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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

Amplifier used as part of a DJ setup

Date
1970s
Description
A Phase Linear 400 amplifier. The amplifier has a brushed aluminum front plate with two cut-outs for volume unit (VU) meters. The front plate has black cursive text at the top and center that reads: [Direct Coupled Solid State Amplifier / Phase Linear / 400 / Four Hundred Watts R.M.S.]. Black print text found below the meters reads: [CHANNEL ACHANNEL B / POWER LEVEL]. The back of the amplifier is black metal with five sections created by metal pieces extending from the back of the machine. To the far proper left of the back there are four plastic dials, white, black, and red in color, in a vertical row. Underneath the dials there is a metal input and a metal output, both silver in color. On the side of the panel to the right of the dials, yellow text and diagrams that indicate the purpose of the dials and the input and output. Inside the next section to the right of the last, there is a caution message in white text. To the far proper right of the back there is a power cord at the top and a metal plate that gives the serial number, model and power information. The information reads: [Phase Linear / SERIAL NUMBER 1490 / MODEL 400 / MAX POWER IN 750 WATTS / AC VOLTS 117 50 TO 400 HZ / U.S. PATENT 3,727,148 / MADE IN U.S.A / PHASE LINEAR CORP. / LYNNWOOD, WASHINGTON]. There is a yellow and red sticker below the plate.
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Musical Instruments
Exhibition
Power of Place
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 051
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Angelo T. King / The Original DJ Tony Tone AKA Tony Crush of The Cold Crush Brothers
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2012.47.2
Type
amplifiers
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
metal and plastic with aluminum
Dimensions
H x W x D: 7 × 19 × 11 in., 28 lb. (17.8 × 48.3 × 27.9 cm, 12.7 kg)
Title
Object Name • Amplifier used as part of a DJ setup
Record ID
nmaahc_2012.47.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
AMPLIFIER USED AS PART OF A DJ SETUP
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1970s
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Power of Place
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Lynwood • County • Snohomish County • State • Washington
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

Document outlining phase two of the Citizenship Education Project

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NMAAHC

Flyer promoting the second phase of the NCNW's Citizenship Education Project

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NMAAHC

26803 "Skinning the Sharks" - a Phase of Florida's Fish Industry, Key West, Florida

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NMAAHC

Amplifier used as part of a DJ setup

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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.