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...

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.

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

Postcard for Sugar Ray's Cafe

Date
1946-1954
Printed by
Eagle Post Card Co., American, 1910 - 1954
Subject of
Mike Hedley, American
Sugar Ray's Cafe, American, founded 1946
Sugar Ray Robinson, American, 1921 - 1989
Description
Postcard for Sugar Ray's Cafe. The front of this postcard is broken into five sections. The top sections are photographic images of the interior of the club. The top left hand section shows a long rectangular bar, with a line of stools around its perimeter, and rows of bottles along the back of the bar. The top right hand section depicts a line of booths and tables across from the bar. They are set up against a wall that is decorated with large images of Sugar Ray Robinson in boxing attire. In between the two sections is a white rectangle with the words "THE/ SHOW/ PLACE/ OF/ HARLEM." The bottom sections show two photographs and an illustration. The left most image is a photographic image of a man in a suit. Shown from chest up, he turns his head to the left, smiling towards the camera. His image is contained in a circular portrait frame, with a name running beneath "Mike Hedley, mgr." On the opposite side is a similar frame with the image of Sugar Ray Robinson, shown from the chest up. Printed below the image is the name "Ray 'Sugar' Robinson. In between the two images is an illustration of the exterior of the club. The name "SUGAR RAY'S" is in large cursive letters above the door. Directly over the door is an awning with the name "SUGAR RAY'S" across the front and along the sides. The door has a large round window in the top half. There is a long rectangular window along the front wall with curtains and the word "Restaurant" across it.
The back is a postcard format with a blank space on the right hand side with the words "Photo Gloss/ Post Card." At the top right hand corner is a rectangle with the words "You/ Write it/ We/ Mail it." On the left hand side is a blank space. At the top of the space are the words "SUAGR RAY'S CAFE/ 2074 - 7th AVE., AT 124th., N.Y.C./ Owned by Sugar Ray Robinson, Welterweight Champion of the World - and Managed by Mike Hedley./ Famous for Steaks, Chops and Southern Fried Chicken./ Air-Conditioned Phone:9-8797/ Best of food, liquors and wine/ Just the place you would want/ to dine. Sugar Ray." Dividing the left and right section, running vertically, are the words "Eagle Post Card View Co., New York 1, N.Y." There is a blurred stamp below the words.
Place depicted
Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Athletes
Boxing
Cooking and dining
Music
Nightlife
Sports
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Vicki Gold Levi
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2013.223.38
Type
postcards
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on cardboard
Dimensions
H x W: 3 1/2 × 5 1/2 in. (8.9 × 14 cm)
Title
Object Name • Postcard for Sugar Ray's Cafe
Record ID
nmaahc_2013.223.38
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
POSTCARD FOR SUGAR RAY'S CAFE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1940s • 1950s
Name
Robinson, Sugar Ray • Hedley, Mike • Sugar Ray's Cafe • Eagle Post Card Co.
Place
New York City • Harlem • New York County • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Nightlife • Cooking • Music • Dinners and dining • Athletes • Sports
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Locale • Harlem • City • New York City • County • New York County • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Postcards
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

Receipt for payment for a recording session signed by Ray Charles

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
NMAAHC

Postcard for Sugar Ray's Cafe

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Conga played by Ray Barretto

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Shirt worn by Ray Barretto

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.