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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
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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...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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

Manumission receipt for Vister Campbell for his enlistment in the Union army

Date
1864
Created by
Allen E. Forrester, American
Subject of
Vistar Campbell, American
30th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry, American, 1864 - 1865
Ann E. Thompson
Description
A series of three joined documents relating to the manumission and enlistment of Vister Campbell and the subsequent repayment to enslaver Ann E. Thompson.
The first document is joined at the bottom to the top of the second with brown adhesive. A third document is affixed to the bottom of the second document. Each document has a five (5) cent revenue stamp with the image of George Washington. A two (2) cent stamp is placed at the center join of the first and second documents.
The first document is a preprinted letterpress form with the heading [OFFICE OF BOARD OF CLAIMS / FOR SLAVES ENLISTED IN U.S. SERVICE]. It has been completed by hand in black ink. The document confirms that [Mrs. Ann E. Thompson of St. Mary's County, State of Maryland, has filed with the Board for Enlisted Slaves, instituted under General Order No. 329, War Department, 1863 - a valid Deed of Manumission and Release of Service of Vister Campbell, a man of African descent, of St. Mary's County, Md., enlisted 27th day of February, 1864 in the 30th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops, Co. C...]. It is dated November 18, 1865 in Baltimore, Maryland.
The second document is a handwritten affidavit in black ink of the testimony of Ann E. Thompson and Jane E. Bokee that at the time of Campbell's enlistment he was [the sole property of Mrs. Ann E. Thompson of St. Mary's County, and not of Charles Thomas]. At the bottom is written [Sworn before / Allen E. Forrester]. This document is dated November 19, 1864.
The third and final document is a preprinted letterpress form, completed in black ink, from the Clerk of the Superior Court of Baltimore City, certifying that the Allen E Forrester who heard the above affadavit was a commissioned Justice of the Peace at the time he heard the sworn testimony. This document is dated November 25, 1864.
The verso of the documents contain an address to the Comptroller's Office of the Treasury Department and has various record keeping notations relating to the content.
Place depicted
Saint Mary's County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Place made
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Emancipation
Finance
Military
Slavery
U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865
United States Colored Troops
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 of the Liljenquist Family
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2019.26.6
Type
free papers
receipts
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
iron gall ink on wove rag paper
Dimensions
H x W: 19 3/16 × 7 7/8 in. (48.8 × 20 cm)
Title
Object Name • Manumission receipt for Vister Campbell for his enlistment in the Union army
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.26.6
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
MANUMISSION RECEIPT FOR VISTER CAMPBELL FOR HIS ENLISTMENT IN THE UNION ARMY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1860s
Name
30th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry • Forrester, Allen E. • Campbell, Vistar • Thompson, Ann E.
Place
Baltimore • United States • North and Central America • Saint Mary's County • Maryland
Topic
Slavery • U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865 • Finance • Emancipation • Military • United States Colored Troops
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
County • Saint Mary's County • State • Maryland • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Baltimore
Type
Receipts • Free papers
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

Document announcing Connecticut's opposition to banning free Blacks

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Free status certification, payroll, and discharge for Richard Gale

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Manumission receipt for Vister Campbell for his enlistment in the Union army

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Document on distribution of six enslaved persons owned by Elizabeth Roberts

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 heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.