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THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
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...

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.

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BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
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NMAAHC

Playbill for The War Party

Date
1986
Published by
Playbill, American, founded 1884
Written by
Leslie Lee
Directed by
Clinton Turner Davis
Leon B. Denmark, American
Douglas Turner Ward, born 1930
Subject of
Negro Ensemble Company, American, founded 1967
Description
Playbill for The War Party. On the front of the playbill in large black type is [PLAYBILL ® / THEATRE FOUR] printed inside a blue block. Below it is the very large round Negro Ensemble Company logo inside a black print block. On the inside of the playbill, a left page features an edge to edge Marlboro cigarette ad photograph depicting a man on horseback. The right page announces the play, The War Party. From top to bottom, is: [THEATRE FOUR / 424 West 55th Street / (Near Nineth Avenue) / 246-8545] and the round Negro Ensemble Company logo and [TWENTIETH ANNIVERSAY SEASON]. The page continues with a list of cast and staff: [DOUGLASS TURNER WARD / Artistic Director / LEON B. DENMARK / Managing Director / presents / THE WAR PARTY / by / LESLIE LEE / with / CARLA BROTHERS / CARMEN MATHIS / KEVIN ROCK / BRIAN WESLEY THOMAS / VONDIE CURTIS-HALL / ROME NEAL / LARRY SHARP / ADAM WADE / KATHRYN HUNTER / ROBERTA PIKSER / KIRK TAYLOR / TICO WELLS / Directed by / CLINTON TURNER DAVIS / Set Design / CHARLES H. McCLENNAHAN / Costume Design / JUDY DEARING / Lighting CONSULTANT / SHIRLEY PRENDERGAST / Sound Design / HARRISON WILLIAMS / Production Stage Manager / ED DE SHAE / NOVEMBER 17, 1986]. The rest of the interior consists of thirty-four pages filled with text, images, and advertisements. On the back of the playbill is a dark color photographic ad for Colombia Coffee depicting a cup and saucer of coffee resting on the arms of a leather chair.
Place used
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Drama (Theatre)
Theatre
Theatre companies
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Sandra Austin
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.196.3
Type
theater programs
Restrictions & Rights
© Playbill
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper, metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 8 1/2 × 5 5/8 in. (21.6 × 14.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • Playbill for The War Party
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.196.3
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PLAYBILL FOR THE WAR PARTY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
Lee, Leslie • Davis, Clinton Turner • Negro Ensemble Company • Playbill • Ward, Douglas Turner • Denmark, Leon B.
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Theatre companies • Drama (Theatre)
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Theater programs
Online Media Type
Electronic resource • Images
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

Pinback button for Clinton - Gore 1992 presidential campaign

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Playbill for The War Party

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Description

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NMAAHC

Showbill for "Puppetplay"

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Description

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NMAAHC

Playbill for "House of Shadows"

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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 Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.