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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...

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

Black faux leather handbag with gold clasp and mirror

Date
1970s
Description
A black faux leather handbag with a gold clasp (a) and mirror (b). The body of the handbag (a) is made from four panels of vinyl – one for the front, one for the back, and one for each side. The front and back panels are sewn together at the bottom of the bag with felled seams and there are four brass “feet” attached to each corner of the bag’s bottom. All panels are tucked into a metal frame that’s been covered in a thin layer of vinyl. The vinyl is most likely adhered into place and there is a .75” metal clasp at the center top. A 13” long purse strap, which is also covered in a thin layer of black vinyl, is attached to the body of the purse with brass metal hardware and D-rings.
The inside of the bag is lined with four panels of red vinyl and at the interior back is a 5.5” wide metal zippered pocket. The zippered pocket is lined with black synthetic plain weave fabric. On top of the zippered pocket, is a smaller open 5.25” wide pocket that is unlined. On the lower left side of the open pocket is a white fabric label that reads [ A / MICHELS – DREW / BAG] in black text. There is a layer of stiffener (possibly cardboard) between the interior lining and the outer fabric.
The mirror (b) is made from glass, and the back is covered in gold paint. [ BY MICHELS – DREW] is written on the front left corner in gold text.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2007.3.968ab
Type
purses (bags)
handbag
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
vinyl, metal, synthetic plain weave, adhesive, and cardboard
Dimensions
L x W (with strap): 9 3/4 × 10 × 2 1/2 in. (24.8 × 25.4 × 6.4 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black faux leather handbag with gold clasp and mirror
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.968ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK FAUX LEATHER HANDBAG WITH GOLD CLASP AND MIRROR
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1970s
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.

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Black faux leather handbag with gold clasp and mirror

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T-shirt for Black Women In Architecture

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

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.