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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

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

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Civil Rights

Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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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

US Army green service uniform worn by General Colin L. Powell

Date
1989-1993
Caption
Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem, New York, on April 5, 1937. He graduated from Community College of New York in 1958 and earned his commission through the ROTC as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army. After completing Infantry Officer Basic, Ranger, and Airborne schools, Powell was assigned platoon leader of the 3rd Armored Division, 48th Infantry Regiment, in West Germany. He later went on to complete two tours in Vietnam, earning both the Purple Heart and the Soldier’s Medal. In 1968, Powell graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and in 1971 he received his MBA from George Washington University. Powell served as National Security Advisor under President Ronald Reagan from 1987-1989. He was promoted to four-star general in April 1989 and was named Commander in Chief of Forces Command at Fort McPherson. In October 1989, General Powell became the first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), serving under President George H.W. Bush. He was also the first ROTC graduate to hold this position. Powell continued to serve as Chairman of the JCS under President Bill Clinton. He retired from the Army in 1993 after 35 years of service. In January 2001, Powell was sworn in as the first African American Secretary of State. He served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush before resigning in 2004. General Powell died on October 18, 2021, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. After a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral in D.C., General Powell was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Description
A US Army green service uniform worn by Colin L. Powell as General and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff comprised of a jacket with service awards and insignia attached (.1a-v), dress pants (.2), a short-sleeved dress shirt (.3), a necktie (.4), and a belt (.5).
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret)
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2016.14
Type
military uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Dimensions
H x W x D (on form): 64 1/2 × 23 1/2 × 15 in. (163.8 × 59.7 × 38.1 cm)
Title
Object Name • US Army green service uniform worn by General Colin L. Powell
Record ID
nmaahc_2016.14
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
US ARMY GREEN SERVICE UNIFORM WORN BY GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s • 1980s
Geo Location
City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions

Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Rights and restrictions shown above are supplied by the Smithsonian record.

NMAAHC

Advertisement from the Saturday Evening Post featuring a Pullman Porter

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NMAAHC

Badge for Joint Chiefs of Staff worn by General Colin L. Powell

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NMAAHC

Patch for Joint Chiefs of Staff worn by General Colin L. Powell

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NMAAHC

US Army green service uniform worn by General Colin L. Powell

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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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.