Anyone looking to test their knowledge of women’s history during the remainder of Women’s History Month can find several challenging options, from the Washington Post’s online series of crossword puzzles designed entirely by women, to a tough quiz by the Women’s and Gender Studies program at Texas Tech University, to a local trivia night focused on Black women’s history created by Melaneyes Media.
The San Antonio-based company, known for producing Black history documentaries including A Walk on the River: A Black History of Alamo City and its sequel, has offered online family game nights during March, with a final event Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Registration is required, with pay-what-you-can access.
While the Walk on the River films focus on Black women who have influenced local history, such as Aaronetta Pierce and Nettie Hinton, Saturday’s event, Family Game Night: The Black Women’s History edition, will focus on Black women who have changed the course of American history.
Melaneyes co-producer Born Logic Allah said that while well-known figures such as Coretta Scott King and Harriet Tubman will feature in trivia questions, lesser-known facts about them will be explored.
“It may be some facts about these women that might not be as surface level, we may go into a few more things to dig a little deeper,” Allah said.
However, the challenge is only part of the point, and the game is intended to continue the educational mission of Melaneyes Media, Allah said. “We will provide context, [whether] people get it wrong or right. We’ll provide context after some of the harder questions to give a person an understanding of what and why.”
For those whose interest is piqued by the game night or who simply want to learn more about Black women currently influencing culture, a follow-up virtual event on Sunday will feature even more information.
Living Legends: Black Women Who Inspire Us will explore influential women in sports, business, activism, and other categories. Tennis champion Serena Williams might be familiar to many, while Black Entertainment Television co-founder Sheila Johnson might be a new name to some.
For participants in either event, “finding out new information can be surprising and enlightening,” Allah said, stressing the importance of knowing what women have contributed to society.
“It also helps us to put our history in a proper perspective, because a lot of times [history is] very male-centric, dominated by male stories. It sometimes lacks a feminine energy, which is necessary for us as a people. The male and female balance is the key to the universe.”
