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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
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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.

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

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Sports

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

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People

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

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Places

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

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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

Container of spare graphite from a drafting tool kit used by John S. Chase

Date
mid-late 20th century
Created by
Unidentified
Owned by
John S. Chase, American, 1925 - 2012
Description
Container of spare compass lead from a drafting tool kit used by architect John S. Chase. The clear, cylindrical container (a) has a grooved cap (b). Inside the container are four (4) loose pieces of graphite (c-f). The circular pieces of graphite have angled tips. The base of the container reads [GERMANY].
Place made
Germany, Europe
Place used
Houston, Harris County, Texas, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Architecture
Building Arts
Design
Labor
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Tools and Equipment
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Drucie Rucker Chase
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2018.69.2.5a-f
Type
kits (sets)
drafting, drawing and writing equipment
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ab: plastic;
c-f: graphite
Dimensions
H x W x D: 1 3/16 × 5/16 × 5/16 in. (3 × 0.8 × 0.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • Container of spare graphite from a drafting tool kit used by John S. Chase
Record ID
nmaahc_2018.69.2.5a-f
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
CONTAINER OF SPARE GRAPHITE FROM A DRAFTING TOOL KIT USED BY JOHN S. CHASE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s • 1950s
Name
Chase, John S.
Place
United States • Europe • Texas • North and Central America • Harris County • Germany • Houston
Topic
Design • Architecture • Labor unions
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Country • Germany • Continent • Europe • City • Houston • County • Harris County • State • Texas • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Kits (sets) • drafting, drawing and writing equipment
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

Enameled container and lid with anti-slavery slogan

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Hat box filled with tools and materials from Mae's Millinery Shop

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Container of spare graphite from a drafting tool kit used by John S. Chase

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Jar for Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter

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

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.