q2K BHP
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
What's New!
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.

✊🏾

Civil Rights

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

⚙️

Black Inventors

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

🏆

Sports

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

♟️

People

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

📍

Places

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

📜

Events

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

Enter a person, place, event, or topic.
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.

MORE →
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.

MORE →
BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
← BACK TO RESULTS
NMAAHC

Costume worn on Soul Train by dancer Freddie Mae Maxie

Date
1974
Created by
Unidentified
Manufactured by
Ralph Lauren Corporation, American, founded 1967
Worn by
Freddie Mae Maxie, American
Subject of
Soul Train, American, 1971 - 2006
Description
This costume was worn by dancer Freddie Mae Maxie on the television show Soul Train during Marvin Gaye's performance of "Let's Get It On" on February 16, 1974. The outfit is comprised of a red short-sleeved blouse (.1) and a pair of blue cropped pants (.2). The blouse is made from a semi-sheer synthetic fiber and spandex knit fabric. It has short sleeves and a crew neck. A ruffle made from the red fabric is sewn at the seam of the shoulder and sleeve on each side. The neck, ruffles, and sleeves are all rimmed in a white synthetic knit fabric. The collar also has a short ruffle of red netting around it below the white trim. A tab made from the red fabric extends from the center front neck. Two (2) round white satin covered buttons are sewn to the tab. The shirt is not lined.
The pants (.2) are made from a bright blue denim and are cropped below the knee. The cuffs are gathered and elastic is sewn inside the hem. The pants close at the center front with a metal zipper and one (1) round gold-colored metal button with raised text reading [LAUREN JEANS CO 1967]. There are five (5) self-fabric belt loops around the waistband. There are two (2) inset pockets, one at each front side waist. Customized patches of the red fabric used for the blouse (.1) are sewn at each pocket opening. There are two (2) patch pockets, one at each back side below the waist. Customized patches made from lime green iridescent synthetic fabric are sewn over the patch pockets with the top side left open, creating a double pocket. The pants are not lined.
Place used
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Costume
Dance
Fashion
Music
Popular music
Television
Variety shows (Television)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Costume
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Freddie Maxie, original female locker dancer 1973
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.247.1.1-.2
Type
blouses
trousers
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
.1: synthetic fiber and spandex blend cloth, synthetic fiber, and synthetic satin covered plastic buttons;
.2: cotton denim, synthetic fiber and spandex blend cloth, synthetic fiber, elastic, and metal fasteners
Dimensions
H x W x D (.1 on form): 23 1/4 × 18 1/2 × 9 1/4 in. (59.1 × 47 × 23.5 cm)
H x W x D (.2 on form): 31 3/4 × 12 3/4 × 8 1/2 in. (80.6 × 32.4 × 21.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Costume worn on Soul Train by dancer Freddie Mae Maxie
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.247.1.1-.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
COSTUME WORN ON SOUL TRAIN BY DANCER FREDDIE MAE MAXIE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1970s
Name
Maxie, Freddie Mae • Ralph Lauren Corporation • Soul Train
Place
United States • Los Angeles County • North and Central America • Los Angeles • California
Topic
Television • Costume • Music • Clothing and dress • Fashion • Dance • Variety shows (Television)
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Musical Crossroads
Geo Location
City • Los Angeles • County • Los Angeles County • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Trousers • Blouses (main garments)
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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.

No preview image
NMAAHC

Costume worn on Soul Train by dancer Freddie Mae Maxie

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Portrait of Steven Rae and Edgar Earl Patton

Date: Date

Caption

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Earl King, 1992

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Photograph of the 1929 Tuskegee Institute men's basketball team

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
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.

MORE →
TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY

Which Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.