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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...

Katherine Johnson — Mathematics to the Moon

Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.

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BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
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NMAAHC

Flight helmet used by Colonel James E. Randall

Date
ca. 1965
Owned by
James E. Randall, American, 1926 - 2019
Distributed by
United States Air Force, American, founded 1947
Manufactured by
Columbus Milpar & Manufacturing Co., American, founded 1946
Caption
James Randall served with the 562nd Tactical Fighter Squadron during the Vietnam War. On October 13, 1965, he was shot down near Dien Bien Phu while flying his F-105 Thunderchief “Thud” fighter bomber on his 44th combat mission of the war. Forced to eject from his aircraft, Randall lost his helmet while hiding in the jungle to await rescue. In 1990, a collector named Dominique Eluere found the helmet at an Army surplus stall in Ho Chi Minh City, a thousand miles from where Randall had been shot down. Eluere spent the next 22 years trying to track down Randall, with the help of Gary "Paco" Gregg, another Vietnam veteran. Finally, in 2013, 86-year-old Randall was reunited with his flight helmet, 48 years after he lost it.
Description
A flight helmet worn by James E. Randall. The helmet is white with a black visor, a green rubber air mask, and black rubber hose. Nylon webbing and metal fasteners attach the mask to the helmet. A black adhesive label above the visor Reads “MAJ RANDALL.” Above the visor on the front of the helmet are a yellow decal on the proper right side, and a blue, red, and white, and yellow decal on the proper left side. The decal on the right reads "JIM" in stylized lettering. The decal on the left depicts a caricature of an eagle standing on a lightning bolt and holding a sword and shield. Red text around the eagle reads “562ND TAC FIGHTER SQ. / TAC’S STRONG RIGHT ARM.”. A black metal label with silver text is on the left side where the mask fastens to the helmet. The label reads “FSN 1660440-5553 / COLUMBUS MILPAR / & MFG CO. INC. / PART. NO 6004459.”
Place made
Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
Place used
Viet Nam, Asia
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Military
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Essie Aldrich Randall and Wish of a Lifetime from AARP
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2023.70.1.1-4
Type
helmets
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
metal, fiberglass, polystyrene, nylon, rubber
Dimensions
H x W x D (2023.70.1.1): 11 × 11 13/16 × 11 13/16 in. (28 × 30 × 30 cm)
H x W x D (2023.70.1.2): 7 1/2 × 5 7/8 × 5 7/8 in. (19 × 15 × 15 cm)
Title
Object Name • Flight helmet used by Colonel James E. Randall
Record ID
nmaahc_2023.70.1.1-4
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
FLIGHT HELMET USED BY COLONEL JAMES E. RANDALL
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s • 1970s
Name
Randall, James E. • United States Air Force • Columbus Milpar & Manufacturing Co.
Place
Viet Nam • United States • Asia • North and Central America • Columbus • Franklin County • Ohio
Topic
Clothing and dress • Vietnam War, 1961-1975 • Military
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Geo Location
City • Columbus • County • Franklin County • State • Ohio • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • Country • Viet Nam • Continent • Asia
Type
Helmets
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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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Ohio State Buckeyes football helmet worn by Archie Griffin

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Flight helmet worn by Thunderbird pilot Gen. Lloyd W. Newton

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NMAAHC

Flight helmet used by Colonel James E. Randall

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Seattle Mariners batting helmet worn by Ken Griffey Jr.

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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.