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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

Black velour tracksuit with matching t-shirt by Sean John

Date
1998-2007
Description
A black velour tracksuit with a matching t-shirt designed by Sean John. The jacket is made of a cotton and polyester blended knit velour and has a standing collar. A wide zipper with plastic teeth and a metal pull runs down the center front of the jacket. There is a breast pocket with a vertical zipper that has plastic teeth and a metal pull on the proper left side. An embroidered logo in white text that reads [Sean Jean] is at the top of the breast pocket. Two welt hand pockets are placed at the hips above the waistband. There is a small black label stitched to the proper left side seam that reads [Sean John]. The sleeves are made from three pieces of fabric. The bottom of the sleeve is not set in as the bottom fabric panel continues onto the chest. Elastic is placed inside the waistband and the sleeve cuffs. At the back of the jacket there is an embroidered logo at the center back of the collar that reads [Sean Jean] in white thread. Black seam binding with [Sean Jean] in white text is stitched to the back of the collar at the jacket's interior. Two labels are located at the interior on the center back of the waistband. The first label is black and reads [Sean Jean] in white text. The second label is a care label and contains manufacturing information. A paper tag is attached to the care label with a plastic fastener that includes the logo, barcode, and price.
The gray short-sleeved t-shirt has a ribbed crew neck and a logo on the center front of the chest (.2). The printed logo reads [Sean John/ NEW YORK L.A. LONDON TOYKO PARIS] in black script. A small fabric label is stitched to the hemline of the shirt at the proper left that reads [Sean John]. There is a printed logo on the center back of the shirt below the collar that reads [Sean John]. Black seam binding is stitched to the back of the collar that has [Sean John] printed across in white text. There is a black label stitched to the center back of the collar that includes the logo, size, and material information. A paper tag is attracted to the center back label with a plastic fastener that includes the garment's logo, barcode, and price.
The black knit pants are made of a cotton and polyester blended velour (.3). There are two welted pockets with zippers made of plastic teeth and metal pulls. There is a small black label stitched to the proper right side seam that reads [Sean John]. An embroidered logo that reads [Sean Jean] in white thread is stitched at the proper left pant leg closer to the top of the pants. Two angled diagonal panels start at the cuffs and extend upwards to the exterior of the pant legs. Two plastic and metal zippers are placed at the bottom of each pant leg at the outside edge. Elastic is placed inside the waistband and the pant cuffs. There is a cord possibly made of cotton with plastic aglets on the inside of the pants at the waistband. Two labels are located at the interior on the center back of the waistband. The first label is black and reads [Sean Jean] in white text. The second is a care label and contains manufacturing information. A paper tag is attached to the care label with a plastic fastener that includes the logo, barcode, and price.
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.
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
2007.3.604.1-.3
Type
jackets
trousers
T-shirts
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
jacket (.1) and pants (.3): cotton and polyester blended velour, elastic, plastic, and metal
t-shirt (.2): cotton and polyester
Dimensions
L x W (jacket .1): 31 3/4 × 20 1/4 in. (80.6 × 51.4 cm)
L x W (t-shirt .2): 33 × 23 in. (83.8 × 58.4 cm)
L x W (pants .3): 83 13/16 × 60 5/16 in. (212.9 × 153.2 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black velour tracksuit with matching t-shirt by Sean John
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.604.1-.3
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK VELOUR TRACKSUIT WITH MATCHING T-SHIRT BY SEAN JOHN
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s • 1990s
Geo Location
State • Hong Kong • Country • China • Continent • Asia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
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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Vote or Die! Sean John t-shirt

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Photograph of Sean Combs and his son, Christian Casey Combs

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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

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.