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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

Voulez-vous de la Canne à Sucre?

Date
1930
Published by
Francis Salabert, French, 1884 - 1946
Composed by
Léo Lelievre, French, 1872 - 1956
Written by
Henri Varna, French, 1877 - 1969
Illustrated by
Louis Gaudin, French, 1882 - 1936
Subject of
Josephine Baker, American, 1906 - 1975
Joe Alex, Martinican, 1891 - 1948
Description
A song sheet titled, "Voulez-vous de la Canne à Sucre?" performed by Josephine Baker and Joe Alex. The song sheet is framed in a silver frame with white matting. The sheet features and illustration of Josephine Baker in costume. She is depicted with her body towards the left of the frame and her head facing the right looking down at a cheetah perched on its hind legs behind her. The artist's mark [Zig / 30] is next to the cheetah's back. French text throughout the sheet reads: [MM. Dufrenne et Varna présentent “Paris Qui Remue” / Revue de MM. H. Varna, L. Lelièvre et Earl Leslie au Casino De Paris / Voulez -Vous de la Canne à Sucre? / (En voulez-vous de la canne !!!) / Fox One Step / chante par / Joséphine Baker et Joe Alex / Por Piano et Chat / 6 fr. / Parole de Léo Lelièvre et Henri Varna / Musique de Paddy / Éditions Francis Salabert / Vente en Gros : / 22, Rue Chauchat, 22 –Paris – 9e / 14, Rue de Loxum Bruxelles]. The back of the frame has an alphanumeric inscription.
Transcription Center Status
Transcribed by digital volunteers
Place depicted
Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe
Brussels, Belgium, Europe
Title
Song sheet for Voulez-vous de la Canne à Sucre? performed by Josephine Baker
Topic
African American
Actors
Dance
Entertainers
Jazz (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Written Music
Movement
Harlem Renaissance (New Negro Movement)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Jean-Claude Baker
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2016.135.8
Type
sheet music
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W (Image): 10 11/16 × 6 3/4 in. (27.1 × 17.1 cm)
H x W (Sheet): 16 1/2 × 12 1/2 in. (41.9 × 31.8 cm)
Title
Title • Voulez-vous de la Canne à Sucre?
Record ID
nmaahc_2016.135.8
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
VOULEZ-VOUS DE LA CANNE À SUCRE?
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1930s
Name
Baker, Josephine • Gaudin, Louis • Salabert, Francis • Lelievre, Léo • Alex, Joe • Varna, Henri
Place
Brussels • Belgium • Europe • Île-de-France • Paris
Topic
Actors and actresses • Harlem Renaissance (New Negro Movement) • Dance • Entertainers • Jazz (Music) • Singers (Musicians)
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Paris • State • Île-de-France • Country • France • Continent • Europe • City • Brussels • Country • Belgium
Type
Sheet music
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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Sale agreements for enslaved persons Ciborio and Andres in colonial New Spain

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Voulez-vous de la Canne à Sucre?

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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.