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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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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

Pair of Mary Jane shoes designed by Scott Rankins

Date
ca. 1985
Created by
Scott Rankins, American, 1959 - 1999
Caption
Scott Rankins (1959-1999) was an African American shoe designer originally from Portland, Oregon. He was one of the earliest modern African American shoe designers. Rankins demonstrated a love for art and creativity as a young child and his mother, Constance Cuie, nurtured this gift by enrolling him in an art school at an early age.
In 1980, Rankins left Portland and moved to New York to work as a design assistant for noted African American designer, Scott Barrie. After working with Barrie, Rankin was awarded a Fulbright Grant and moved to Italy to study at the Domos Academy. While in Italy, he entered and won the Diego Della Valle shoe design contest. By 1992, while still living in Italy, Rankins launched his self-titled shoe line which earned him national and international recognition.
Regarding his design style, Rankins intentionally created luxury shoes with heels no higher than two inches. His designs were elegant, thoughtful, and practical for women on the move. They were affectionally regarded as “wearable art.” Scott Rankins’ shoes have been worn by celebrity performers including: Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, and Angela Bassett.
Shortly after his return to the states from Bologna, Italy, Rankins was diagnosed with AIDS and passed away in 1999 in Melbourne, FL at the age of 40.
Description
A pair of dark grey Mary Jane style shoes designed by Scott Rankins. The shoes are composed of dark gray fabric-covered leather uppers and strap, leather soles, and synthetic sock linings and heel caps. They have two-inch heels, a square toe, and black leather trim at the vamp and strap. The Scott Rankin name and logo is imprinted on both the upper footbeds of the silver interiors and the bottoms. Manufacturing information and the size is printed on the side of each interior and imprinted on the bottom is a plate with [LEATHER / LEDER / CUIR] followed by “MADE / IN / SPAIN”, the shoe size [7 ½] and width [M].
Place made
Spain, Europe
Topic
African American
Fashion
Fashion design
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Nichols Family
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2024.18ab
Type
shoes (footwear)
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
leather and synthetic fiber
Dimensions
H x W x D (a): 10 7/16 × 3 1/4 × 2 3/4 in. (26.5 × 8.2 × 7 cm)
H x W x D (b): 10 1/2 × 3 1/4 × 2 3/4 in. (26.7 × 8.2 × 7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Pair of Mary Jane shoes designed by Scott Rankins
Record ID
nmaahc_2024.18ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PAIR OF MARY JANE SHOES DESIGNED BY SCOTT RANKINS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s • 1980s
Name
Rankins, Scott
Place
Europe • Spain
Topic
Design • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Country • Spain • Continent • Europe
Type
Shoes (footwear)
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

Pair of Mary Jane shoes designed by Scott Rankins

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Olympic badge awarded to Isabelle Daniels

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Program for a boxing match between Jimmy Ellis and Joe Frazier

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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.