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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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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
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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

White suit jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles

Date
2002-2006
Manufactured by
Juicy Couture, American, founded 1997
Worn by
Melvin Van Peebles, American, 1932 - 2021
Description
A white Juicy Couture suit jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles. The polyester jacket is solid white with vertical white stripes woven into the fabric. It features a half clover notched lapel made from one panel of fabric for the back. The two lower front lapel panels are a part of the front panels of the jacket. The jacket closes at the lower front with two cream colored plastic buttons and on either side of the front panels are two vertical shaping darts. There is a flap pocket on either side of the hip. Each sleeve is made from two panels of fabric and there are four cream colored plastic buttons at each cuff. The top button on the proper right cuff is broken. One panel of fabric makes up the back of the jacket and there is a vent at the center back at extends to the hem. Polyester cotton blend fabric lines the inside of the jacket and there is a bronze-colored printed graphic of a man’s face at the center back. He is wearing sunglasses and [THE DOORS / OF / PERCEPTION] is formed in the negative space of the left lens. At the proper left interior of the jacket is a welt pocket and over the pocket is a white rectangular brand label with a black crown and shield emblem with three five-pointed stars and the text [JM] embroidered onto it. The shield is framed by mirror images of two stylized lions and below it is a pink rectangular box with the text, [JUICY COUTURE] embroidered inside. A smaller fabric tag displays the jacket size, [42]. Sewn to the inside of the welted pocket is a second fabric tag with black printed text with materials, dry cleaning instructions, and inventory numbers. Printed on the back of the tag are cleaning instructions, cleaning symbols, and the style number. A small, white fabric tag sewn underneath reads [PO# 57219].
Place made
United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Actors
Black Enterprise
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Fashion design
Film
Musicians
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Melvin Van Peebles Archive Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2024.60.1.1
Type
jackets
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
cotton, polyester, and plastic
Dimensions
Length (collar to hem): 32 1/4 in. (81.9 cm)
Width (shoulder to shoulder): 21 1/4 in. (54 cm)
Title
Object Name • White suit jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles
Record ID
nmaahc_2024.60.1.1
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
WHITE SUIT JACKET WORN BY MELVIN VAN PEEBLES
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s
Name
Van Peebles, Melvin • Juicy Couture
Place
United States • North and Central America
Topic
Design • Black Enterprise • Actors and actresses • Clothing and dress • Fashion • Motion pictures
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
jackets
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

The Obamanos Coat from Campaign for Change, Couture Collection

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

White suit jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

White suit pants worn by Melvin Van Peebles

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Grey tail coat worn by Cab Calloway

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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.