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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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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

Army Field Grade Officer Service Dress Green cap worn by Maj. Gen. Colin Powell

Date
1983-1986
Manufactured by
Caption
Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem, New York, on April 5, 1937. He graduated from Community College of New York in 1958 and earned his commission through the ROTC as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army. After a distinguished and highly decorated military career, Powell was promoted to four-star general in 1989. That same year he became the first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), serving under President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. General Powell retired from the Army in 1993 after 35 years of service. In 2001 he became the first African American Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush before resigning in 2004. General Powell died on October 18, 2021, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. After a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral in D.C., General Powell was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Description
A US Army Field Grade Officer Service dress green cap owned and worn by Major General Colin L. Powell. This dark green wool cap, without chin strap and insignia, features a double oak leaf embroidered bill in brass and the Army green tight woven band. There are small black metal grommet holes along the crown’s underside and the inside of the cap is lined in a bright gold synthetic material and a sewn-in brown rubber band. The Morry Luxenberg diamond logo is printed in black on the crown with “MORRY / LUXENBERG / MILITARY OUTFITTERS / NEW YORK / LONDON”, and in gold along the brown band with, “MORRY LUXENBERG / 399 Broadway New York, N.Y. 10012”. A clear plastic card hold features a white rectangular business card for “MAJOR GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL, USA / Senior Military Assistant / to the Secretary of Defense."
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
A2022.101.1.38
Type
caps (headgear)
military uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool (textile) polyester and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 11 7/16 × 10 11/16 × 5 5/8 in. (29 × 27.2 × 14.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • Army Field Grade Officer Service Dress Green cap worn by Maj. Gen. Colin Powell
Record ID
nmaahc_A2022.101.1.38
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
ARMY FIELD GRADE OFFICER SERVICE DRESS GREEN CAP WORN BY MAJ. GEN. COLIN POWELL
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Geo Location
City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
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

Army Field Grade Officer Service Dress Green cap worn by Maj. Gen. Colin Powell

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Postcard envelope featuring the Morris Memorial Building

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Tintype of William H. Morris

Date: Date

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NMAAHC

Handbill for a speaking engagement of Rev. Morris H. Tynes on Emmett Till

Date: Date

Caption

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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.