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GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS
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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

Broadside for the estate sale of Robert Skeen including ten enslaved people

Date
March 18, 1862
Written by
Ira F. Jordan, 1810 - 1887
William Skeen, 1818 - 1893
Subject of
Robert Skeen, 1795 - 1860
Unidentified Man or Men
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Child or Children
Description
This broadside advertises the estate of recently deceased Robert Skeen, owner of the Eagle Hotel and a farmer in Covington, Virginia. The list of property to be sold is: [The "EAGLE HOTEL," and other lots in the Town of Covington; a FARM adjoining the town; several LOTS AT THE DEPOT of the Central and Covington & Ohio Railroad; other tracts of land in the County of Alleghany; all and EVERY KIND OF FURNITURE used in connection with the Hotel; Wagons, Plows, Horses, Cows, and all other kinds of FARMING IMPLEMENTS....; a large number of HAIR and other MATTRASSES, Feather beds, Bedding and Blankets; also, Bacon, Flour, Corn,...; also 4 NEGRO MEN, 2 WOMEN, 2 BOYS & 2 GIRLS. Everything sold without reserve.]. The advertisement was posted on March 18, 1862, by Ira F. Jordan and William Skeen, executors of Robert Skeen's estate.
The broadside is matted in light brown mat paper and framed in a gold frame. The frame is backed with brown paper and an inscription is handwritten in black ink on the paper. The framed backing states: “Robert Skeen, Deceased, was a brother to Margaret (Skeen) Hart, wife of Samuel Hart. She was a mother of Mary E.K. Hart (Old Granny), G. Mother of Maggie (Dressler) Jackson, G.G. Mother of Mary (Jackson) Brown, G.G.G. Mother of Porter Brown. W.C. Skeen was a lawyer and brother of Robert and Margaret. Robt. Skeen owned a Tavern (Hotel) on Main Street in Covington, near or on the corner of Maple Ave.”
Transcription Center Status
Transcribed by digital volunteers
Place depicted
Covington, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Business
Children
Commerce
Domestic slave trade
Finance
Men
Slavery
Women
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.222.10
Type
broadsides
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper, mat board, paint on wood, and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (framed): 13 1/2 × 11 × 3/4 in. (34.3 × 27.9 × 1.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • Broadside for the estate sale of Robert Skeen including ten enslaved people
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.222.10
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BROADSIDE FOR THE ESTATE SALE OF ROBERT SKEEN INCLUDING TEN ENSLAVED PEOPLE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1860s
Name
Jordan, Ira F. • Skeen, Robert • Skeen, William
Place
United States • North and Central America • Covington • Virginia
Topic
Slavery • Women • Finance • Men • Domestic slave trade • Children • Business
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Covington • State • Virginia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Broadsides (notices)
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

Slavery Days Song and Chorus Sung by Harrigan & Hart

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Event pass for Kevin Hart event at the Bayou Classic

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NMAAHC

Black dress pants worn by Tuskegee Airman Woodrow Crockett

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NMAAHC

Broadside for the estate sale of Robert Skeen including ten enslaved people

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 heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.