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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
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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

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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

Charleston slave badge from 1811 for Carpenter No. 27

Date
1811
Created by
John Joseph Lafar, American, 1784 - 1849
Description
This is a square metal slave badge with quarter-circles cut out of the four corners. On the recto is text that reads ”CHARLESTON [stamped]” across the top. Under that is “1811 [stamped] / CARPENTER [stamped] / No. [stamped] 27 [engraved] .” There is no legible cartouche on the verso. There is a long narrow gash running the length of the word “Charleston.” There is a hole punched at the center top.
Place used
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Labor
Skilled labor
Slave hire system
Slavery
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Charleston Slave Hire Badge Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Partial Gift of Harry S. Hutchins, Jr. DDS, Col. (Ret.) and his Family, dedicated to the individuals these Slave Hire Badges represent and their descendants
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2022.5.21
Type
slave hire badges
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
metal
Dimensions
H x W: 2 × 2 in. (5.2 × 5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Charleston slave badge from 1811 for Carpenter No. 27
Record ID
nmaahc_2022.5.21
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
CHARLESTON SLAVE BADGE FROM 1811 FOR CARPENTER NO. 27
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1810s
Name
Lafar, John Joseph
Place
Charleston County • Charleston • United States • North and Central America • South Carolina
Topic
Slavery • Skilled labor • Labor unions • Slave hire system
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Charleston • County • Charleston County • State • South Carolina • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
slave hire badges
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

Charleston slave badge from 1813 for Carpenter No. 65

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Poster for the Negro Ensemble Company at the Aldwych Theatre

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Charleston slave badge from 1811 for Carpenter No. 27

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Description

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NMAAHC

Playbill for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.