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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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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

Jacket from an S1W uniform

Date
ca. 1992
Description
A black cotton and polyester canvas jacket from an S1W uniform worn by Brother Roger. It is a combat style jacket with a turned collar, full-length sleeves, and the hem falling below the hip. The jacket closes at the center front with five (5) round black plastic buttons that are hidden from the facing side by an additional placket on the button band. There are four (4) cargo pockets sewn on the front of the jacket, one at each breast and one at each waist. Each pocket has a flap closure that fastens with two (2) black plastic buttons, hidden with an additional placket just as the front center closure. A rectangular patch is sewn at the proper left breast above the cargo pocket with a white ground and green stitching reading "PUBLIC / ENEMY" at the left facing side and a yellow and black crosshair at the right facing side. There are rectangular panels sewn at each forearm on the sleeves to prevent wear during heavy use. There is one (1) black plastic button at each cuff. Two self fabric tabs are sewn at each side of the natural waist and can be buttoned for an adjustable fit to one of the two black plastic buttons on each back side.
The jacket is not lined. A tag sewn at the interior proper left waist identifies the fiber content, care, style number "PII100-92-C-SE77", and the manufacturer "Propper International, Inc." A tag at the interior center back neck contains size, measurement, and style information, with the name "ROGER" handwritten in black ink over the printed information.
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Costume
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Public Enemy
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2011.33.8.5
Type
jackets
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
cotton and polyester with plastic buttons
Dimensions
H x W: 34 x 29 in. (86.4 x 73.7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Jacket from an S1W uniform
Record ID
nmaahc_2011.33.8.5
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
JACKET FROM AN S1W UNIFORM
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s • 1980s
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Musical Crossroads
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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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Pants and belt from an S1W uniform

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NMAAHC

Jacket from an S1W uniform

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 heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.