Test your knowledge
How well do you know black history? Try these sample questions from the African-American History Challenge Bowl.1. Who perfected the technique of preserving plasma for blood banks?2. What African-American invented the three-way traffic light?3. Who patented a coin-changing machine in 1970?4. The cash register was invented by what African-American?5. What African-American invented the fire extinguisher?6. Who was the first African-American to head the Centers for Disease Control?"Life Upon These Shores"
"Life Upon These Shores" by Henry Louis Gates Jr. is used as the exclusive resource book for the African-American History Challenge Bowl. A Harvard University professor, Gates is familiar to PBS viewers as the host of the genealogy series "Finding Your Roots."Teams from five area high schools will compete for bragging rights in the African-American History Challenge Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 18. The fifth annual competition will begin at 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's University Center on Vine Street. The Black History Month event is free to spectators.
The challenge is sponsored by 100 Black Men of Chattanooga and moderated by Booker T. Scruggs II. Teams competing will represent Tyner Academy, Brainerd, East Ridge, Hixson and Howard high schools.
"The African-American History Challenge Bowl is a challenging and fun way for our high school students and guests to expand their knowledge and appreciation for African-American history in this high competitive event," says Erskine Oglesby, president of 100 Black Men of Chattanooga.
John Edwards, bowl chairman, says the winning team receives an all-expenses-paid trip to New Orleans, where it will represent Chattanooga at 100 Black Men of America's 31st annual International Conference and National Competition.
This weekend's winning team also receives a championship cup. But in celebration of the contest's fifth anniversary, the previous four bowl winners will be presented a trophy to put on permanent display at their schools: Hixson (2013), Brainerd (2014), Hixson (2015) and Tyner (2016).
The exclusive resource book for the black history bowl is "Life Upon These Shores: Looking at African-American History, 1513-2008," by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
For more information, visit www.100bmchatt.org.
Answers
1. Dr. Charles Drew2. Garrett A. Morgan3. James Bauer4. F.A. Hilyer5. J.T. Marshall6. Dr. David Satcher