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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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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

Strapless black lace dress with heavy gold embellishments designed by Peter Davy

Date
1980s
Description
A strapless floor-length dress made from black floral net lace with heavy gold embellishments designed by Peter Davy. The bodice of the dress has fitted bra cups with a plunging rounded neckline at the center front and a shallow V-neck at the back. The waistline falls between the bottom bust and natural waist, extending into a slightly flared floor-length skirt with godets at the center front and center back and a scalloped hemline. The base fabric of the dress is a synthetic black net lace with a knotted floral design in black thread. Lines of gold sequins, some with beads in the center of each sequin, are sewn vertically down the bodice and skirt. The bust of the dress is completely covered in heavy embellishment of gold beads and sequins. A large cluster of beads and sequins are sewn at the center front bodice below the bust. The floral pattern in the lace on the skirt is covered by gold beads and sequins, with iridescent rhinestones and strings of gold seed bead fringe ending in a large faceted gold sequin scattered throughout. The dress closes at the center back bodice with a black metal and plastic zipper.
The bodice of the dress is built out from a mass-produced black bustier complete with padded bra cups, boning, and elastic. The black net lace and embellishments are attached to the bustier. The dress has no lining, meaning both the bodice and skirt are sheer. A manufacturer's label was cut from the proper right back of the bustier and is illegible. There are no other labels in the dress.
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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
2007.3.92
Type
dresses
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
lace, sequins, beads, rhinestones, elastic, and metal boning, with metal and plastic zipper
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 50 1/2 × 28 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (128.3 × 72.4 × 8.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • Strapless black lace dress with heavy gold embellishments designed by Peter Davy
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.92
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
STRAPLESS BLACK LACE DRESS WITH HEAVY GOLD EMBELLISHMENTS DESIGNED BY PETER DAVY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
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

Photographic print of Heavy D & the Boyz shooting a video

Date: Date

Description

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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

Photographic print of Rakim and friends at Heavy D's birthday party

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Strapless black lace dress with heavy gold embellishments designed by Peter Davy

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

Who was the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States?

Madam C.J. Walker