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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...

The Violence That Helped Spark the NAACP

In August 1908, a white mob attacked Springfield, Illinois’s Black community, destroying homes and businesses and lynching two Black men. National outrage over the violence helped spur the movement that created the NAACP the following year.

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

Blue and black print men's ensemble by Jon Webb

Date
1990s
Created by
Jon Webb
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
A blue and black print men’s ensemble by Jon Webb. This ensemble features a blue and black print men’s shirt (a) pants (b), and a brimless hat (c). The men’s shirt features a batwing-like silhouette and a curved ‘U’ shaped bottom hem. The crew neck is made from two panels of blue jersey knit with black all-over print that resembles character based/ancient script seamed together at the sides. The upper half of the sweater is made from one panel of black cotton jersey knit and the bottom half is made from a panel of blue cotton jersey knit with black print. There is a central insert of black and white striped jersey that intersects the black and blue knit panels. The central insert starts under the crew neck collar and ends near the waist of the sweater. Four woven patches are sewn over the black and white striped insert starting at the proper right – the top circular patch is striped, red, yellow, black, yellow, and green and reads [GANJA UNIVERSITY / WEED OF WISDOM] in black text. There is a black marijuana leaf in the center of the patch. Below the circular patch is a white, rectangular patch that reads [YOUR / IN / OUR / HUT] in black and red block text. The patch at the top proper left is shaped like Africa and features green, yellow, and red stripes. [AFRICA] is embroidered over the green portion of the patch. On the yellow stripe of the patch is an image of an animal (possibly a griffin) holding a scepter. Below that is a circular patch striped with red, black, and green. There is a central abstract windmill-like design at the center and above the design is the word [AFRIKA] in gold text. The .5” bottom hem is machine stitched into place. The back construction of the garment mirrors the front – one upper panel for black cotton jersey knit for the top and blue printed cotton jersey knit for the bottom. A black woven fabric label is sewn to the upper back that reads [JON WEBB / MEN / BY WEBB & COMPANY] in black text. All the interior edges are finished with machine overcast stitching.
A pair of blue and black jersey knit pants (b) designed by Jon Webb. The pants feature a 2” wide elastic band – two panels - sewn together at the waist. They have a wide, roomy waist and pant legs that taper to the hem. There is a panel of striped black and white jersey knit on the proper left, starting at the waist and ending at the knee. Sewn to the striped panel, from the knee down to the ankle is a panel of blue cotton plain weave fabric with an all-over black ancient script pattern. The proper right leg is made of one panel of blue cotton plain weave fabric with an all over pattern. Each waist side has an inseam pocket. The back side of the pants mirror the front. Each leg panel is sewn together at the inner and outer leg and the tapered hem is cut on the diagonal with a 1” machine stitched hem. There is black woven brand label sewn to the center back inner waist that reads [JON / WEBB / MEN] in black text. All inner seams are finished with machine overcast stitching.
A brimless, high crown hat (c) by Jon Webb. The crown sides are made from one panel of blue cotton plain weave fabric with an all-over black character-based print. The blue panel is sewn to itself at the center back. There is one circular panel of black synthetic lining for the inside of the hat, which has an illegible signature at the center.
Cataloging Notes
This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Fashion design
Streetwear
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum 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
2007.3.328abc
Type
shirts
trousers
hats
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
cotton plain weave, cotton jersey knit, and synthetic coating
Dimensions
a: shirt
Length (a: collar to hem): 34 in. (86.4 cm)
Width (a: shoulder to shoulder): 44 1/2 in. (113 cm)
b: pants
Waist (b: waist flat): 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm)
Inseam: 26 1/2 in. (67.3 cm)
c: hat
H x W x D (c: hat): 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Width: 7.5 in. (19.1 cm)
Depth: 7.5 in. (19.1 cm)
Inner Circumference: 25 in (63.5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Blue and black print men's ensemble by Jon Webb
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.328abc
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLUE AND BLACK PRINT MEN'S ENSEMBLE BY JON WEBB
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s
Name
Webb, Jon • Black Fashion Museum
Topic
Design • Streetwear • Clothing and dress • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Type
Shirts • Hats • Trousers
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.

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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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.