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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...

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 2 strongest Black History matches.
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NMAAHC

Pale purple dress with white floral embroidery and matching belts

Date
1970s
Created by
Phoenix Sportswear, Inc., American
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
A pale purple dress with white floral embroidery (a) matching, faux leather belt (b) and a fabric belt (c). The dress features a bodice with a deep, rounded neckline. There’s gathering under the neckline and a self-fabric bow at the neckline’s center front. There are short, set-in sleeves made from one panel of fabric, seamed together at the inner arm. White floral machine embroidery with cut work covers both the front and back of each sleeve. The dress opens at the proper left with a 12” metal zipper that has [WALDES] stamped on the metal pull. On either side of the center front waist of the skirt are 4" horizontal sections of gathered fabric and two thread belt loops (one on each side) are sewn to the hip. Two inches below the skirt waistline is a 7.25” panel of the same white embroidery with cut work that decorates the sleeves. A single fold hem measuring 5” is bound with .5” synthetic plain hem tape and is handstitched into place at the inside of the skirt.
The back of the bust is made from one panel with two shoulder darts (one on each side) both measuring 3” Three panels seamed together at the side seams, makes up the back of the skirt. There is no white floral embroidery on the back of the skirt. At the interior neckline is a white woven brand label that reads [PHOENIX / SPORTSWEAR ‘CELANESE SANDSWEPT / A RAYON FABRIC / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF] in purple text. The interior waist is reinforced with a synthetic lilac .5” ribbon. All the seam allowances are machine stitched together. Some seam allowances are unfinished, and some are pinked.
A self-fabric covered belt meant to be worn with the dress (b). Pale purple rayon covers the front side, and it’s backed with tan synthetic leather. There are two round metal eyes, one on either end of the belt.
A self-fabric tie meant to be worn with the dress (c). The tie is made from one panel of pale purple rayon that is folded lengthwise and sewn along the edge.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Design
Fashion
Fashion design
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Black Fashion Musem Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2007.3.700abc
Type
dresses by function
belts worn at the waist or below
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
rayon, plain weave ribbon, metal, and imitation leather
Dimensions
Length (a: shoulder to hem): 45 1/4 in. (114.9 cm)
Width (a: shoulder to shoulder): 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)
Chest (a: bust, full): 38 in. (96.5 cm)
Waist (a: full): 30 in. (76.2 cm)
L x W (b: belt): 29 × 1 in. (73.7 × 2.5 cm)
L x W (c: fabric tie): 36 3/4 × 1 3/4 in. (93.3 × 4.4 cm)
Title
Object Name • Pale purple dress with white floral embroidery and matching belts
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.700abc
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PALE PURPLE DRESS WITH WHITE FLORAL EMBROIDERY AND MATCHING BELTS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1970s
Name
Phoenix Sportswear, Inc. • Black Fashion Museum
Topic
Design • Clothing and dress • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Type
dresses by function • belts worn at the waist or below
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

Black wool cloche

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Pale purple dress with white floral embroidery and matching belts

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 heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.