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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...

Shirley Chisholm — Unbought and Unbossed

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.

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BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
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NMAAHC

US Army green class A uniform jacket worn by Private Marvin E. Parker

Date
1954-1956
Manufactured by
Beaconwear Clothing Company, American
Worn by
Marvin E. Parker, American
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Description
This olive green U.S. Army class A service uniform jacket was worn by Private Marvin E. Parker. The wool jacket has an open collar, a short waist, and full-length fitted sleeves. It closes at the center front with five (5) round brown plastic buttons, with an additional tab at the waist that crosses over to the proper right side and fastens with two (2) metal snaps. There is no vent in the back of the jacket, but there are slits at each side that fasten down to the waist band with one (1) brown plastic button each. There are two (2) pleated patch pockets, one at each front breast, with scalloped flaps that fasten with two (2) metal snaps each. There are self-fabric shoulder tabs that close with one (1) brown plastic button each near the neck. Two (2) patches are sewn on the upper proper left sleeve. On top is a triangular patch in red, gold, and blue for the 2nd Armored Division, with the number 2 in black above a symbol of a black tank with a red lightning bolt on top of it. Text at the bottom of the patch reads "HELL ON WHEELS". Below this patch is a dark green patch with a rounded top and a pointed bottom. A gold U.S. Seal is embroidered at the center. This same green and gold patch is sewn on the proper right sleeve.
The jacket is fully lined in green synthetic material. There is one (1) interior welt pocket at the proper right breast. Inside the pocket is a white label with black printed text containing the style number, date, and manufacturer information. A size tag is sewn at the interior center back neck beneath a green hanger loop. Illegible text is stamped in black ink on the interior back shoulders. The name "PARKER" is handwritten in faded blue ink beneath the interior proper right breast pocket.
A round silver pin (b) with an orange rubber back is pinned at the proper left lapel. The medical symbol is in relief on the pin.
A round silver pin (c) with an orange rubber back is pinned at the proper right lapel. The letters "U.S." are in relief on the pin.
A third green and gold U.S. Seal patch (d) was found in the proper left breast pocket. Three (3) buttons were found in the proper right breast pocket. One (1) large round brown plastic button with a metal loop back (e) featuring the U.S. Army Symbol in relief. Two (2) small gold U.S. Army Symbol buttons (f, g) with screw backs.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Military
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Marvin E. Parker
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.215.1.2a-g
Type
jackets
military uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool and synthetic fiber with plastic buttons and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (On form): 28 × 21 × 9 in. (71.1 × 53.3 × 22.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • US Army green class A uniform jacket worn by Private Marvin E. Parker
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.215.1.2a-g
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
US ARMY GREEN CLASS A UNIFORM JACKET WORN BY PRIVATE MARVIN E. PARKER
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1950s
Name
Parker, Marvin E. • Beaconwear Clothing Company • United States Army
Topic
Clothing and dress • Military
Culture
African Americans
Type
Military uniforms • jackets
Online Media Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions

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 Private Marvin E. Parker in US Army uniform

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

US Army green class A uniform necktie worn by Private Marvin E. Parker

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

US Army green class A uniform cap worn by Private Marvin E. Parker

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Description

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NMAAHC

US Army green class A uniform jacket worn by Private Marvin E. Parker

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

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

The Greenwood District.