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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...

Shirley Chisholm — Unbought and Unbossed

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.

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

Free status certification, payroll, and discharge for Richard Gale

Date
1866
Created by
James Graves, American
C. J. Lusby, American
Leander Warren, American
F. H. Smith, American
Subject of
Richard Gale, American, born 1843
30th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry, American, 1864 - 1865
Description
Four pages concerning Richard Gale pasted together at the top right corner. First document is signed testimony by "respectable white citizens" John Hadaway and Samuel Canada that Richard Gale "to their knowledge has been free for more than ten years, and that they believe he was born of free parents". The document is signed by Justice of the Peace James Graves, and an addendum to the form signed by clerk Jesse K. Hews certifies that Graves was authorized to authorize the original form. Both forms are preprinted and completed in black ink, each with a five (5) cent revenue stamp attached at the bottom. Second document is a half sheet sized document reading [No. 30 State of Maryland Bounty Certificate] across the top. The certificate entitles Gale to one hundred dollars to be paid out in five monthly installments and notes that the first payment was made the same date as the certificate [27 day of May 1864]. Document is signed by C.J. Lusby, Clerk County Commissioner. Third document authorizes a fifty dollar disbursement to Gale from the Maryland treasury. Gale makes his mark on the document, which is also signed by Leander Warren, notary public. This document is a preprinted form completed in black ink and bears a two (2) cent revenue stamp in the center near Gale's mark and a five (5) cent revenue stamp at the bottom near the notary public's signature. Fourth document is a discharge from the 30th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, when the regiment mustered out. The document is a preprinted form reading [TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.] rounded across the top above an oval-shaped Seal of Maryland. Completed in black ink, the document lists Gales place of birth as Kent County, Maryland, his age as 23 years-old, and his prior occupation as farmer. Discharge is signed by F. H. Smith as the Mustering Officer. The verso has several record keeping notations in different hands.
Place depicted
Kent County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Emancipation
Finance
Military
Slavery
U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865
United States Colored Troops
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Liljenquist Family
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2019.26.7a-d
Type
payroll records
discharges
credentials
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
iron gall ink on wove rag paper
Dimensions
H x W: 14 1/8 × 8 11/16 in. (35.8 × 22 cm)
Title
Object Name • Free status certification, payroll, and discharge for Richard Gale
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.26.7a-d
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
FREE STATUS CERTIFICATION, PAYROLL, AND DISCHARGE FOR RICHARD GALE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1860s
Name
Lusby, C. J. • Warren, Lenuder • 30th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry • Gale, Richard • Smith, F. H. • Graves, James
Place
Kent County • United States • North and Central America • Maryland
Topic
Slavery • U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865 • Finance • Emancipation • Military • United States Colored Troops
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
County • Kent County • State • Maryland • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Payroll records • Legal documents • credentials
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

Untitled (To Be Young, Gifted and Black)

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Free status certification, payroll, and discharge for Richard Gale

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Card photograph of three unidentified men wearing ribbons on their jackets

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Memorium ribbon for the G.U.O.O.F Lodge No. 4997

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 became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.