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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
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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...

The Violence That Helped Spark the NAACP

In August 1908, a white mob attacked Springfield, Illinois’s Black community, destroying homes and businesses and lynching two Black men. National outrage over the violence helped spur the movement that created the NAACP the following year.

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

Torch carried by Rafer Johnson in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

Date
1983-1984
Created by
Turner Industries, American, founded 1871
Designed by
Abed Zantout
Used by
Rafer Lewis Johnson, American, 1934 - 2020
Caption
Rafer Johnson won the gold medal in the men’s Decathlon at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where he also became the first African American to carry the torch into the stadium. He was the final torchbearer for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the first African American to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.
Description
A metal torch with a leather-covered handle used by decathlete Rafer Johnson to light the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the 1984 summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad. The torch ring, bowl, bezel, hilt and handle guard are constructed of aluminum with an antique brass finish. The words of the Olympic motto are etched at the top of the torch ring: [CITIUS / ALTIUS / FORTIUS], with the Olympic rings etched between each word. Below the Olympic motto, the Los Angeles Coliseum peristyle with Olympic rings is etched on the bowl of the torch with the words [LOS ANGELES/ MEMORIAL/ COLISEUM]. The torch handle is covered by three (3) tan leather panels zig-zag stitched and backed with hypon foam. One-third of the way down the handle is a metal handle guard with an inscription on one side: [Games of the/ XXlllrd Olympiad/ Los Angeles 1984]. Rafer Johnson's signature in black ink is handwritten on the handle. At the base of the torch is an end cap engraved on both sides. On one side is: [[Star in Motion logo]/ (c) 1980 LAOOC/ [Olympic rings]]. On the other side is: [(c) 1983 LAOOC/ TURNER IND., INC/ IRWINDALE, CA.] The bottom piece of the end cap (b) can be unscrewed so that the torch can be filled with propane fuel. On the inside of the cap is inscribed the number: [4870]. The torch has a black metal grate at the top from which the flame issues.
Place used
Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Olympics
Sports
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Exhibition
Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 052
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Rafer Johnson
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.223.1ab
Type
torches (heating equipment)
Restrictions & Rights
© 1983 LAOOC – LA Olympic Organizing Committee
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
aluminum, leather and foam
Dimensions
H x W x D: 24 3/4 × 5 × 5 in., 2.2 lb. (62.9 × 12.7 × 12.7 cm, 1 kg)
Diameter (bowl): 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Torch carried by Rafer Johnson in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.223.1ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
TORCH CARRIED BY RAFER JOHNSON IN THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
Johnson, Rafer Lewis • Turner Industries • Zantout, Abed
Place
United States • Los Angeles Coliseum • North and Central America • California
Topic
Olympics • Sports
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
Geo Location
Locale • Los Angeles Coliseum • City • Los Angeles • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
torches (heating equipment)
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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

Torch carried by Rafer Johnson in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Poster of Carl Lewis wearing Olympic medals

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

1984 Olympic Gold Medal for Men's 200M awarded to Carl Lewis

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Description

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NMAAHC

1984 Olympic Gold Medal for Men's 4 X 100 Meter Relay awarded to Carl Lewis

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.