6. C. Nationwide, there are 2.0 million Black civilian military veterans in the U.S. as of 2021.