q2K BHP
Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
What's New!
THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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...

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.

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

Suit jacket for Ain't Misbehavin' costume worn by André De Shields

Date
1982
Created by
Description
Suit jacket from Ain't Misbehavin' costume ensemble for Act I worn by André De Shields during the 1982 NBC TV special. The suit is comprised of a jacket (2018.1.1.1.1), pants, (.2), waistcoat (.3), and two pocket chains (.4 and .5). The jacket is navy blue with white pin stripes. It is single breasted with two brown buttons on the front at the waist. There is one standard-style breast pocket on the proper left upper chest. Inside the pocket is a white piece of paper with the handwritten inscription in black marker, [PINK POCKET / SQUARE]. On either side of the jacket front, below the waist, are two large patch pockets. The jacket has a peaked notch collar and a wide lapel with a red fabric flower pin clipped to the proper left lapel. The jacket has straight, full length sleeves, with three brown plastic buttons at each cuff. On the verso, the jacket has one center vent.
The jacket is lined with a dark gray shiny synthetic fabric. The lining has a cross-hatch pattern with a lion standing on back legs with an arm raised. Inside the proper right side of the jacket is a small pocket. Inside the pocket a piece of twill tape is hand sewn to the lining. Handwritten in black marker on the twill tape is the inscription, [DESHIELDS / PERSONAL]. There is another small pocket on the proper left of the inner jacket.
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Costume
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of André De Shields
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2018.1.1.1.1
Type
suits
jackets
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
polyester and satin with plastic and metal
Dimensions
H x W (jacket flat): 31 × 27 1/2 in. (78.7 × 69.9 cm)
Waist: 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • Suit jacket for Ain't Misbehavin' costume worn by André De Shields
Record ID
nmaahc_2018.1.1.1.1
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
SUIT JACKET FOR AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' COSTUME WORN BY ANDRÉ DE SHIELDS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Online Media Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions

Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Rights and restrictions shown above are supplied by the Smithsonian record.

No preview image
NMAAHC

William DeShields

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Inside Club

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Suit jacket for Ain't Misbehavin' costume worn by André De Shields

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Suit pants for Ain't Misbehavin' costume worn by André De Shields

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

Who was the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States?

Madam C.J. Walker