Black History Month Literature

Quiz

1. How did poet Vachel Lindsey discover Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes?

  • He heard Hughes reciting his poetry on a street corner.
  • While working in a restaurant, Hughes left copies of his poetry at Lindsey's table.
  • Lindsey found a copy of Hughes' poetry on a subway and was so impressed that he tracked him down.

2. According to playwright August Wilson, what got him "seriously interested in writing"?

  • Seeing the effect of a love note passed to a seventh grade classmate.
  • He got tired of seeing films written by whites portraying "black life."
  • Reading The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass

3. Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, didn't mind that the film version of her book didn't win any Academy Awards. Why?

  • She was extremely disappointed at how the film version turned out.
  • She felt the Academy only acknowledges blacks in subservient roles.
  • She did not believe that art should be a competition.

4. Alex Haley is most famous for authoring Roots. But what important literary work did he edit.

  • The Autobiography of W.E.B. DuBois
  • The Autobiography of Malcom X
  • The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass

5. How did poet Maya Angelou get her first name?

  • It's short for "May Anne," her given name.
  • It's short for Mayan, her mother was one half Mexican.
  • Her little brother used to call her "Mya Sister."

1. How did poet Vachel Lindsey discover Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes?
While working in a restaurant, Hughes left copies of his poetry at Lindsey's table.

2. According to playwright August Wilson, what got him "seriously interested in writing"?
Seeing the effect of a love note passed to a seventh grade classmate.

3. Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, didn't mind that the film version of her book didn't win any Academy Awards. Why?
She felt the Academy only acknowledges blacks in subservient roles.

4. Alex Haley is most famous for authoring Roots. But what important literary work did he edit.
The Autobiography of Malcom X

5. How did poet Maya Angelou get her first name?
Her little brother used to call her "Mya Sister."

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