THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9601310158
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
George Washington Carver earned a place in history as an agricultural scientist. Harriet Tubman won fame leading slaves to freedom; and Rosa Parks, when she refused to move to the back of the bus.
But if you go to school you probably already knew that.
We want to make sure you know about your local heroes and achievers - people who grew up in your city, walked your streets, learned and worshiped here like you.
You don't have to go out of the city limits to discover a rich African-American history and a reason to be proud.
Portsmouth boasts many notables through the years - war heroes, state legislators, musicians and writers.
So today, the Currents launches the first segment of its Black History in Portsmouth Quiz Contest. Additional quizzes will run in the next five issues of the Currents.
Some of the people and places we'll ask you about will be easy. Others may require a little digging at the public library.
The contest is open to students in fourth through 12th grades. Participants should try to enter each of the six quizzes.
If more than two people get all or tie with the most correct answers on all six quizzes we'll use a drawing to determine the first prize - a $100 savings bond.
If the number of entries makes it too difficult to determine a winner by score, we'll put all correct quiz entries into a drawing.
Only submit one entry per quiz, but whether or not you enter each one, you still have a chance to win a prize. Write your name, grade level and phone number on each entry.
A $50 savings bond will go to the second-place winner.
We'll also give additional prizes such as sweat shirts and books. The Portsmouth Public Library has already donated 10 copies of the local history book, ``Readings in Black & White: Lower Tidewater Virginia.''
Other businesses, Parent-Teacher Associations and other organizations that would like to offer a gift certificate or item to help recognize participants should call Janie Bryant at 446-2625. ILLUSTRATION: The late Vernon Orton was principal of Clarke Junior High School
in 1957. His son, Wayne, would become Portsmouth's city manager 33
years later.
THE QUIZ
Your Name: ..................
Age: .......
School: ......................
Phone number: ..............
1. A former City Council member, now serving as a state senator
is .........
2. The Portsmouth musician who played the accordion along the
funeral route of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was .......
3. The Portsmouth native who served as Liberia's first president
when it became an independent republic in 1847 was .......
4. The second oldest building in Portsmouth and the city's oldest
black church is ......
5. The Washington Post journalist who wrote about growing up in
Cavalier Manor and the struggle to turn his life around after
serving time in prison is ..........
6. A slave born in Norfolk County near Portsmouth, he risked his
life infiltrating British troops and brought back the report of when
and where the enemy would strike at Yorktown: .......
7. The former commonwealth's attorney, who now serves as a
Circuit Court judge is .........
8. The former Norcom basketball player who helped break up a
point-shaving scandal in college basketball and later played with
the Harlem Globetrotters is .......
9. The songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Earth, Wind
and Fire, the Chi-lites and Chaka Khan: .....
10. From 1937 to 1941, the only library for black residents was
housed in the parish house of this church: .....
by CNB