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HIDDEN TRUTHS
GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS
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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

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Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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MY'STORY

The MOVE Fire

This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985 Philadelphia police fired thousands of rounds at the MOVE house, city officials approved dropping an explosive device on the roof, the resulting fire was allowed to burn, 11 people—including five children—died, and 61 homes were destroyed. Philadelphia City Council later called it a “brutal attack carried out by the City of Philadelphia on its own citizens” and acknowledged that no individual faced criminal consequences for the bombing. One timeline correction worth preserving for the BHP record: the major previous MOVE-police confrontation was August 8, 1978, about seven years before the bombing, not a year or two earlier. Officer James Ramp was killed, other police and firefighters were wounded, nine MOVE members were later convicted, and television cameras recorded police beating Delbert Africa during his arrest. The 1985 MOVE Commission later specifically criticized city planners for failing to adequately use lessons from that 1978 confrontation. And that actually strengthens the point you’re making: 1985 did not happen without precedent or institutional memory. There had already been a deadly confrontation with MOVE, years of conflict, negotiations and police involvement before Osage Avenue.

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BLACK FACTS
The Truths They Never Taught You...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
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NMAAHC

Cat o' nine tails planter whip

Date
1850s
Created by
Unidentified
Description
This cat o' nine tails style planter whip is composed of a fluted wooden handle topped with leather. The leather is sliced into nine tails and the bottom of the piece was wrapped around the wooden handle, likely held in place using glue or small tacks.
Place collected
Saint Marys, Camden County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Slavery
Violence
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Weapons and Ammunition
Exhibition
Slavery and Freedom
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Oprah Winfrey
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.312.113
Type
cat-o'-nine-tails
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
leather, wood
Dimensions
H x W x D (Straightened): 29 × 2 × 2 in. (73.7 × 5.1 × 5.1 cm)
H x W x D (Relaxed): 16 × 10 × 2 in. (40.6 × 25.4 × 5.1 cm)
Title
Object Name • Cat o' nine tails planter whip
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.312.113
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
CAT O' NINE TAILS PLANTER WHIP
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1850s
Place
United States • Camden County • North and Central America • Georgia • Saint Marys
Topic
Slavery • Violence
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Slavery and Freedom
Geo Location
City • Saint Marys • County • Camden County • State • Georgia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
cat-o'-nine-tails
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions

Media

Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Rights and restrictions shown above are supplied by the Smithsonian record.

NMAAHC

Hatpin with black rhinestone and gold decorations from Mae's Millinery Shop

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Carte-de-visite of a young man in Napa, California

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Red felt bag for gavel used by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Cat o' nine tails planter whip

Date: Date

Description

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TOPIC OF THE DAY

Greenwood / Black Wall Street

Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.