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GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS
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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

Black silk dress with crepe overlay and embroidery

Date
ca. 1914 - 1916
Created by
Unidentified
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
A black silk dress with crepe overlay and embroidered applique. The front bust is composed of two panels (right and left) of machine embroidered black floral applique that has been handstitched to a layer of black silk crepe. Each applique panel has a pleated crepe sewn around its edges. There are two layers of closures at the front bust. The outermost layer of floral applique has no closure and overlaps at the center front. The second layer of black synthetic net features four metal hook closures (originally five) and five metal eyes. The innermost layer of black silk taffeta features nine metal hook and eye closures, handsewn down the center front. Each sleeve is composed of one piece of silk black crepe that has black embroidered floral applique near the elbow. A black silk crepe, pin tucked waistband closes on the proper right side of the garment with three metal hooks and three thread loop closures. The waistband extends from the proper left of the bodice and has three black tassels attached to the end of it. A silk faille accordion pleated skirt, made from seven panels of fabric is sewn to the waistband. There are three layers of closures in the skirt; the outer most layer of silk crepe features three metal hooks and three thread loops. The second layer of shantung fabric features four metal snap closures. The innermost layer of silk taffeta closes with six metal hooks and eyes. The bottom of the skirt has four groups of five decorative pin tucks. The skirt hem has been pressed under and machine stitched. The back of the bust features a high neckline edged with ruffled silk crepe. Embroidered black floral applique trims the back neckline. A triangular panel of black embroidered floral applique is stitched to the center back of the bust. The interior bust is constructed of eight panels silk taffeta. Three channels of whale bone are sewn into the center back, proper left, and proper right interior. A black satin fabric pouch is attached to the interior proper left (above the breast) with herringbone stitches. The pouch potentially contains moth-deterring herbs. A black woven ribbon stitched to the interior waist reads [MME. H. D’HAENE] in yellow embroidered test. The interior skirt is made from six panels of silk taffeta with accordion an accordion pleated ruffle and rouching at the bottom.
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.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Fashion design
See more items in
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
2007.3.609
Type
dresses
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
silk crepe with silk faille, taffeta, satin twill, cotton, whalebone, and metal
Dimensions
Length: (shoulder to hem): 50 in. (127 cm)
Width: (bottom hem): 30 1/2 in. (77.5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black silk dress with crepe overlay and embroidery
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.609
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK SILK DRESS WITH CREPE OVERLAY AND EMBROIDERY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1910s
Name
Black Fashion Museum
Topic
Design • Clothing and dress • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Type
Dresses (garments)
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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NMAAHC

Black silk dress with crepe overlay and embroidery

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NMAAHC

Cotton eyelet dress with black flocking

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Cream silk dress with metallic embroidery and front overskirt

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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 Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.