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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

Tribute certificate from City of Los Angeles in memory of Onie B. Granville

Date
September 9, 1998
Issued by
City of Los Angeles, American, founded 1835
Subject of
Onie Burnett Granville, American, 1916 - 1998
J. Michael Carey, American
Mark Ridley-Thomas, American, born 1954
John Ferraro, American, 1924 - 2001
Nate N. Holden, American, born 1929
Joel Wachs, American, born 1939
Bank of Finance, American, 1964 - 1981
Caption
In 1964, Onie B. Granville founded the Bank of Finance, the first African American-owned and operated state chartered bank west of Kansas City. Granville, a long time real estate broker in Los Angeles, formed the institution with other prominent African American community leaders in Los Angeles: Los Angeles City Councilman and later mayor Tom Bradley, real estate broker Lorenzo Spencer, businessman Wilton A. Clark, and physicians Dr. Perry Beal and Dr. Edward Ballard. In the face of discriminatory housing and financial practices, the Bank of Finance played an important role in financing Black homeownership and businesses in the Los Angeles area until it was purchased by another bank in 1984.
Description
A certificate of tribute issued by the Los Angeles City Council in memory of Onie B. Granville, in a black paper presentation folder. The certificate, printed in black ink on white paper, has the seal of the City of Los Angeles at top center and at bottom left. The text reads [IN TRIBUTE / THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL EXTENDS ITS / DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOU IN THE PASSING OF / YOUR LOVED ONE / ONIE B. GRANVILLE / IN WHOSE MEMORY / ALL MEMBERS STOOD IN TRIBUTE AND REVERENCE / AS THE COUNCIL ADJOURNED ITS MEETING OF / SEPTEMBER 29, 1998.]. It is signed by the city clerk and four city councilmembers: J. Michael Carey, City Clerk; Mark Ridley-Thomas, Councilmember; John Ferraro, Councilmember; Nate Holden, Councilmember; Joel Wachs, Councilmember.
Place made
Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Activism
American West
Business
Finance
Government
Labor
Men
Urban life
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Natalie Finney Mallard in memory of her Uncle Onie Burnett Granville
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2016.33.3ab
Type
certificates
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions
H x W (a): 11 × 8 1/2 in. (28 × 21.6 cm)
H x W (b (open)): 12 1/16 × 18 15/16 in. (30.6 × 48.1 cm)
H x W (b (closed)): 12 1/16 × 9 1/2 in. (30.6 × 24.1 cm)
Title
Object Name • Tribute certificate from City of Los Angeles in memory of Onie B. Granville
Record ID
nmaahc_2016.33.3ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
TRIBUTE CERTIFICATE FROM CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN MEMORY OF ONIE B. GRANVILLE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s
Name
Wachs, Joel • City of Los Angeles • Granville, Onie Burnett • Ferraro, John • Bank of Finance • Holden, Nate N. • Ridley-Thomas, Mark • Carey, J. Michael
Place
United States • North and Central America • Los Angeles • California
Topic
Activism • American West • Government • Finance • Labor unions • Urban life • Business
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Los Angeles • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Certificates
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

Tribute certificate from City of Los Angeles in memory of Onie B. Granville

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Caption

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NMAAHC

Torch carried by Rafer Johnson in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

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NMAAHC

Program from the first Los Angeles Rams home game

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NMAAHC

Framed color photograph of the 1984 Summer Olympics Men's 200M finish line

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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.