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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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Explore Black History

Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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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...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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

Hinged wooden box owned by members of the Ellis family

Date
1875-1920
Created by
Unidentified
Description
A wooden box with brass hinges, straps, tacks, and clasp with the interior lined in padded fabric and cardboard. The box and attached lid are constructed of cherry wood planks joined at the corners with a box joint and adhesive. There is decorative brass strapping on the front and back panels of the box and across the top of the lid attached with brass tacks of various sizes. Some tacks have been replaced by flat nails. There are brass hinges on the back that are held on with brass tacks. The tacks are gone on the bottom wing of the hinges. The interior of the box is lined with cardboard panels that are padded with batting and covered in fabric. A green ribbon with the text [Mione / CHEST] is attached diagonally across the interior of the lid over the padded fabric lining. The box has pigmented shellac on all of the wooden surfaces except for the bottom.
Place used
Orange County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Black interiors
Domestic life
Families
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Clara Ellis Payne
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2012.42.7
Type
boxes (containers)
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
cherry, brass, steel, cardboard, cloth, batting, and shellac
Dimensions
H x W x D: 4 1/4 × 10 1/2 × 7 in. (10.8 × 26.7 × 17.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • Hinged wooden box owned by members of the Ellis family
Record ID
nmaahc_2012.42.7
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
HINGED WOODEN BOX OWNED BY MEMBERS OF THE ELLIS FAMILY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1920s • 1870s
Place
Orange County • United States • North and Central America • Virginia
Topic
Black interiors • Domestic life • Family
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
County • Orange County • State • Virginia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Boxes (containers)
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

Cambodian Doughnut Dreams

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Hinged wooden box owned by members of the Ellis family

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Singer sewing machine and table from Mae's Millinery Shop

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Floral embroidered purse used by Dinah Washington

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.