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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...

Wilmington 1898 — An American Coup

Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.

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

Philadelphia Gazette, and Daily Advertiser No. 3758

Date
November 20, 1800
Description
Issue number 3758 of the Philadelphia Gazette, and Daily Advertiser for November 20, 1800. At bottom right corner of the last page of the paper is a notice posted for [MARCUS, / One of the House Servants at Mount Vernon, / Absconded...]. He is described as [a young lad, about 16 years of age, a bright mulatto, dark blue eyes, long black hair, about 5 feet 4 or 5 inches high, and of a slender make.]. The advertisement continues to describe the clothing Marcus may be wearing and notes [Originally his name was Billy, and possibly he may resume the same]. The advertisement is posted by James Andrew, the Mount Vernon plantation manager, and promises an award of $10 "to any person who shall apprehend the said negro and lodge him in some safe gaol, upon producing me a certificate to that effect; and will also pay all reasonable charges over and above this reward, for the delivery of him to me at this place." Readers are warned that "It is very probably he may attempt to pass for one of those negroes that did belong to the late Gen. Washington, and whom Mrs. Washington intends in the fall of this year to liberate - the public are therefore warned against any such imposition, as he is one of those negroes which belong to the estate of Washington P. Custis, Esq. and held by right of dower by Mrs. Wasington during her life." The notice further warns that "Ship Masters are hereby forewarned not to take on board Marcus, and those who are found to [illegible] or harbour him will be punished as the law directs."
The paper is published by Andrew Brown and Samuel Relf, and contains advertisements for outbound cargo and passenger ships, livestock, consumer goods, store openings, lands sales, and more.
Title
Issue of Philadelphia Gazette with notice of runaway "House Servant" Marcus
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2019.28.9
Type
newspapers
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions
H x W: 21 1/4 × 13 9/16 in. (53.9 × 34.5 cm)
Title
Title • Philadelphia Gazette, and Daily Advertiser No. 3758
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.28.9
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PHILADELPHIA GAZETTE, AND DAILY ADVERTISER NO. 3758
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1800s
Geo Location
City • Philadelphia • State • Pennsylvania • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Mount Vernon • County • Fairfax County • State • Virginia
Online Media Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions

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

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NMAAHC

Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commerical and Political, Vol. XII, No. 3595

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NMAAHC

Philadelphia Gazette, and Daily Advertiser No. 3758

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NMAAHC

South Africa and the Reagan Factor

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NMAAHC

Usher Quanda Finch chats with Karolynn Moore while folding bulletins at Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia, 2005

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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

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.