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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

Broadside for an auction of enslaved persons at the Charleston courthouse

Date
1859
Created by
Unidentified
Subject of
Unidentified Man or Men
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Child or Children
Description
A broadside advertising a court-ordered slave of enslaved persons at the courthouse in Charleston, South Carolina, on January 10, 1859. The paper is printed in black ink with hand-written annotations along columns printed with the first names and ages of ninety-nine [99] enslaved men, women, and children. The names are numbered and grouped together into subsets. Large printed text at top reads, [UNDER DECREE IN EQUITY. / SANDERS vs. SANDERS, et al]. The handwritten notations make remarks like "healthy," "very fine," "sold privately," "dead," "shot in leg," "breeding," "leg broke," "lost a toe," "white," and "mostly white." The names listed are as follows:
First column:
London, 55; Nelly, 50; Dick, 15; Rosy, 4
Cuffy, 35; Becker, 19
Caroline, 29; Martha, 4; Bull or Frederick, 12; Infant, 9 months
Charity, 30; Susan, 17; Floride, 2; Infant, 6 months
Ned, 60; Silvy, 35; Frank, 11;
Easton, 3; Infant, 3 months; Billy, 68; Lucy, 50; Binah, 14; Phillis, 12; Jack, 11;
Thomas, 26; Toney, 30;
Becky, 30; Sammy 5; Fed, 3; Infant, 7 months;
Isaac, 30;
Moses, 25;
Morris, 21;
Billy, 45; Hagar, 50; Joe, 35; William, 20; Rose, 15;
Martha, 70; Nancy, 45; Rachel, 22; Ben, 16; Lot, 10;
Betty, 25; Plymouth, 2;
London, 26; Grace, 22; Harriet, 2;
Hester, 25; Amos, 21; Elsey, 5;
Second column:
Jacob, 55; Mary, 45; Emma, 21; Rose, 15; Aelie, 18; Simon, 13; Francis, 6; Mary, 3;
Hardtimes, 70; Sary, 30; Anne, 18;
Old Peter, 70; Old Nancy, 60;
Old Hester, 68; Maggy, 40; Edward, 19; Susan, 17; Robert, 13; Martha, 7; Sarah, 2;
Peter, 28; Venus, 25; Henry, 8; Hamilton, 4; Cornelia, 1;
Lydy, 25; Hannah, 6 months;
Hannah, 30; Nero, 10; Rachel, 7; August, 4; Henry, 2; Infant, 1 month;
Old Frank, 60;
Toney, 30;
Jake, 35; Eliza, 30; Pleasant, 12; Sukey, 10; Amanda, 8; Catharine, 3;
David, 36;
Jim 39;
Binah, 60;
March, 40;
Bob, 35;
Sarah, 12;
Harriet, 14
Transcription Center Status
Transcribed by digital volunteers
Place made
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Business
Colorism
Commerce
Domestic slave trade
Families
Finance
Health
Law
Slavery
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Exhibition
Slavery and Freedom
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 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
2010.21.3
Type
broadsides
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 13 5/16 x 8 7/16 in. (33.8 x 21.5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Broadside for an auction of enslaved persons at the Charleston courthouse
Record ID
nmaahc_2010.21.3
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BROADSIDE FOR AN AUCTION OF ENSLAVED PERSONS AT THE CHARLESTON COURTHOUSE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1850s
Place
Charleston County • Charleston • United States • North and Central America • South Carolina
Topic
Slavery • Law • Health • Finance • Family • Domestic slave trade • Business • Colorism
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Slavery and Freedom
Geo Location
City • Charleston • County • Charleston County • State • South Carolina • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Broadsides (notices)
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.

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NMAAHC

Warren County Courthouse cistern double brick made by an enslaved person

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Negative of Warren County Court House

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Description

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NMAAHC

Photograph of Warren County Court House

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Description

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NMAAHC

Broadside for an auction of enslaved persons at the Charleston courthouse

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 Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.