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Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
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
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

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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Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.

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Sports

Pioneers, champions, Negro Leagues, records, activism and excellence.

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People

Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the journey.

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Places

Black towns, communities, institutions and places where history happened.

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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...

Wilmington 1898 — An American Coup

Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.

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

Pinback button reading "Students for Mary Ellen"

Date
2019
Manufactured by
Unidentified
Subject of
Mary Ellen Queen
Georgetown University, founded 1789
Worn by
Mélisande Short-Colomb
Description
Pinback button from the Georgetown student referendum on semesterly fee to benefit descendants of the 272 enslaved people sold by Georgetown University in 1838. The button is round with gold letters reading [STUDENTS FOR / MARY ELLEN] and white letters reading [#STUDENTSFORTHE272] against a navy background.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Activism
Economics
Education
Justice
Slavery
U.S. History, 2001-
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Political and Activist Ephemera
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Mélisande Short-Colomb
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2021.10.3.2
Type
buttons (information artifacts)
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product) with metal and plastic
Dimensions
Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Pinback button reading "Students for Mary Ellen"
Record ID
nmaahc_2021.10.3.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PINBACK BUTTON READING "STUDENTS FOR MARY ELLEN"
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2010s
Name
Queen, Mary Ellen • Short-Colomb, Mélisande • Georgetown University
Place
District of Columbia • United States • North and Central America • Washington
Topic
Economics • Justice • Slavery • Activism • Education • U.S. History, 2001-
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Buttons (information artifacts)
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

Congratulatory telegram to Althea Gibson from Mary Hardwick Hare

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Pinback button reading "Students for Mary Ellen"

Date: Date

Description

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No preview image
NMAAHC

National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Mary McLeod Bethune remembrance statute unveiling in Lincoln Park, Washington, D. C., by the U. S. National Park Service

Date: Date

Description

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No preview image
NMAAHC

Black Journal: Color Us Black! (Part I)

Date: Date

Caption

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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 Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.