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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...

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

Fast Willie Jackson, Vol 1., No. 1

Date
October 1976
Illustrated by
Description
Fast Willie, Volume 1, Number 1 from October 1976 published by Fitzgerald Periodicals, Inc. The first issue was written by Bertram Fitzgerald and illustrated by Gus LeMoine. The comic book features eight (8) stories: "Fast Willie in Finders Keepers," "Jose Martinez in Spanish Food for Thought," "Happy Birthday, Frankie," "Don’t Thread on Dee Dee," "Jabar in the Good Old Days," "Fast Willie in Lost Souls," "Hannibal in King of Kung-Fu," and "Jabar in the One and Only." The front cover of the magazine is predominately white with color illustrations. The top third of the cover features the comic’s masthead in red outlined in black with stylized text that reads [FAST / WILLIE / JACKSON]. Above the title is a graphic of Fast Willie’s head with a yellow speech bubble that says [CAN YOU DIG IT?], and another man’s head with a speech bubble that reads [YEAH! I CAN DIG IT!]. The comic book’s issue, [OCT. NO 1], and publisher’s logo, [F / P [encircled in blue]], is printed to the left of the title. The price, [30¢ [encircled in blue]] above black text that reads [P D C / 53160-9] is printed to the right of the title. The front cover is dominated by an illustration of a dance party featuring the comic book’s titular character, Fast Willie Jackson, as well as other regular characters from the series: Jo-Jo, Hannibal, Jabar, and Frankie Johnson. The men are dancing with three (3) women. Surrounding the group are colorful balloons and musical notes. Fast Willie is depicted in the front left, wearing a blue jacket with orange lapels, and red pants. In the right foreground is Frankie Johnson. He is depicted wearing a blue jacket and orange pants. Behind Willie is Jabar, wearing a blue beret and red shirt, and Hannibal, in a yellow turtleneck and black pants. Jo-Jo stands behind Frankie and is wearing and orange turtleneck and an orange bucket hat. The back cover features the six (6) panel story, Jabar in the One and Only. The interior pages are off-white with color illustrations, advertisements, and text. The comic book is thirty-four (34) pages and is staple-bound.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
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
2019.28.24.2
Type
comic books
Restrictions & Rights
© Fitzgerald Periodicals, Inc 1976
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product) with metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (Closed): 10 3/16 × 6 5/8 × 1/16 in. (25.8 × 16.9 × 0.2 cm)
H x W x D (Open): 10 3/16 × 12 3/16 × 1 1/4 in. (25.8 × 31 × 3.2 cm)
Title
Title • Fast Willie Jackson, Vol 1., No. 1
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.28.24.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
FAST WILLIE JACKSON, VOL 1., NO. 1
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1970s
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
Use Restricted

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

Ella Fitzgerald

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NMAAHC

Ella Fitzgerald, 1978

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NMAAHC

Document appointing nine men to a slave patrol

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NMAAHC

Fast Willie Jackson, Vol 1., No. 1

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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 Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.