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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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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

Braided hat with purple pleated hatband

Date
ca. 1965
Description
A braided hat with a purple pleated hatband. The body of the hat is made of woven shiny polypropylene covered paper. The crown of the hat is ovoid shaped with the center indented. There is a mauve acetate satin ribbon hatband that has five pleats. A decorative pleated loop made of the same mauve satin is placed at the center front of the hat, slightly offset to the proper right side. This also secures the edge of the hat band which extends off the crown. The brim of the hat is flat and slightly upturned at the edges. The inside of the hat is unlined. There is a green petersham rayon ribbon stitched to the inside of the hat at the edge of the crown. A label is located at the inside of the hat at the center back along the petersham ribbon. The label reads [Frances Original of WASHINGTON D.C.] in black ink and has pinked seams.
Cataloging Notes
This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2007.3.575
Type
hats
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
polypropylene, paper, acetate satin, adhesive, nylon lace, and rayon petersham ribbon
Dimensions
H x W x D x C: 4 1/2 × 15 × 14 3/4 × 21 1/2 in. (11.4 × 38.1 × 37.5 × 54.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Braided hat with purple pleated hatband
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.575
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BRAIDED HAT WITH PURPLE PLEATED HATBAND
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s • 1970s
Geo Location
City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
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

Black velvet hat with wide brim and pink fabric flowers and hat pin

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NMAAHC

Braided hat with purple pleated hatband

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Description

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NMAAHC

Hat with green fabric flowers and rhinestones

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NMAAHC

Red hat with self-fabric bow

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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.