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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...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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

World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal

Date
1930
Manufactured by
Bailey Banks & Biddle, American, founded 1832
Owned by
Margaret A. Neal, American
Subject of
Second Lieutenant Ralph T. Neal, American, 1890 - 1918
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, French, founded 1918
Description
2019.16a: A World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal of Massachusetts, in commemoration of her pilgrimage to her stepson's, Second Lieutenant Ralph T. Neal's, gravesite at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France. This medal is a composite object: a gold toned, nameplate bar pin with a safety catch, holding a red, white, and blue ribbon, attached to a gold medal. The front of the bar pin has a small relief frame with relief text that reads [Mrs. Margaret A. Neal / Massachusetts]. The ribbon is looped over a pin at the bottom of the bar pin and held in place with thread. The medal is attached to the bottom of the ribbon. It is gold toned and roughly teardrop shaped. The obverse is dominated by a five-pointed star at the center of the medal. The star is set inside a circular frame with relief text that reads [PILGRIMAGE OF MOTHERS AND WIDOWS]. Wrapped around the bottom of the circular frame is a wreath. At the top of the medal is 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 ring of circular clouds with a starburst at the center. Within the cloud ring is a cluster of thirteen (13) five-pointed stars. A striped shield covers the eagle's breast. Below the seal are two partial American flags. On the reverse of the medal at the top is a stamped maker’s mark for Bailey Banks & Biddle that reads [B.B.B.CO. / ©]. Along the bottom edge are stamped numbers that read [6479].
2019.16b: A royal blue medal presentation box for World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal (2019.16a). The box is royal blue with a faux leather finish and a white satin padded insert. At the center of the box is a white, outlined five-pointed star set inside a circular frame with relief text that reads [PILGRIMAGE OF MOTHERS AND WIDOWS]. Below is white text that reads [GUEST OF THE UNITED STATES]. The lid interior has small, centered white text that reads [THE / ·BAILEY·BANKS&·BIDDLE· / ·COMPANY· / Philadelphia]. Below and to the left is additional text that reads [DEPARTMENT OF INSIGNIA]. The lid is hinged to the base with glued black fabric. The box contains a folded piece of yellow tissue paper.
Place made
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Place used
Meuse, France, Europe
Topic
African American
Families
Military
Motherhood
World War I
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2019.16ab
Type
commemorative medals
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
2019.16a (medal): copper and copper alloy and silk (textile)
2019.16b (box): ink on cardboard with paper (fiber product) and satin
Dimensions
H x W x D (2019.16a): 3 3/16 × 1 5/8 × 1/4 in. (8.1 × 4.2 × 0.6 cm)
H x W x D (2019.16b): 11/16 × 2 1/2 × 4 1/4 in. (1.8 × 6.3 × 10.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.16ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
WORLD WAR I GOLD STAR MOTHERS PILGRIMAGE MEDAL ISSUED TO MRS. MARGARET A. NEAL
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1930s • 1914-1918
Name
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial • Neal, Ralph T. • Bailey Banks & Biddle • Neal, Margaret A.
Place
Meuse • United States • North and Central America • Europe • France • Philadelphia • Pennsylvania
Topic
WW I • World War, 1914-1918 • Family • Motherhood • Military
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Geo Location
City • Philadelphia • State • Pennsylvania • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • Locale • Meuse • Country • France • Continent • Europe
Type
commemorative medals
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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

World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal

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Description

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NMAAHC

Portrait of three young men sitting on a porch swing

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NMAAHC

Tray by Frank Neal

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NMAAHC

American flag flown over the Capitol in honor of Dr. William Neal Brown

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

Who was the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States?

Madam C.J. Walker