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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

"Showbill for In An Upstate Motel"

Date
1981
Published by
Playbill, American, founded 1884
Subject of
Negro Ensemble Company, American, founded 1967
Larry Neal, American, 1937 - 1981
Phylicia Rashad, American, born 1948
Carl Gordon, American, 1932 - 2010
Directed by
Paul Carter Harrison, American, born 1936
Douglas Turner Ward, born 1930
Leon B. Denmark, American
Description
A black-and-white paper showbill printed by Playbill for “In An Upstate Motel”.
On the front of the playbill in large black type is [SHOWBILL ® / THEATRE FOUR] printed inside a blue block. Below it is the very large round Negro Ensemble Company logo inside a black print block.
On the inside of the playbill, a left page features a Manufactures Hanover ad depicting a traffic light and a written banking appeal to potential corporate clients. The right page announces the play “In An Upstate Motel”. From the top in black type is: [THEATRE FOUR / 424 West 55th Street / (Near Ninth Avenue) / 246-8545] and the Negro Ensemble Company circular logo. The page continues: [DOUGLASS TURNER WARD / Artistic Director / Leon B. Denmark / Managing Director / presents / IN AN UPSTATE MOTEL / by / LARRY NEAL / with / PHYLICIA AYERS-ALLEN / CARL GORDON / DONNA BAILEY / CHARLES HENRY PATTERSON / Directed by PAUL CARTER HARRISON / Scenery Designed by / EDWARD BURBRIDGE / Lighting Designed by / SHIRLEY PRENDERGAST / Costumes Designed by / JUDY DEARING / Sound Designed by / REGGE LIFE / Production Stage Manager / FEMI SARAH HEGGIE / First Performance—April 4, 1981]. An small ad for Dubonnet Wine is featured below the play’s information.
On the back of the showbill is an edge to edge color photographic ad for Ballantine’s Scotch Whisky. The ad features two differently shaped glass bottles, green and brown, flanking a short glass of whisky on ice, all propped on a grainy wooden surface.
Place used
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Actors
Advertising
Drama (Theatre)
Entertainers
Theatre
Theatre companies
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Sandra Austin
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.196.10
Type
playbills
Restrictions & Rights
© Playbill
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper with metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 9 × 5 5/8 × 1/8 in. (22.9 × 14.3 × 0.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • "Showbill for In An Upstate Motel"
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.196.10
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
"SHOWBILL FOR IN AN UPSTATE MOTEL"
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
Neal, Larry • Gordon, Carl • Negro Ensemble Company • Rashad, Phylicia • Playbill • Ward, Douglas Turner • Harrison, Paul Carter • Denmark, Leon B.
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Theatre companies • Actors and actresses • Entertainers • Drama (Theatre) • Advertising
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Playbills
Online Media Type
Electronic resource • Images
Online Media Rights
Use Restricted

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

"Showbill for In An Upstate Motel"

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