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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...

Katherine Johnson — Mathematics to the Moon

Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.

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

Bag for a travel hair care kit used by Anna Mae Queen Holmes

Date
late 20th century
Manufactured by
Best Products Co., Inc., American, 1957 - 1997
Owned by
Anna Mae Queen Holmes, American, 1926 - 2013
Description
This gray bag was used by Anna Mae Queen Holmes to store a travel hair care kit (2014.224.4.1-23). The rectangular bag is made from a gray canvas synthetic fabric. The top of the bag opens on three sides with a black metal zipper. There are pockets sewn on each side and on the front of the bag, all of which close with black metal zippers. A short handle of gray and blue striped woven tape is sewn horizontally at the center top, with two additional lengths sewn vertically across the top, each ending in a black plastic metal buckle. These buckles attach to two (2) straps sewn above the front pocket, each ending in the opposite side of the black plastic metal buckles sewn on the top. Loops of the gray and blue woven tape are sewn above each of the side pockets with a black plastic loop attached to them, likely for a longer carrying strap that is now missing. A metal plate with black text reading "Albinar" is attached to the lower right facing corner of the front pocket. Two (2) black rubber strips are attached to the bottom of the bag with the text "Albinar" impressed into the rubber. A black leather label is sewn to the center of the bottom of the bag with white text printed on it that reads "PRO-4500".
The interior of the bag and all pocket interiors are lined in bright blue synthetic fabric. The interior of the lid is lined in a tan synthetic fabric with two (2) strips of gray Velcro (TM) attached just left of center. A length of black elastic sewn along the right side into a series of small loops. The bag is kept stiff by a thick layer of foam placed between the lining and facing of the body and lid of the bag. Thinner foam is placed between the lining and facing of the tops of the side pockets, and all of the front pocket. A hard material, likely plastic, is placed inside the bottom of the bag making it stiffer than the rest of the bag. A white tag with red printed text is sewn to the back right facing side seam of the interior that reads "MADE IN CHINA".
As used by Holmes, the bag contained the following items:
2014.224.4.1 Orange Portable Stove
2014.224.4.2 Pressing Comb with Switch
2014.224.4.3 Pressing Comb
2014.224.4.4 Reck-Junior Pressing Comb (see item level record)
2014.224.4.5 Kentucky Maid Pressing Comb
2014.224.4.6 Reck-Junior Stove Iron (see item level record)
2014.224.4.7 Curling Iron
2014.224.4.8 Sta-Sharp Hair Clipper
2014.224.4.9 Hair Clipper
2014.224.4.10 Hair Clipper
2014.224.4.11 Baby Bob No. 340-0000 Hair Clipper
2014.224.4.12 Sonora Nail Buffer
2014.224.4.13 Lint Remover
2014.224.4.14 Bag of Hair Accessories
2014.224.4.15 Herpicide Disinfecting System Container
2014.224.4.16.1-.3 Jewelry Box
2014.224.4.17 White Comb
2014.224.4.18 Ace Red Comb
2014.224.4.19 Black Comb
2014.224.4.20 Diane Black Comb
2014.224.4.21 Black Comb
2014.224.4.22 Yellow Comb
2014.224.4.23.1-.2Fancy Heat Sterno Can
Place collected
Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Hair
Travel
Women
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Anna Queen Holmes Estate Collection
Classification
Accessories and Personal Effects
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cheryl Dozier Payne in memory of Anna Mae Queen Holmes, Educator & Historian
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.224.4
Type
cases (containers)
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
synthetic fiber, plastic, metal, foam, rubber, elastic, and Velcro (TM)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 11 × 17 1/2 × 10 in. (27.9 × 44.5 × 25.4 cm)
Title
Object Name • Bag for a travel hair care kit used by Anna Mae Queen Holmes
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.224.4
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BAG FOR A TRAVEL HAIR CARE KIT USED BY ANNA MAE QUEEN HOLMES
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s • 1980s
Name
Holmes, Anna Mae Queen • Best Products Co., Inc.
Place
United States • North and Central America • Prince George's County • Maryland
Topic
Hair • Description and travel • Women
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
County • Prince George's County • State • Maryland • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Cases (containers)
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

Hot comb from a travel hair care kit used by Anna Mae Queen Holmes

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NMAAHC

Bag for a travel hair care kit used by Anna Mae Queen Holmes

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NMAAHC

Marcel-curler from a travel hair care kit used by Anna Mae Queen Holmes

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No preview image
NMAAHC

Portrait of Bertia, Alva, and Christine Holmes

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

Who was the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States?

Madam C.J. Walker