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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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Civil Rights

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

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Sports

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People

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

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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...

Katherine Johnson — Mathematics to the Moon

Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.

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BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
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NMAAHC

United States Department of State Distinguished Honor Award

Date
January 1981
Description
A United States Department of State Distinguished Honor Award issued to Ambassador William Beverly Carter, Jr. This medal is a composite object: a bar pin with a safety catch, holding a white ribbon attached to a gold medal. The ribbon is looped over the front of the bar pin. The ribbon is white with three (3), thin, vertical, navy blue stripes. The bottom of the ribbon is threaded through the bail at the top of the medal. The medal is gold toned and roughly rounded. The obverse is dominated by the Great Seal of the United States: a bald eagle with its wings displayed, holding a bundle of thirteen (13) arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right talon. In its beak, the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto [E PLURIBUS] and [UNUM]. Over the eagle’s head there is a cluster of thirteen (13) five-pointed stars surrounded by a ring of circular clouds. A vertically striped shield covers the eagle's breast. The seal is framed by two relief concentric circles. Text between the circles reads, [DEPARTMENT OF STATE] at the top and [UNITED STATES OF AMERICA] at the bottom, separated by two five-pointed stars. Wrapped around the bottom of the circular frame, is a wreath and a scroll with stamped text that reads [DISTINGUISHED / HONOR AWARD]. On the reverse of the medal at the center is stamped text that reads [W. BEVERLY CERTER / JANUARY 1981]. At the bottom is a stamped maker’s mark and carat stamp [P / S / PROV] and [10KT].
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Archive of Ambassador W. Beverly Carter
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the family of Ambassador William Beverly Carter, Jr.
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
A2019.45.1.2
Type
commemorative medals
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
gold with metal and silk (textile)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 2 15/16 × 1 7/16 × 3/8 in. (7.5 × 3.7 × 0.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • United States Department of State Distinguished Honor Award
Record ID
nmaahc_A2019.45.1.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE DISTINGUISHED HONOR AWARD
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Geo Location
City • Providence • State • Rhode Island • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Monrovia • Country • Liberia • Region • West Africa • Continent • Africa • Country • Tanzania • Region • East Africa
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.

NMAAHC

Newark Daily Advertiser Vol. 8 No. 176

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Ambassador’s flag owned by Ambassador William Beverly Carter, Jr.

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Description

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NMAAHC

United States Department of State Distinguished Honor Award

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

BLK Vol. 3 No. 1

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.