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Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
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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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
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Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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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...

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

Louis Jordan "Blue Light Boogie": Mr. Personality, In Person!

Date
1949
Created by
Unidentified
Subject of
Louis Jordan, American, 1908 - 1975
Dew Drop Inn, American, 1938 - 1972
Description
A souvenir program for a performance by Louis Jordan at the Booker T. Washington Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana, hosted by Frank Painia of the Dew Drop Inn. The program graphics consists of black print on white paper with magenta highlights. A black-and-white image of a smiling Louis Jordan appears at the center right hand side along with a full length black-and-white image of Jordan below, holding an alto saxaphone in his right hand.
Place used
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Title
Program for a Louis Jordan performance in New Orleans, Louisiana
Topic
African American
Jazz (Music)
Musicians
Nightlife
Rhythm and blues (Music)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Henrietta W. Shelton, Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, Inc.
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2011.145.2
Type
programs
Restrictions & Rights
Public Domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 11 x 8 in. (27.9 x 20.3 cm)
Title
Title • Louis Jordan "Blue Light Boogie": Mr. Personality, In Person!
Record ID
nmaahc_2011.145.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
LOUIS JORDAN "BLUE LIGHT BOOGIE": MR. PERSONALITY, IN PERSON!
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1940s
Name
Dew Drop Inn • Jordan, Louis
Place
Orleans Parish • United States • North and Central America • Louisiana • New Orleans
Topic
Nightlife • Jazz (Music) • Rhythm and blues (Music)
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New Orleans • County • Orleans Parish • State • Louisiana • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Programs (documents)
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

Pinback button for Barbara Jordan from the 1992 Democratic National Convention

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Bill of exchange between Carrie Jordan and Nelson Jordan

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Letter written by Nelson Jordan Jr. and Nelson Jordan to Julia Womack

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Louis Jordan "Blue Light Boogie": Mr. Personality, In Person!

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.