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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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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...

The Violence That Helped Spark the NAACP

In August 1908, a white mob attacked Springfield, Illinois’s Black community, destroying homes and businesses and lynching two Black men. National outrage over the violence helped spur the movement that created the NAACP the following year.

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

Cream hat with feather decoration

Date
ca. 1960
Created by
Description
A cream fur felt cloche with feathers. The crown of the hat is round and fits closely to the head. Fur is used to make the body of the hat. The length of the fur is short, resembling alpaca fur in texture. White and brown feathers are placed on the proper left side of the hat along with two decorative twists of the cream fur. The bottom of the hat is upturned at the brim and has a wire along the edge for shaping. The brim of the hat has a split at the center back. Bias-cut silk satin is placed along the underside of where the hat’s brim is folded upwards. A grosgrain ribbon is stitched along the interior circumference. A label is printed on the crown’s interior and reads [Musketeer IMPORTED BODY MADE IN AUSTRIA] in cream script.
Cataloging Notes
This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2007.3.400
Type
cloches
hats
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
fur felt, silk satin, feathers, grosgrain ribbon and metal wire
Dimensions
H x W x D x C: 7 1/2 × 10 × 10 1/2 × 20 1/2 in. (19.1 × 25.4 × 26.7 × 52.1 cm)
Title
Object Name • Cream hat with feather decoration
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.400
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
CREAM HAT WITH FEATHER DECORATION
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s • 1950s
Type
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

Travel Permit for the US Military Duty Train "Mozart"

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NMAAHC

Cream hat with feather decoration

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Description

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NMAAHC

Blue hat with upturned brim

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Description

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NMAAHC

Untitled

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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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.