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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...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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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 share certificate for the Royal African Company

Date
1691
Issued by
Champion Ashby, British, born 1648
Subject of
Royal African Company, British, 1672 - 1821
Signed by
Champion Ashby, British, born 1648
Caption
The Royal Africa Company, chartered in 1672 by the English government, engaged in trade in gold and enslaved men, women and children in western Africa. This stock certificate demonstrates the investment in the company that provided the greatest number of enslaved persons to the British colonies.
Description
Stock option certificate from the Royal African Company. The document is handwritten in ink on one page of a bifolio sheet and discusses the transfer of stock shares from Champion Ashby to Thomas Louws (possibly Lowes or Loews). The document begins: [In consideration of Twenty guineys received of Thomas Louws of London XXX I Champion Ashby of London Esquire Do oblige my self [sic] my heires [sic] Execs & Adms to transferr or cause to be ~/~ transferred unto the said Thomas Louws ~ his Execs Adms or ~ assignes Two hundred pounds of the present credit in the Joint Stock of the Royal Affrican [sic] Company of England ...] At the bottom right is the signature and red wax seal of Champion Ashby. At the bottom left is
[Sealed & Delivered / In the presence of / John Holker / Wm Thorowgood]. On the verso, at the top horizontal center is written: From 3d Aug / to 3d Sept } 1691 / Champion Ashby, Esq. / obligacon [sic] to Tho Loews to deliver / him 200 Afr. Stock paying 200 in 1 month / Void]. There is a circular watermark just below and to the right of "Void."
Transcription Center Status
Transcribed by digital volunteers
Place made
London, England, United Kingdom, Europe
Place depicted
West Africa, Africa
Topic
African American
Africa
Business
Commerce
Finance
International affairs
Law
Slavery
Trans-Atlantic slave trade
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, Gift of Seymour Schulich--Canada
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.101
Type
stock certificates
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper, wax
Dimensions
H x W (folded): 12 7/8 × 8 1/8 in. (32.7 × 20.6 cm)
H x W (sheet): 12 7/8 × 16 1/4 in. (32.7 × 41.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • Stock share certificate for the Royal African Company
Record ID
nmaahc_2017.101
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
STOCK SHARE CERTIFICATE FOR THE ROYAL AFRICAN COMPANY
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1690s
Name
Ashby, Champion • Royal African Company
Place
Europe • West Africa • London • England • United Kingdom
Topic
Slavery • Law • Trans-Atlantic slave trade • Finance • International affairs • Business
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • London • Country • England • Nation • United Kingdom • Continent • Europe • Region • West Africa • Continent • Africa
Type
Stock certificates
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

Playbill for Ira Aldridge in Othello and The Slave at the Theatre Royal

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Stock share certificate for the Royal African Company

Date: Date

Caption

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No preview image
NMAAHC

Square brick made by an enslaved person

Date: Date

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NMAAHC

Brick made by an enslaved person

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.