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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

Lavender satin ensemble worn by Prince

Date
ca. 1998
Designed by
Domenic Serio, Canadian
Worn by
Prince, American, 1958 - 2016
Description
A lavender purple satin outfit worn by Prince in numerous appearances. The ensemble consists of a shirt (2020.27.3.1) and pants (2020.27.3.2) with matching boots (2020.27.2ab).
2020.27.3.1 Shirt:
The long-sleeved shirt is made of a flowy lavender satin. The collar has a high band and the two points fold in on themselves to meet at the bottom center of the collar. There are stains from stage makeup around the interior of the collar. There are folded pleats down either side of the shirt, similar to the fold of the collar points, forming a center line of decorative folds from collar down to near the bottom hem. The hem is open along the center line from the bottom of the pleats. The long sleeves end in wide cuffs and there is a zipper closure at back center. In the interior near the collar is a manufacturer's label, black with white lettering reading [DOMENICO SERIO].
2020.27.3.2 Pants:
The high-waisted pants are made of the same lavender satin as the shirt, with a dart down the front center of each pant leg. The front of the waistline has a silver hook and eye closure above a purple zipper. The back side of the pants is higher in the waist than in the front. There is a wide v shaped notch at the center of the waistline. In the interior is a manufacturer's label, black with white lettering reading [DOMENICO SERIO].
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Composers (Musicians)
Funk (Music)
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Musicians
Popular music
Rhythm and blues (Music)
Rock and roll (Music)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Costume
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
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
2020.27.3.1-.2
Type
suits
jackets
trousers
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
satin and zippers with thread
Dimensions
L x W (.1 Top, width shoulder to shoulder): 31 1/4 × 17 1/2 in. (79.4 × 44.5 cm)
L x W (.2 Pants, width at the waist): 42 1/4 × 13 1/2 in. (107.3 × 34.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • Lavender satin ensemble worn by Prince
Record ID
nmaahc_2020.27.3.1-.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
LAVENDER SATIN ENSEMBLE WORN BY PRINCE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s • 1990s
Name
Prince • Serio, Domenic
Topic
Rock and roll (Music) • Funk (Music) • Music • Clothing and dress • Composers (Musicians) • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Rhythm and blues (Music)
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Musical Crossroads
Type
Suits (main garments) • jackets • Trousers
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Rights and restrictions shown above are supplied by the Smithsonian record.

NMAAHC

Sale agreements for enslaved persons Miguel and Juan in colonial New Spain

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NMAAHC

Sale agreements for enslaved persons Ciborio and Andres in colonial New Spain

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NMAAHC

Lavender satin ensemble worn by Prince

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Machito: A Latin Jazz Legacy

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Caption

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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.