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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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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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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

Performance contract between Fletcher Henderson and The Hollywood Cotton Club

Date
March 29, 1949
Description
A single sheet pre-printed contract by the American Federation of Musicians for a week of performances by Fletcher Henderson at the Hollywood Cotton Club in March 1949. The details of the contract have been typed into the form in black ink, with additions and signatures added by hand in blue ink. The "place of engagement" is given as [Cotton Club, 5955 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif.] with the dates of employment [Starting March 28, 1949, continuing for 2 consecutive weeks]. The "2 consecutive weeks" has been struck out in blue ink and [(1) week] added by hand in blue ink. The hours of employment are given as [9:30 P.M. til 1:30 A.M.]. The "price agreed upon" is [$150.00], to be paid [At the close of each week]. "Each" has been struck out in blue ink with [the] added above it. At the bottom, the "Name of Employer" is typed as [THE JUBILAIRS], with signatures by Freddy Henderson and Willie Johnson, both in blue ink.
The reverse side of the contract is a pre-printed chart with the headings [NAMES OF EMPLOYEES], [LOCAL NUMBER], [S.S. NUMBER], and [WAGES] with a full page of lines underneath to make entries. On the top line, which is marked with [(Leader)], is written [Fletcher Henderson], [767], [$150.00]. At the bottom right corner is a [DATE RECEIVED] stamp in black ink with [4-7-49] handwritten in black ink.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Documents and Manuscripts
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
2011.57.36.1
Type
contracts
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions
11 15/16 x 8 1/2 in. (30.3 x 21.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Performance contract between Fletcher Henderson and The Hollywood Cotton Club
Record ID
nmaahc_2011.57.36.1
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PERFORMANCE CONTRACT BETWEEN FLETCHER HENDERSON AND THE HOLLYWOOD COTTON CLUB
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1940s
Geo Location
Locale • Hollywood • City • Los Angeles • County • Los Angeles County • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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

Photograph of four employees outside Atlanta Life

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photograph of four employees outside Atlanta Life

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Performance contract between Fletcher Henderson and The Hollywood Cotton Club

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Employment identification badge of unidentified employee

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

Which Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.