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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

Blessed Assurance

Date
1951
Recorded by
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, American, 1915 - 1973
Published by
Decca Records, British, founded 1929
Manufactured by
Decca Records, British, founded 1929
Description
A 33 1/3 rpm record album titled Blessed Assurance recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The vinyl record (2014.98.11a) has a black label with gold lettering. The front cover of the album sleeve (2014.98.11b) is purple with a large, stylized cross across it in lighter purple, with a black outline illustration iof an angel in the top left corner and a black and white photographic portrait of Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the bottom left corner. Only her head is pictured and she is smiling and looking at the camera. Printed across the center of the cross is the text [BLESSED ASSURANCE / Gospel Hymns sung by / SISTER ROSETTA THARPE / with the Rosettes and organ accompaniment]. This is followed by a track listing down the bottom center of the album [BLESSED ASSURANCE / AMAZING GRACE / ROCK OF AGES / LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING / IN THE GARDEN / THERE'S A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD / THROW OUT THE LIFE LINE / WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS]. The back cover is white with black text and features the same track listing, information about the songs and biographical information on Tharpe, as well as a list of [OTHER DECCA LONG PLAY RECORDS OF SACRED MUSIC] at the bottom. Inscribed dates are written in pencil after the track titles on Side Two: [April 10 / April 13-A] after "In the Garden," [Apr 17] after "There's a Fountain Filled With Blood," and [April 21] after "What a Friend We Have Jesus."
Topic
African American
Gospel (Music)
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Mass media
Singers (Musicians)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Record Albums
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gayle Wald
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.98.11ab
Type
record covers
long-playing records
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
vinyl, ink on paper
Dimensions
Diameter (record): 9 13/16 in. (25 cm)
H x W (album jacket): 10 1/4 × 10 1/4 in. (26 × 26 cm)
Title
Title • Blessed Assurance
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.98.11ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLESSED ASSURANCE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1950s
Name
Tharpe, Sister Rosetta • Decca Records
Topic
Gospel (Music) • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Mass media • Singers (Musicians)
Culture
African Americans
Type
Phonograph records • Record covers
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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

Blessed Assurance

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Description

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NMAAHC

Building with clothesline - Boston, Mass. - 1969

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NMAAHC

Building with clothesline & clothes - Boston, Mass. - 1969

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NMAAHC

Offering Life

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Caption

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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.