q2K BHP
Black History Portal
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
What's New!
THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

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...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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

Cream wool coat with burgundy velvet collar and rhinestone buttons

Date
1960s
Created by
Saks Fifth Avenue, American, founded 1867
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
A cream-colored single-breasted wool coat by Saks Fifth Avenue. The coat features a Peter Pan collar made from one panel of burgundy cotton velveteen faced with two panels of cream-colored wool. A large metal snap is located directly under the collar. The front of the coat is composed of two front panels of cream wool that close proper right over left with five metal petal buttons and five corresponding welt buttonholes. Each petal button has a central plastic ruby, surrounded by ten silver plastic rhinestones. The center front coat panels are top stitched with a half-inch seam around the edges. There are two faux front pockets, one at each breast and two inseam pockets – one at each side of the waist. Each inseam pocket is lined with two panels of cream-colored silk lining and each faux wool pocket is 5.25” and cut on the bias. The coat features set-in sleeves made from two panels of cream wool, sewn together at the inner and outer arm. The back of the coat features two shaping darts – one near each shoulder. The back bodice is made from one panel of cream-colored wool, which is sewn in a princess seam to the front panels. The back skirt of the coat features an inverted box pleat in the center and is sewn to the back bodice at the waist. The waist seam is covered by a 12.5” half belt made from self-fabric and each end of the back belt features a single metal petal button with a plastic ruby center surrounded by ten plastic silver rhinestones. The belt is sewn to the coat along the edge. A cream-colored fabric label is sewn to interior coat, under the collar and reads [SAKS / WASHINGTON] in machine embroidered script. Eight panels of cream-colored silk satin line the inside of the coat and are machine stitched together. An additional woven fabric label sewn to the interior proper right reads [ORIGINALS] in black embroidered script. A smaller union label sewn to the proper right interior reads [CS / 247405 / NATIONAL BOARD / COAT / AND / SUIT / INDUSTRY] in blue text. Cotton interfacing is adhered to the bottom interior hem of the coat. The bottom wool hem of the coat is pinked.
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
2007.3.244
Type
coats
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool, cotton velveteen, silk lining, metal, and plastic
Dimensions
Length (collar to hem): 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm)
Chest (bust): 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)
Width (shoulder to shoulder): 16 in. (40.6 cm)
Waist: 17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Cream wool coat with burgundy velvet collar and rhinestone buttons
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.244
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
CREAM WOOL COAT WITH BURGUNDY VELVET COLLAR AND RHINESTONE BUTTONS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s
Name
Saks Fifth Avenue • Black Fashion Museum
Topic
Design • Clothing and dress • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Type
Coats (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.

NMAAHC

Display stand with spools of thread and needles from Mae's Millinery Shop

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Cream wool coat with burgundy velvet collar and rhinestone buttons

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Brown faux leather and fur coat with belt

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Brown fur coat with mink collar

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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.