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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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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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Civil Rights

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

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Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.

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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...

Shirley Chisholm — Unbought and Unbossed

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.

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

Will of Frederick Smith leaving an enslaved girl named Betty to his wife

Date
March 27, 1802
Written by
Frederick Smith, American
Subject of
Unidentified Woman or Women
Description
The handwritten will of Frederick Smith of Mongtomery County, Viriginia, dated March 27, 1802, in which he bequeaths to his wife Margaret an enslaved girl named Betty, along with a list of other possessions. The document consists of black ink on both sides of a single sheet of off-white paper. The will reads in part: "I give and bequeath to wife Margaret the plantation whereon I live and one negro girl named Betty which is to be hers enduring her natural life, and one horse beast to be her choice my stock and three cows and six sheep and all my hoggs [sic], and six pewter plates and three dishes and four basons [sic] Six earthen plates and one dish and two silver spoons and her choice of the beds with double furniture, all which is to be at her own disposal except the land and Negroe [sic] girl above mentioned which is to be sold at her decease and equally divided amongst all my children except my son Sawyer who is to have two shares." The document is signed with handwritten seal at bottom right of the verso: [Frederick Smyth] and at left is signed by four witnesses: [Sauol Gouder (?) / Penny Hans / Peter Coon/ George Monald].
Place made
Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Families
Finance
Slavery
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2012.158.17
Type
wills
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 13 1/4 x 8 1/2 in. (33.7 x 21.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Will of Frederick Smith leaving an enslaved girl named Betty to his wife
Record ID
nmaahc_2012.158.17
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
WILL OF FREDERICK SMITH LEAVING AN ENSLAVED GIRL NAMED BETTY TO HIS WIFE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1800s
Name
Smith, Frederick
Place
United States • North and Central America • Montgomery County • Virginia
Topic
Slavery • Finance • Family
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
County • Montgomery County • State • Virginia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Wills
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

Photograph of Pullman porters with Dale Wimbrow and an unidentified woman

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NMAAHC

Broadside for a benefit event at The Black House

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NMAAHC

Black Enterprise February 1991

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NMAAHC

Will of Frederick Smith leaving an enslaved girl named Betty to his wife

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.