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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

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

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Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.

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Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the 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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NMAAHC

First Lessons in Spoken French for Men in Military Service

Date
1917
Description
First Lessons In Spoken French For Men in Military Service is a blue cloth wrapped book. The title and authors are in black print on top of the front cover, [FIRST LESSONS IN SPOKEN FRENCH / FOR MEN IN MILITARY SERVICE / Wilkins, Coleman, and Huse]. At the center is the Coat of Arms of the University of Chicago that is comprised of an open book and a phoenix over a flame. At the bottom is name of the publisher, [THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS]. The back cover is blank. The inner cover has a handwritten inscription in graphite that reads, [Capt. C. N. Caldwell / 1st Miss Leif / Personal. [underlined]] The work begins with a preface that states, [The purpose of this book is to help men in American military service (1) to understand what may be said to them in French; (2) to make themselves understood in French; (3) to understand printed French.] The work is 124 pages.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Books and Published Materials
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alan Laird
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.111.24.3
Type
instructional materials
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper with cloth
Dimensions
H x W x D: 6 1/2 × 4 1/8 × 3/8 in. (16.5 × 10.5 × 1 cm)
Title
Title • First Lessons in Spoken French for Men in Military Service
Record ID
nmaahc_2017.111.24.3
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
FIRST LESSONS IN SPOKEN FRENCH FOR MEN IN MILITARY SERVICE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1910s • 1914-1918
Geo Location
City • Chicago • County • Cook County • State • Illinois • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
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

First Lessons in Spoken French for Men in Military Service

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NMAAHC

Cellulose nitrate shoe horn from dresser set owned by Lena Horne

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NMAAHC

Cellulose nitrate comb from dresser set owned by Lena Horne

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NMAAHC

Cellulose nitrate buttonhook from dresser set owned by Lena Horne

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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

Which heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.