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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

Showbill for "Lagrima Del Diablo"

Date
1980
Published by
Playbill, American, founded 1884
Subject of
Negro Ensemble Company, American, founded 1967
Dan Owens, American
Directed by
Richard Gant, American
Description
An off-white paper showbill printed by Playbill for “Lagrima Del Diablo”.
On the front of the showbill at the top in large black type is “SHOWBILL / ST. MARKS PLAYHOUSE”, printed inside of a blue block. Below it in white type on a large black block is: [THE NEGRO ENSEMBLE COMPANY] with the signature round Ensemble logo.
On the inside of the showbill, a left page features a black-and-white Manufactures Hanover ad. The ad depicts two small-scale ballet dancers mid-performance, photographed as if inside of an apple. The right page announces the play “Lagrima Del Diablo”. From top to bottom it reads: [THE ST. MARKS PLAYHOUSE / 133 SECOND AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y. / 674-3530 / THE NEGRO / ENSEMBLE / COMPANY / presents / LAGRIMA DEL DIABLO / (The Devil’s Tear) / by / DAN OWENS / Directed by / RICHARD GANT / Scenery by / WYNN THOMAS / Costumes by QUAY BARNES TRUITT / Lightning by / KATHY A. PERKINS / Premier Performance – January 10, 1980 / WARNING / The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such / photographing or sound recording inside this theatre, without the written permission of the manage- / ment, is prohibited by law. / Violations may be punished by ejection and may render the offender liable / for money damages.]. An ad for Dewar’s White Label Scotch Whiskey is printed below the play information.
The back of the showbill features an edge to edge photographic ad for Country of Sweden Absolute Vodka. The photograph captures a macro perspective of a model’s fingers holding a vodka filled shot glass in front of perspiring bottle of Absolut.
Place used
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Actors
Advertising
Drama (Theatre)
Entertainers
Theatre
Theatre companies
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Sandra Austin
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.196.18
Type
playbills
Restrictions & Rights
© Playbill
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper with metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 9 1/16 × 5 5/8 × 1/8 in. (23 × 14.3 × 0.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • Showbill for "Lagrima Del Diablo"
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.196.18
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
SHOWBILL FOR "LAGRIMA DEL DIABLO"
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
Negro Ensemble Company • Playbill • Gant, Richard • Owens, Dan
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Theatre companies • Actors and actresses • Entertainers • Drama (Theatre) • Advertising
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Playbills
Online Media Type
Electronic resource • 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

Photograph of Del Shields, Hazel Scott, and Nina Simone

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Showbill for "Lagrima Del Diablo"

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Sale agreement and convent transfer of power in colonial New Spain

Date: Date

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NMAAHC

Cover letter regarding a runaway enslaved person in Cuba

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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.