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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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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...

Wilmington 1898 — An American Coup

Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.

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

Desk from the Dreamland Theater in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa

Date
early 20th century
Manufactured by
Unidentified
Subject of
Williams Dreamland Theater, American, founded 1906
Used by
John Wesley Williams, 1884 - 1939
Description
This desk was used by the Williams family at the Dreamland Theater in the Greendwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wooden writing desk with four fluted legs. At the front, below the mid-section, on either side are long rectangles of wood with angled triangles extending out from center. The desk has four cubby holes below a shelf on the back of the writing surface. There is a pair of cubbies on either side of the desk’s writing surface as well. The writing surface slides in and out of mid-section with two hand holds for easy access on either side of the top near the front. The front portion of the writing top is slightly curved. The desk has a large rectangular drawer with scalloped lower edges on the front. The front of the drawer has two pairs of carved out scallops near the center. The drawer slides in and out of lower portion of the desk top.
Place used
Greenwood, Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
American South
American West
Black Enterprise
Business
Race discrimination
U.S. History, 1919-1933
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Exhibition
Power of Place
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 051
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Families of Anita Williams Christopher and David Owen Williams
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2013.119
Type
writing desks
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wood, metal, varnish
Dimensions
32 x 33 x 17 1/4 in. (81.3 x 83.8 x 43.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • Desk from the Dreamland Theater in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa
Record ID
nmaahc_2013.119
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
DESK FROM THE DREAMLAND THEATER IN THE GREENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD OF TULSA
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1920s • 1900s
Name
Williams Dreamland Theater • Williams, John Wesley
Place
Greenwood • United States • Oklahoma • North and Central America • Tulsa County • Tulsa
Topic
U.S. History, 1919-1933 • Black Enterprise • American South • Discrimination • American West • Race • Business
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Power of Place
Geo Location
Locale • Greenwood • City • Tulsa • County • Tulsa County • State • Oklahoma • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
writing desks
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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

Desk from the Hope School

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Desk from the Hope School

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Desk from the Hope School

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Desk from the Dreamland Theater in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa

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

Which Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.