q2K BHP
Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
What's New!
THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

✊🏾

Civil Rights

Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.

⚙️

Black Inventors

Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.

🏆

Sports

Pioneers, champions, Negro Leagues, records, activism and excellence.

♟️

People

Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the journey.

📍

Places

Black towns, communities, institutions and places where history happened.

📜

Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

Enter a person, place, event, or topic.
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.

MORE →
BLACK FACTS
The Truths They Never Taught You...

Wilmington 1898 — An American Coup

Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.

MORE →
BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
← BACK TO RESULTS
NMAAHC

Baseball bat used by Willie Mays

Date
1965
Description
An Adirondack model 302 M63 baseball bat used by Willie Mays in the 1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The bat is made from white ash and has black writing on side. Black type near center of bat reads, [ADIRONDACK BATS, INC. / Northern / WhiteAsh / Adirondack / 302 / DOLGEVILLE, NEW YORK / MADE IN U.S.A. / Whip Action]. Type near end opposite of handle reads, [ADIRONDACK / Willie Mays / 1965 ALL STARS]. Etched into bottom of bat's handle is the model number [M63].
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Exhibition
Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 052
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
2013.120.9
Type
bats
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
white ash
Dimensions
H x W x D: 35 × 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 in. (88.9 × 6.4 × 6.4 cm)
Title
Object Name • Baseball bat used by Willie Mays
Record ID
nmaahc_2013.120.9
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BASEBALL BAT USED BY WILLIE MAYS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s
Topic
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
Geo Location
City • Dolgeville • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Bloomington • County • Hennepin County • State • Minnesota
Type
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.

NMAAHC

Baseball bat used by Willie Mays

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Photo of a group of people having a picnic

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

America

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

The Kappa Alpha Nu Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
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.

MORE →
TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY

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

Madam C.J. Walker