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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

Black crepe pant suit designed by Michael Harrell and worn by Patti Labelle

Date
1991; worn February 25, 1992
Designed by
Michael Harrell, American
Worn by
Patti Labelle, American, born 1944
Caption
This suit was worn by Patti LaBelle at the 34th GRAMMY Awards on February 25, 1992 in New York. LaBelle tied with Lisa Fisher for the award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. LaBelle has been nominated for 13 GRAMMY Awards, and has won two, the other for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance in 1999.
Description
A black crepe pant suit designed by Michael Harrell and worn by Patti Labelle at the 34th Grammy Awards. The black jacket is made of wool crepe and has a wide off the shoulder mink fur collar (a). The jacket opens at the center front, it closes with four metal hook and eyes, and four buttons. The buttons are made of metal wrapped in black synthetic fabric. The set in sleeves are full length, two decorative buttons are sewn to the bottom of each sleeve along the exterior seam. The front of the jacket is made with six panels of fabric. Horizontal double welted pockets at hip level are sewn to each side of the jacket which stretch from the princess seam to just before each side seam. The proper left pocket is closed with tack stitches. The back of the jacket is made of six panels of fabric which includes a center back seam and two princess seams. The underside of the fur collar is lined with black silk satin. The inside of the jacket has self-facing along all the exterior seams. The inside of the jacket is lined with black synthetic satin and six darts are sewn along the waistline. The jacket is made with machine stitching except for the collar and the hem which are sewn with hand whip stitches. A label is sewn to the facing of the proper left side of the jacket that reads [michael harrell] in blue text.
The pants are made of black wool crepe (b). They have two darts sewn to the waistband along each pantleg and a vertical double welted pocket set into each side. The pants have a straight cut and are tapered slightly at the bottom. A ten and a half inch invisible metal zipper is sewn to the center back of the pants and two seven inch darts are sewn to each side of the pants, starting at the waist. The pants are lined with black synthetic chiffon. The lining is fully secured to the pants along the waistline and the zipper but is tacked to the wool crepe along the bottom of the pant legs.
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place used
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Fashion design
Rhythm and blues (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Michael Harrell
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2019.58ab
Type
jackets
trousers
pantsuits
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
fur, wool crepe, synthetic satin, silk satin, synthetic chiffon, and metal
Dimensions
L x W (a. jacket): 25 × 21 1/2 in. (63.5 × 54.6 cm)
Waist: 15 in. (38.1 cm)
L x W (b. pants): 44 × 15 in. (111.8 × 38.1 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black crepe pant suit designed by Michael Harrell and worn by Patti Labelle
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.58ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK CREPE PANT SUIT DESIGNED BY MICHAEL HARRELL AND WORN BY PATTI LABELLE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s
Name
Labelle, Patti • Harrelle, Michael
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Design • Clothing and dress • Fashion • Singers (Musicians) • Rhythm and blues (Music)
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
pantsuits • jackets • Trousers
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

Brown and orange jacket and pants worn on Soul Train by dancer Tim Harrell

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Black crepe pant suit designed by Michael Harrell and worn by Patti Labelle

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Photograph of Soul 4 Real, Heavy D, Andre Harrell, and Dick Clark

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photograph of St. Augustine High School band leader Edwin Harrell Hampton

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

Which Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.