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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 3 strongest Black History matches.
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NMAAHC

Tuxedo jacket with boutonnière worn by Reverend Ike

Date
ca. 2004
Manufactured by
Stefano Ricci, Italian, founded 1972
Worn by
Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, American, 1935 - 2009
Description
2020.49.4.1a: A black tuxedo jacket designed by Stefano Ricci and worn by Reverend Ike. The jacket is solidly black and heavily embellished with black thread embroidery and small black rhinestones laid out in a grid pattern. It features satin facing on the upper lapels, buttons, and pocket trim. Stitched into the proper left breast pocket is a gold and black pocket square. There are three satin button at each sleeve cuff. Two black satin buttons attach to either side of the bottom of proper right lapel matches a buttonhole on the bottom of the proper left lapel to close the jacket. Attached to the proper left lapel is a yellow fabric marigold boutonnière (2020.49.4.1b) held in place with a straight pin. The back of the jacket has the same grid pattern of black thread embroidery and small black rhinestones. The interior lining of the jacket is primarily black silk with woven text that reads [STEFFANO RICCI] in a repeating pattern. The sleeves are lined with white silk with thin yellow and black stripes. There are two proper left, and one proper right, interior pockets. Sewn to the front of the proper right interior pocket, just below a black plastic button, is a black label. At the center of the label is an embroidered white rectangular frame with white embroidered text inside that reads [STEFANO RICCI] above smaller embroidered text that reads [MADE IN ITALY].
2020.49.4.1b: A yellow fabric marigold boutonnière attached to the proper left lapel of a black tuxedo-style dress jacket (2020.49.4.1a) worn by Reverend Ike. The fabric flower has an olive green plastic base and is a held in place with a straight pin.
Place made
Florence, Firenze, Italy, Europe
Topic
African American
Christianity
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Preaching
Radio
Religion
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Eula M. Dent Eikerenkoetter (Wife) and Xavier F. Eikerenkoetter (Son)
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2020.49.4.1ab
Type
suits
jackets
tuxedoes
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
2020.49.4.1a: wool (textile) with silk (textile) , rhinestone and thread
2020.49.4.1b: synthetic fiber and plastic
Dimensions
H x W x D (2020.49.4.1a: flat): 32 13/16 × 27 3/16 × 1 3/16 in. (83.3 × 69 × 3 cm)
H x W x D (2020.49.4.1b): 3 9/16 × 3 1/8 × 1 15/16 in. (9 × 8 × 5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Tuxedo jacket with boutonnière worn by Reverend Ike
Record ID
nmaahc_2020.49.4.1ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
TUXEDO JACKET WITH BOUTONNIÈRE WORN BY REVEREND IKE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s
Name
Stefano Ricci • Eikerenkoetter, Frederick J.
Place
Firenze • Europe • Florence • Italy
Topic
Clothing and dress • Fashion • Preaching • Religion • Radio
Culture
Christians • African Americans
Geo Location
City • Florence • State • Firenze • Country • Italy • Continent • Europe
Type
tuxedoes • Suits (main garments) • jackets
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

Necktie worn by Reverend Ike

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Tuxedo jacket with boutonnière worn by Reverend Ike

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

1960 Olympic Bronze Medal for Men's 400M Hurdles awarded to Dick Howard

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

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

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.