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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

Green leather halter dress with matching coat and beret by B. Gayle Creations

Date
1980s
Created by
B. Gayle Creations, American
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
A green leather halter dress (a) with a matching coat (b) and beret (c) by B. Gayle Creations. The green leather halter dress has a fitted bodycon silhouette and features a deep V neckline made from two oversized lapels, that cover the bust area. Both the proper right and the proper left lapels are made from two panels of leather (one for the top and one for the underside). For the proper right lapel, both panels are green, and for the proper left, the top panel is red, and the underside is green. There is an abstract, plant-like decoration on the proper left red panel made from one strip of black leather, one strip of black suede, and one strip of green leather machine sewn into place. Three panels of green leather form the mid-section of the dress, which is sewn to the single panel that forms the skirt. There is a box pleat at the center front waistline. At the bottom of the dress is a single fold 1.75” hem that has been adhered, instead of machine sewn into place.
The back neckline of the dress closes with two 2.25" pieces of black Velcro that are machine sewn into place. Below that is a metal hook and eye set, and below that is an 8.25" metal zipper with plastic teeth. The inside of the dress is lined with black synthetic faille (possibly acetate) that mirrors the outer construction of the dress. The lining fabric has green polka dots painted on it. There is a white brand label at the center back that reads [B. GAYLE CREATIONS / DETROIT MICHIGAN] in cursive text.
The green leather matching coat (b) has an oversized swing silhouette and features two panels of green leather for the front and two for the back. Each sleeve is one panel of fabric that is gathered into a 2" leather cuff that is sewn into the sleeve seam. The proper left cuff is red and the proper right cuff is black. Each pocket has a half-moon shaped 2.25" width leather decorative flap sewn to it; the proper left is black, and the proper right is red. The coat had a rounded neckline and hangs completely open at the front and at the inside of each panel opening is a 5" width panel of green leather. At the bottom of the coat is a 1.5" hem, which is adhered into place instead of machine sewn. The back of the coat has a black and red abstract plant like design made from three panels of red leather, one panel of black leather, and one panel of black suede.
The coat is lined with black synthetic faille (possibly acetate) with green polka dots painted on it. The lining construction mirrors that of the outside of the coat and has a 1” single folded hem that is machine overlocked to itself, not to the coat. There are two shoulder pads - one at each interior shoulder, that are hand tacked into place. At the neckline is a white fabric label that reads [B. GAYLE CREATIONS / DETROIT, MICHIGAN] in cursive text.
The matching green oversized beret (c) has black and red plant-like decorations on the underside of the hat made from one panel of red leather, one panel of black leather, and one panel of black suede. There is one panel for the top of the beret and one panel for the underside, which are sewn together along the side seams. A .5" thick metal wire is sewn along inner perimeter of the hat, giving it structure and shape. The hatband is made from a 1.125” wide band of red of leather and the inside of the hat is lined with synthetic faille (possibly acetate) that has green polka dots painted on it.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Design
Fashion
Fashion design
Streetwear
See more items in
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
2007.3.174abc
Type
coats
dresses
hats
outerwear
berets
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
leather, synthetic faille, paint, metal, plastic, adhesive, and Velcro
Dimensions
a: dress
Length (a: center back to hem): 41 in. (104.1 cm)
Chest (a: full): 30 1/2 in. (77.5 cm)
Waist (a: full): 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm)
b: coat
Length (b: shoulder to hem): 36 in. (91.4 cm)
Length(b: shoulder to shoulder): 26 in. (66 cm)
Chest (b: full): 66 in. (167.6 cm)
Hem circumference (b): 102 1/2 in. (260.4cm)
c: beret
Height (c): 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Width (c): 20 in. (50.8 cm)
Depth (c): 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)
Inner circumference (c): 22 in. (55.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • Green leather halter dress with matching coat and beret by B. Gayle Creations
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.174abc
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
GREEN LEATHER HALTER DRESS WITH MATCHING COAT AND BERET BY B. GAYLE CREATIONS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
B. Gayle Creations • Black Fashion Museum
Topic
Design • Streetwear • Clothing and dress • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Type
Dresses (garments) • Coats (garments) • Hats • outerwear • Headgear
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.

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NMAAHC

The Literary Corner: Kenneth Chambers on John A. Williams (side a) / Addison Gayle on Black Literary Criticism (side b)

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Green leather halter dress with matching coat and beret by B. Gayle Creations

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Indoor Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Bathing Suit, Gayle Heath

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NMAAHC

Indoor Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Bathing Suit, Gayle Heath

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.