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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

US Forest Service water canteen with case used by Melody Starya Mobley

Date
ca. 1982
Issued by
United States Forest Service, founded 1905
Used by
Melody Starya Mobley, American, born 1958
Subject of
Cleveland National Forest, American, founded 1908
Caption
Melody Starya Mobley was the first African American female forester of the USDA Forest Service (USFS), serving from June 1977 until her retirement in March 2005. She also was the first African American woman to graduate (in 1979) from the University of Washington College of Forest Resources (later renamed the School of Forest Resources in the College of the Environment). During her 28 years with the USFS she served in national forests all over the country. Most notably for this collection, she served in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington state from 1980-1982, Cleveland National Forest in Southern California from 1982-1986, held a temporary assignment in Klamath National Forest in Northern California, and finally served in Ocala National Forest in central Florida from 1986-1987. From 1988 until her retirement in 2005 she served in the USFS headquarters in Washington, D.C. In the mid-1990s, Mobley was given a temporary detail to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada where she served as Deputy Forest Supervisor.
Description
United States Forest Service issued plastic water canteen with carrying case used by Melody Starya Mobley. The water canteen is comprised of a one quart plastic canteen (2019.80.6.1a), a metal lid (2019.80.6.1b), and a canvas carrying case (2019.80.6.1c).
2019.80.6.1a: The canteen is constructed of milk white plastic and is roughly rectangular in shape. Along the left edges of the front and the back are relief fill line marks that read [1/4], [1/2], [3/4] and [1 QUART]. Molded relief text on the bottom of the canteen read [SPOKANE, WASH. - Q – 3].
2019.80.6.1b: The canteen has a white metal screw cap. The interior of the cap is threaded. The exterior is ridged.
2019.80.6.1c: The carrying case is a fitted, white, cotton canvas bag. Sewn to the back of the case are two (2) white nylon belt straps that loop over the top to secure the canteen inside, and with snap buttons at the ends that fasten to the front of the case. Black text printed on the front of the case read [U.S. / GOVT.]. The back of the case is plain.
Place used
Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California, United States, North and Central America
Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California, United States, North and Central America
Ocala National Forest, Florida, United States, North and Central America
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Agriculture
American West
Cooking and dining
Government
Labor
Nature
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Melody Starya Mobley
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2019.80.6.1abc
Type
caps (closures)
cases (containers)
flasks (bottles)
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
2019.80.6.1a: plastic
2019.80.6.1b: metal
2019.80.6.1c: ink on cotton (textile) with metal and nylon
Dimensions
H x W x D (Overall): 9 5/8 × 6 1/8 × 2 9/16 in. (24.5 × 15.5 × 6.5 cm)
H x W x D (2019.80.6.1a): 8 3/4 × 4 1/2 × 2 1/8 in. (22.3 × 11.4 × 5.4 cm)
H x W x D (2019.80.6.1b): 7/16 × 1 1/4 × 1 1/4 in. (1.1 × 3.1 × 3.1 cm)
H x W x D (2019.80.6.1c): 10 1/4 × 6 9/16 × 1 9/16 in. (26 × 16.6 × 3.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • US Forest Service water canteen with case used by Melody Starya Mobley
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.80.6.1abc
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
US FOREST SERVICE WATER CANTEEN WITH CASE USED BY MELODY STARYA MOBLEY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
United States Forest Service • Cleveland National Forest • Mobley, Melody Starya
Place
Ocala National Forest • United States • North and Central America • Cleveland National Forest • Siskiyou County • California • Klamath National Forest • Florida • San Diego County • Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest • Nevada
Topic
Nature • Cooking • American West • Government • Labor unions • Dinners and dining • Agriculture
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Locale • Cleveland National Forest • County • San Diego County • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • Locale • Klamath National Forest • County • Siskiyou County • Locale • Ocala National Forest • State • Florida • Locale • Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest • State • Nevada
Type
caps (closures) • flasks (bottles) • Cases (containers)
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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NMAAHC

US Forest Service water canteen with case used by Melody Starya Mobley

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Caption

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NMAAHC

US Forest Service water canteen with case used by Melody Starya Mobley

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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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.