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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

The Black Soldier or the Colored Boys of the United States Army

Date
1915; republished 1918
Written by
Mary Curtis, American
Lieutenant Eugene P. Frierson, American, 1874 - 1946
Published by
Murray Brothers Press, American, 1908 - 1920s
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Caption
Mary Curtis published Black Soldier because she felt “many deeds of daring and bravery performed by colored soldiers had not received the recognition adequate to their importance and merit.”
Description
A paperback, second edition book written by Mary Curtis and published by The Murray Brothers, 1918. The volume has a faded blue paper cover, with the title [The Black Soldier] printed at top center within a decorative border. The text [BY / MARY CURTIS, Pd. B.] is printed at center. The interior side of the front cover features a dedication to the author's mother, Cordelia Anna Curtis, and, at bottom center, the notice [COPYRIGHT, 1915. / BY MARY CURTIS]. The title page features at center a small, black silhouette illustration of a solider wearing a hat and with a rifle on his soldier. A handwritten inscription in graphite at the top of the title page reads [To Captain Ling / from Miss Curtis, Nov. 9, 1918]. The text on the title page reads [THE BLACK SOLDIER / OR / THE COLORED BOYS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY / ILLUSTRATED / By MARY CURTIS, PD. B. / (SECOND EDITION) / PRINTED BY / THE MURRAY BROTHERS / WASHINGTON / 1918].
The volume has a foreword written [By EUGENE P. FRIERSON, / Sergeant Major, 10th United States Cavalry, / Fort Huachuca, Arizona, / August 28, 1914]. Opposite the foreword is a photograph portrait of the author by G. Addison Turner. A preface by the author reads in part [As a public stenographer, Typist, Notary and Pension Agent, I have come in possession of much useful information in relation to the soldiers of the United States Army and noting that many deeds of daring and bravery performed by colored soldiers had not received the recognition adequate to their importance and merit, led me into an exhaustive investigation of the life and deeds of the colored soldiers; and the result of my labors are herein set forth.]. Black-and-white photographs of Sergeant Major Frierson and other soldiers are included within.
Place printed
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Military
U.S. History, 1865-1921
World War I
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Books and Published Materials
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2011.155.26
Type
books
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W x D: 8 15/16 × 6 1/16 × 1/4 in. (22.7 × 15.4 × 0.6 cm)
Title
Title • The Black Soldier or the Colored Boys of the United States Army
Record ID
nmaahc_2011.155.26
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
THE BLACK SOLDIER OR THE COLORED BOYS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1910s • 1914-1918
Name
Curtis, Mary • United States Army • Murray Brothers Press • Frierson, Eugene P.
Place
District of Columbia • United States • North and Central America • Washington
Topic
U.S. History, 1865-1921 • WW I • World War, 1914-1918 • Military
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Books
Online Media Type
Images
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.

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NMAAHC

The Black Soldier or the Colored Boys of the United States Army

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Caption

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NMAAHC

Deed of sale for an enslaved man named Pierre

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NMAAHC

Deed of sale for an enslaved woman named Cassey

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NMAAHC

Land deed for property in West Virginia owned by the Crawford family

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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 heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.