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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

French maid's costume worn by Donna Summer

Date
ca. 1985
Designed by
Nick Manno, American
Worn by
Donna Summer, American, 1948 - 2012
Description
2023.84.1.1ab: A French maid stage costume with microphone pouch worn by Donna Summer.
2023.84.1.1a: A French maid stage costume worn by Donna Summer. The costume is constructed primarily with a black, glittery, synthetic fabric features a white, tulle apron and an A-line miniskirt with a white, tulle, mini petticoat. The sweetheart neckline is trimmed with white lace and the short, puffed sleeves are edged in white tulle cuffs. The white tulle apron covers the front of the bodice and drapes over the front of the skirt. It is edged in a single white ruffle and the fabric has woven thin strips. It is secured around the waist with a tie at the waist that has been stitched into place. Sewn to the center back of the collar is a white fabric tag with black embroidered text that reads [Design / Studio / NICK MANNO / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA]. Inside the arm hole of the sleeve are two white elastic loops, both with silver metal safety pins attached. The back of the dress features a split down the center back of the miniskirt and has been filled with a wedge of five ruffle bands. At the center back of the neckline is a black zipper that runs down the length of the bodice and divides the tulle bow at the back, center waist. The white tulle petticoat lines the entire shirt and has a wide ruffle at the bottom which is slightly lower than the hemline of the skirt.
2023.84.1.1b: A microphone pouch attached to a French maid stage costume worn by Donna Summer. The pouch is constructed from the same glittery black fabric as the dress. It is rectangular in shape with a fold over flap at the front with a Velcro closure. The pouch is attached to the dress with a large, silver metal safety pin to the proper left side of the back bodice.
Place made
Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Composers (Musicians)
Disco (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
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
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2023.85.1.1ab
Type
costume
uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
synthetic fiber with plastic and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (2023.85.1.1a): 40 1/4 × 46 5/8 × 4 1/2 in. (102.3 × 118.5 × 11.5 cm)
H x W x D (2023.85.1.1b): 5 1/2 × 5 1/16 × 13/16 in. (14 × 12.8 × 2.1 cm)
Title
Object Name • French maid's costume worn by Donna Summer
Record ID
nmaahc_2023.85.1.1ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
FRENCH MAID'S COSTUME WORN BY DONNA SUMMER
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
Manno, Nick • Summer, Donna
Place
United States • North and Central America • Los Angeles • California
Topic
Disco (Music) • Clothing and dress • Composers (Musicians) • Singers (Musicians)
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Los Angeles • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Uniforms • Costume
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

Portrait of Donna Summer

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Lace headband from a French maid's costume worn by Donna Summer

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Draft lyrics for "On My Honor" by Donna Summer

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

French maid's costume worn by Donna Summer

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.