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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...

Shirley Chisholm — Unbought and Unbossed

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.

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

Photographic postcard of Billy Ward and His Dominoes, with autographs

Date
1950-1969
Photograph by
Maurice Seymour Studio, American, founded 1929
Distributed by
Associated Booking Corporation, American, founded 1940
Subject of
Billy Ward & His Dominoes, American, 1950s-1960s
Rose Marks
Description
A black and white photographic postcard of Billy Ward and His Dominoes with signatures on the back.
The front of the postcard features two images superimposed over each other. In the bottom left corner is a photographic portrait of Billy Ward standing and playing a white grand piano. He is looking up towards the top right corner, where there is a portrait of the four Dominoes. All wear light-colored jackets and dark-colored ties. A small, black and white domino is visible on the proper left chest of the Dominoes' jackets. The two images are presented in two overlapping circles, as if spotlighted, against a black background. In the bottom right corner of the image is the photographer's mark [MAURICE chicago] in white.
Printed beneath the image, black text reads [BILLY WARD / And His Dominoes] on the proper right, [Personal Manager / ROSE A. MARKS] in the center, and [Associated Booking Corporation / Joe Glaser, President / NEW YORK, CHICAGO, HOLLYWOOD] on the proper left side.
The back of the postcard is oriented horizontally with printed grey text [PHOTO POST CARD] across the top and, in smaller grey text, [J. (?) K. COPY ART PHOTOGRAPHERS, N.Y.C.] and a [DEVOLITE PEERLESS] stamp box in the top right. In the center is the autograph [With all my heart / Billy Ward] in blue ink. On either side are two more autographs in graphite, [Musically / Yours / (illegible) / Van] on the left and [MUSICALLY / (illegible) / JONES] on the right. Horizontally along the left edge of the card is written [ SIGNED BY BILLY WARD & OTHERS].
The back of the postcard is horizontal. There is grey text which reads [PHOTO POST CARD] horizontally along the top and [?, ?, ? PHOTOGRAPHERS, N.Y.C. vertically down the center. In the top right corner there is a grey rectangle with the words [DEVOLITE / PEERLESS] printed inside. There are several signatures on the back as well.
Place captured
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
Place printed
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Conductors (Musicians)
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Photography
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
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
2015.97.38.4
Type
portraits
postcards
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W (Sheet): 5 1/2 × 3 9/16 in. (14 × 9 cm)
H x W (Image): 4 7/16 × 3 in. (11.3 × 7.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Photographic postcard of Billy Ward and His Dominoes, with autographs
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.97.38.4
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD OF BILLY WARD AND HIS DOMINOES, WITH AUTOGRAPHS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s • 1950s
Name
Maurice Seymour Studio • Associated Booking Corporation • Marks, Rose • Billy Ward & His Dominoes
Place
New York City • Chicago • United States • Illinois • North and Central America • Cook County
Topic
Photography • Conductors (Musicians) • Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Chicago • County • Cook County • State • Illinois • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • New York City • State • New York
Type
Postcards • Portraits
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

Booking contract signed by Billie Holiday

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Little Black Sambo

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photographic postcard of Billy Ward and His Dominoes, with autographs

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Gelatin silver print of Curly "Drum Boogie"

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 Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.