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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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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

Opera glasses and case owned by Mary Church Terrell

Date
late 19th-mid 20th century
Description
Small opera glasses and case owned by Mary Church Terrell. The metal opera glasses (a) have inlaid mother of pearl decoration. Around the rim of each eyecup [LEMAIRE PARIS] is printed. The text on the left side is significantly deteriorated. The lens glass has some deterioration and the metal is tarnished. The green leather case (b) has a blue silk lining. There is a button closure to open the hinged lid. The sides seams are torn and the leather is abraded. The case handle is partially detached. There is a handwritten numerical notation inside the lid.
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Mary Church Terrell Family Archive
Classification
Accessories and Personal Effects
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ray and Jean Langston in memory of Mary Church and Robert Terrell
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
A2017.13.1.16ab
Type
opera glasses
cases (containers)
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
glasses:metal, plastic, glass, mother of pearl;
case: leather, silk, metal, paper, ink
Dimensions
H x W x D (case): 2 3/4 × 4 5/8 × 2 in. (7 × 11.7 × 5.1 cm)
H x W x D (glasses): 2 1/4 × 4 × 1 1/2 in. (5.7 × 10.2 × 3.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • Opera glasses and case owned by Mary Church Terrell
Record ID
nmaahc_A2017.13.1.16ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
OPERA GLASSES AND CASE OWNED BY MARY CHURCH TERRELL
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1950s • 1860s
Geo Location
City • Highland Beach • County • Anne Arundel County • State • Maryland • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Paris • State • Île-de-France • Country • France • Continent • Europe
Online Media Type
Electronic resource • 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

Opera glasses and case owned by Mary Church Terrell

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Pair of Mary Jane shoes designed by Scott Rankins

Date: Date

Caption

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No preview image
NMAAHC

Studio Portrait of a Woman Sitting, Mary Lou Peaches

Date: Date

Description

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No preview image
NMAAHC

Indoor Group Shot of Men and Women in front of a Cake, Mary McLain

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

Which heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.