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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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Civil Rights

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

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People

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...

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

U.S. Burial Flag for Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton

Date
2008
Created by
Caption
This American flag was draped over the coffin of Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton during his reburial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in 2008.
Sergeant Charlton served in C Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, during the Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on June 2, 1951, near Chipo-ri, Korea. After his wounded platoon leader was evacuated during an attack to capture Hill 543, Charlton "rallied the men" and led them on three separate assaults. During the first assault, he eliminated two enemy positions, killing six. Although seriously wounded in the next two assaults, Charlton conducted a fourth assault alone. He was wounded again by a grenade but silenced the enemy guns before he died.
Description
Ceremonial United States burial flag presented to Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton's sister, Fairy Mae Papadopoulus, upon his reburial at Arlington National Cemetery on November 12, 2008. Flag has been folded thirteen times into a triangle with the field of stars visible. Border stitching done with blue thread.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton Collection
Classification
Textiles and Quilts
Sacred and Ceremonial Objects
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of George "Everett" Penn, Jr.
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.193.1
Type
funeral palls
flags
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
cotton (textile)
Dimensions
H x W x D (folded): 10 7/8 × 22 1/2 × 3 1/8 in. (27.6 × 57.2 × 7.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • U.S. Burial Flag for Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.193.1
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
U.S. BURIAL FLAG FOR SERGEANT CORNELIUS H. CHARLTON
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s
Geo Location
County • Arlington County • State • Virginia • 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.

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NMAAHC

Medgar Evers grave site at Arlington Cemetery, Arlington Virginia

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NMAAHC

National Veterans Association: President Dr. Arron Henry honors fellow Mississippian, the slain NAACP President Medgar W. Evers with flowers as others look on at his grave site in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia

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NMAAHC

Artistic Stereo Views of Washington and Vicinity / 95. General view Graves, Arlington

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NMAAHC

U.S. Burial Flag for Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton

Date: Date

Caption

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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.