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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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

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Events

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

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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

Red satin pleated and draped hat

Date
mid-20th century
Created by
Description
A red satin pleated and draped skullcap. The base of the hat is made of red wool felt and the exterior of the hat is made of red synthetic satin. The structure of the hat is asymmetrical, it has one point on the proper right side ending above the ear and two points on the proper left side. Six vertical pleats are sewn on the proper left side of the hat with red synthetic satin. A separate panel of red synthetic satin is sewn to the proper right side with five pleats sewn at the top of the hat. This panel drapes across the proper right side and back of the hat. Red synthetic satin is folded towards the interior of the hat, it has a double fold hem and is machine stitched to the wool felt inner structure. Metal wire is encased along the edge of the hat between the wool felt and synthetic satin. The hat is unlabeled.
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
2007.3.781
Type
hats
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
synthetic satin, wool felt, and metal wire
Dimensions
H x W x D: 5 1/2 × 9 1/4 × 6 1/2 in. (14 × 23.5 × 16.5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Red satin pleated and draped hat
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.781
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
RED SATIN PLEATED AND DRAPED HAT
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1940s • 1970s
Type
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

Red wool hat with red hat band and bow

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Red satin pleated and draped hat

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Red beret with layered flounces

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Red hat with upturned brim and feather decoration

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

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.