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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

The Believer’s Pocket Companion

Date
1853
Written by
William Mason, British, 1719 - 1791
Published by
American Baptist Publication Society, American, founded 1824
Owned by
Marquis Peterson, American, 1832 - 1896
Frankie Davis, American
Signed by
David E. Davis, American
Description
A book titled “The Believer’s Pocket Companion” (2017.78.3.1) and a small paper card (2017.78.3.2) owned by Marquis Peterson. The book has a brown cover with a gold lettering on the spine and a decorative design on the cover. The book is inscribed on the first and second front free endpapers. It has 136 pages. The pages are off white with foxing throughout. The card is yellowed and has “55th Mass. Vol. Inf.” Handwritten in black ink on the front.
The book has two inscriptions. On the front free endpaper, signed in ink is [David E. Davis]; on the second front free endpaper, handwritten in graphite in the same hand is [Presented to / Frankie Davis / by her uncle / David E. Davis].
Place printed
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Baptist
Christianity
Free communities of color
Military
Religion
U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865
United States Colored Troops
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Books and Published Materials
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
2017.78.3.1-.2
Type
cards
hardcover books
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W x D (2017.78.3a (closed)): 6 × 4 × 5/8 in. (15.2 × 10.2 × 1.6 cm)
H x W (2017.78.3b): 1 15/16 × 3 9/16 in. (5 × 9 cm)
Title
Title • The Believer’s Pocket Companion
Record ID
nmaahc_2017.78.3.1-.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
THE BELIEVER’S POCKET COMPANION
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1850s
Name
Peterson, Marquis • Davis, David E. • Mason, William • Davis, Frankie • American Baptist Publication Society
Place
United States • North and Central America • Philadelphia • Pennsylvania
Topic
U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865 • Religion • Free communities of color • Military • United States Colored Troops
Culture
Baptists • Christians • African Americans
Geo Location
City • Philadelphia • State • Pennsylvania • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Hardcover books • Christmas cards
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

The Believer’s Pocket Companion

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Stereograph of troops with marching band

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NMAAHC

Playbill for Fences

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NMAAHC

Fast Willie Jackson, Vol 1., No. 3

Date: Date

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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 Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.