q2K BHP
Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
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
What's New!
THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

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...

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.

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

Black pants with rhinestones worn by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind, & Fire

Date
2004-2013
Created by
Bernard G. Jacobs, American
Manufactured by
French Connection, founded 1972
Worn by
Philip Bailey, American, born 1951
Subject of
Earth, Wind & Fire, American, founded 1969
Description
A pair of black men's pants (a) with silver rhinestones and detachable chains (b,c) customized by Bernard G. Jacobs and worn by Philip Bailey, vocalist for Earth, Wind & Fire. The pants have full-length straight cut legs and close at the center front waist with one (1) black plastic round button engraved "FRENCH / CONNECTION" and a metal zipper. There are five (5) self-fabric belt loops spaced evenly around the waist band. A silver metal loop is attached around both front belt loops and side back belt loops for attaching the lobster clasps at the ends of each detachable chains (b,c). The chains have two (2) pieces of chain link of the same length extending from the clasps. There are two (2) diagonal inset waist pockets, one at each front side. There are two (2) patch pockets with flap closures, one at each back side waist. The inner side of the flap of each pocket is sewn down, while the outer side of each pocket is closed with one (1) metal snap. The legs of the pants are made from several different pieces of fabric seamed together to form a decorative element, including rounded pieces at the inner thighs, front and back knees, and back crotch areas, and diagonal lines running across the front thighs. Round silver rhinestones in two different sizes are attached to the pants over the seams of the diagonal lines on the front thighs. Black suede with a scalloped upper edge is sewn around the bottom of each leg. Silver foil thread is machine sewn on top of the suede in a series of lines that start in a burst of rays at the center front leg and extend onto the back of the leg ending in varying lengths. Round silver rhinestones of varying sizes are attached over the silver thread, with a large concentration of them at the central front burst. A blue fabric tag is attached at the interior center back waist with white printed text containing fiber content. White fabric tag is attached at the interior proper left side seam behind the pocket lining with black printed text in English on the front and Chinese on the back detailing fiber content, care, and style information.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Costume
Singers (Musicians)
Soul (Music)
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 Costume Designer Bernard G. Jacobs
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.147.4.2abc
Type
trousers
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
pants: cotton and polyester blend cloth, foil thread, rhinestones, plastic button, and metal zipper;
chains: metal
Dimensions
H x W ((abc) flat): 42 3/4 × 18 1/2 in. (108.6 × 47 cm)
H x W x D ((b, c) flat outstretched): 1 1/4 × 33 1/8 × 1/2 in. (3.2 × 84.1 × 1.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black pants with rhinestones worn by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind, & Fire
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.147.4.2abc
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK PANTS WITH RHINESTONES WORN BY PHILIP BAILEY OF EARTH, WIND, & FIRE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2010s • 2000s
Name
Earth, Wind & Fire • Jacobs, Bernard G. • Bailey, Philip • French Connection
Topic
Soul (Music) • Costume • Clothing and dress • Singers (Musicians)
Culture
African Americans
Type
Trousers
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

Black pants with rhinestones worn by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind, & Fire

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Card honoring Philip Goodwin Freelon

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Uniform cap worn by Pullman Porter Philip Henry Logan

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Zebra print ensemble by Dolce & Gabbana and zebra beret by Yves Saint Laurent

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