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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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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

Grey jacket designed by Arthur McGee

Date
mid 20th-late 20th century
Designed by
Arthur McGee, American, 1933 - 2019
Worn by
Mary Klein
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
Grey wool tweed jacket designed by Arthur McGee. The jacket has an open front, full-length straight sleeves with folded cuffs, and is trapeze cut falling at the natural hip. The collar is folded over and the lapels are straight and extend down the full front to the bottom hem. The jacket does not fasten shut. It is made from a dark grey wool tweed with a light blue grid woven design. There is a deep patch pocket sewn at the proper right front waist. The facing side of the bottom of the sleeves is made from a bronze silk with an all-over printed design of blue polka dots. This fabric is hidden when the cuffs are folded up, being lined in the wool tweed. The folded collar and front lapels are lined in the bronze and blue polka dot silk. The interior of the jacket is fully lined in the bronze and blue polka dot silk, which is seamed around the neck and front sides, but only loosely tacked along the interior bottom hem. There are no labels.
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Design
Fashion
Fashion design
See more items in
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
2007.3.53
Type
jackets
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool and silk
Dimensions
H x W (flat): 30 × 25 1/4 in. (76.2 × 64.1 cm)
Title
Object Name • Grey jacket designed by Arthur McGee
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.53
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
GREY JACKET DESIGNED BY ARTHUR MCGEE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s • 1960s
Name
Klein, Mary • McGee, Arthur L. • Black Fashion Museum
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Design • Clothing and dress • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • 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.

NMAAHC

Grey jacket designed by Arthur McGee

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Insurance policy issued to Arthur S. Smith

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photograph of Arthur Melvin Townsend

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Denim skirt designed by Arthur McGee

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