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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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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

Letter From Birmingham City Jail: Portfolio case

Date
2007
Created by
Faith Ringgold, American, 1930 - 2024
Produced by
Limited Editions Club, American, founded 1929
Subject of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
Description
The box for Faith Ringgold’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail portfolio. The exterior of the clamshell case is covered in a burgundy red linen fabric. On the front is a black nameplate with [Faith Ringgold] printed in gold. The interior of the box is black.
Place printed
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Activism
Art
Civil Rights
U.S. History, 1961-1969
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Portfolio/Series
Letter From Birmingham City Jail
Classification
Visual Arts
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
2024.70.10.12
Type
portfolios (groups of works)
portfolios (containers)
serigraphs (prints)
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
linen on cardboard
Title
Title • Letter From Birmingham City Jail: Portfolio case
Record ID
nmaahc_2024.70.10.12
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM CITY JAIL: PORTFOLIO CASE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s
Name
Limited Editions Club • King, Martin Luther • Ringgold, Faith
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America • Easton • Northampton County • Pennsylvania
Topic
Activism • Art • U.S. History, 1961-1969 • Civil rights
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Easton • County • Northampton County • State • Pennsylvania
Type
Portfolios (containers) • serigraphs (prints) • Portfolios (groups of works)
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

Letter From Birmingham City Jail: Portfolio case

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Letter From Birmingham City Jail: Title page

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NMAAHC

Letter From Birmingham City Jail: Colophon page

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NMAAHC

Goggles worn by Cheryl Miler

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

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.