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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

BET jacket worn by Robert L. Johnson

Date
ca. 1995
Manufactured by
Identity Inc., American
Owned by
Robert L. Johnson, American, born 1946
Subject of
BET Networks, American, founded 2001
Description
A BET bomber jacket owned by Robert L. Johnson. The black wool blend jacket has black leather sleeves and collar, black rib knit cuffs and hem. The front flaps have diagonal welt pocket with black leather trim on each side. The jacket has a black zipper down the front to close the two flaps. The BET logo is embroidered on the proper left breast in yellow across the top with a five-pointed star embroidered in yellow negative space forming the left edge of the letter [B] in [BET]. Embroidered below the bottom of the star is a red flourish next to white embroidered text that reads [jazz] and yellow embroidered text below that reads [THE CABLE / CHANNEL]. The interior of the jacket is quilted lining made of a black nylon shell with polyester filling. Three fabric tags are sewn into the lining along the proper right, interior welt pocket. At the top is a rectangular white tag featuring a blue and gray embroidered text [that reads [IDENTITY INC. / NEW YORK, N.Y.] with manufacturing information embroidered below. Below are two (2) white tags with black printed text. The top tag indicates the size, [L]. The tag below includes a list of materials and care instructions. Embroidered at the center of the back of the jacket is a large version of the BET logo, identical to the one on the front.
Place collected
Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Athletes
Basketball
Black Enterprise
Business
Clothing and dress
Sports
Television
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Clothing - Costume
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert L. Johnson, Founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and First African American Majority Owner of a National Basketball Association Team, The Charlotte Bobcats
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2020.16.5
Restrictions & Rights
© BET
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool (textile), leather and synthetic fiber
Dimensions
H x W (flat): 29 5/16 × 29 15/16 in. (74.5 × 76 cm)
Title
Object Name • BET jacket worn by Robert L. Johnson
Record ID
nmaahc_2020.16.5
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BET JACKET WORN BY ROBERT L. JOHNSON
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s • 1990s
Name
Johnson, Robert L. • BET Networks • Identity Inc.
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America • Montgomery County • Bethesda • Maryland
Topic
Black Enterprise • Television • Clothing and dress • Athletes • Basketball • Business • Sports
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Bethesda • County • Montgomery County • State • Maryland • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • New York City • State • New York
Online Media Rights
Use Restricted

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

Cover of Black Enterprise Magazine owned by Robert L. Johnson

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Press release announcing the formation of Black Entertainment Television

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Color photograph of Mae Reeves & Donna Limerick posing outdoors

Date: Date

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NMAAHC

BET jacket worn by Robert L. Johnson

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

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

The Greenwood District.