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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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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
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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...

Katherine Johnson — Mathematics to the Moon

Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.

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

Affidavit affirming Benjamin Davis's free status

Date
April 29, 1811
Created by
New York City, American, founded 1624
Subject of
Benjamin Davis, American
Peter Mesier, American
Henry Pier, American
Description
A sworn affidavit of Henry Pier, affirming Benjamin Davis as a free man. The document was issued by the City and County of New York. It bears the signature of Peter Mesier and the mark of Henry Pier. The print is black ink on off-white paper. Standard legal text is printed, while details pertaining to the specific individual in reference are filled in by hand. The document reads [City and County of New York, SS. Henry Pier / of the third Ward, of the said city, being dully sworn saith that / he has for three - years last past, been well acquainted / with Benjamin Davis - / a black or mulatto man, that the said Benjamin / resides in the said city, that he is abut the age / of thirty two years, and was born at New (illegible) / - in the State of New York as this deponent / is informed and verily believes, that during all the said time whilst this de- / ponent has been acquainted with the said Benjamin / as aforesaid, the said Benjamin hath been reputed / and considered to be free, and hath continually acted as a freeman during / the said time, and that the said Benjamin - / became - free in or before the year one / thousand eight hundred and six / as this deponent is also informed and believes. And further this deponent saith not. / SWORN the 29th day of / April, 1811. Before me / Peter Mesier / his / Henry X Pier / mark]. The reverse has text oriented sideways at the bottom left that reads [Benjamin Davis / filed April 30th, 1811].
The paper shows edge wear and discoloration throughout. It is creased horizontally across the center and shows tearing.
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Free communities of color
Law
Slavery
U.S. History, 1783-1815
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
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
2013.46.5.3
Type
affidavits
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 6 5/8 x 8 1/4 in. (16.8 x 21 cm)
Title
Object Name • Affidavit affirming Benjamin Davis's free status
Record ID
nmaahc_2013.46.5.3
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
AFFIDAVIT AFFIRMING BENJAMIN DAVIS'S FREE STATUS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1810s
Name
New York City • Mesier, Peter • Pier, Henry • Davis, Benjamin
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Slavery • Law • Free communities of color • U.S. History, 1783-1815
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Affidavits
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.

NMAAHC

Marriage license and certificate for Benjamin Petty and Mary Robinson

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Studio Portrait of a Man Sitting and has a Pipe in his Mouth, Frank Petty

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Affidavit affirming Benjamin Davis's free status

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photograph of Marion McClinton and Benjamin Mordecai

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 Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.