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GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS GREENWOOD / BLACK WALL STREET WILMINGTON 1898 LITTLE ROCK NINE TUSKEGEE STUDY ROSEWOOD 1923 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENECA VILLAGE BLACK TOWNS
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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

Stock certificate issued by Black Star Line to Florence O. Truesdell

Date
October 4, 1921
Created by
Black Star Line, Inc., American, 1919 - 1922
Owned by
Florence O. Truesdell
Signed by
Orlando M. Thompson, Barbadian
Description
Stock certificate issued to Florence O. Truesdell for two shares of stock in the Black Star Line, Inc. on October 4, 1921. The certificate has a green border with light green rays extending from the bottom border to the middle of the page. In the top, center, is a black and white graphic of a man on the left pointing to a globe with the continent of Africa prominent. Black text on the globe reads: [AFRICA / THE LAND OF / OPPORTUNITY]. To the right of the globe is an ocean liner with two smoke stacks. On the bottom of the certificate, centered, is an embossed seal for Black Star Line Incorporation. The text in ink, stamp, and by hand reads: [No. 37966 / Shares Two / INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE / BLACK STAR LINE, INC. / CAPITAL STOCK $10, 000,000 / SHARES $5. EACH / This Certifies that Florence O. Truesdell is the owner of / Two Shares of the Capital Stock of / BLACK STAR LINE, Inc. full paid and non-assessable / transferable only on the books of this Corporation in person or by Attorney / upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. / IN WITNESS WHEREOF. the said Corporation has caused this Certificate to be signed / by its duly authorized officers and its Corporate Seal to be hereunto affixed / this 4th day of October A.D.1921. / (illegible signature) / Secretary / J. Meyers Inc. 301 B'way / O. M. Thompson / President.]. The back of the certificate has black text regarding the transference of the shares with blanks provided for inserting the appropriate information. The text in black ink reads: [For value Received__hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto / Shares / of the Capital Stock represented by the within Certificate. / and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint / Attorney / to transfer the said stock on the Books of the within named / Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. / Dated____19__ / In Presence of]. To the right of the text are two vertical lines of text regarding the appropriate people who may sign the reverse of the certificate. The text in black in reads: [NOTICE. THE SIGNATURE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE / FACE OF THIS CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICIULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT, OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.] A small inscription of letters is located in the bottom left corner of the back of the certificate.
Place depicted
Delaware, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Africa
Black Enterprise
Business
Transportation
U.S. History, 1919-1933
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Documents and Manuscripts
Exhibition
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
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
2012.46.42
Type
stock certificates
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 9 x 10 3/4 in. (22.9 x 27.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • Stock certificate issued by Black Star Line to Florence O. Truesdell
Record ID
nmaahc_2012.46.42
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
STOCK CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY BLACK STAR LINE TO FLORENCE O. TRUESDELL
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1920s
Name
Black Star Line, Inc. • Truesdell, Florence O. • Thompson, Orlando M.
Place
United States • North and Central America • Delaware
Topic
U.S. History, 1919-1933 • Black Enterprise • Transportation • Business
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
Geo Location
State • Delaware • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Stock certificates
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
Online Media Type
Images
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.

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NMAAHC

Michael Jordan, Orlando, FL 1993

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Autographed commemorative Charlotte Bobcats vs. the Orlando Magic basketball

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Stock certificate issued by Black Star Line to Percival L. Burrows

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Stock certificate issued by Black Star Line to Florence O. Truesdell

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.