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THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
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
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

Explore Black History

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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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...

Shirley Chisholm — Unbought and Unbossed

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.

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

A Semi-Centenary Discourse delivered in The First African Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on the Fourth Sabbath of May, 1857: With a History of the Church from its First Organization, including a Brief Notice of Rev. John Gloucester, its First Pastor

Date
1857
Written by
Rev. William T. Catto, American, 1809 - 1869
Printed by
Joseph M. Wilson, American
Subject of
Rev. John Gloucester, American, 1776 - 1822
First African Presbyterian Church, American, founded 1807
Description
This book contains the text of Reverend William T. Catto's sermon "A Semi-Centenary Discourse," and a history of the First African Presbyterian, the nation's first black Presbyterian church, founded in Philadelphia in 1807. The volume has 111 pages bound in black cloth and gilt lettering on the front cover. Inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and black crayon on the final interior page regarding former owners and givers of the book. The book also contains a biography of its founder, the formerly enslaved Reverend John Gloucester and an Appendix with information about other historically black churches in Philadelphia.
Place made
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Christianity
Free communities of color
Literature
Preaching
Presbyterian
Religion
Slavery
The Black Church
U.S. History, 1815-1861
Worship services
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Books and Published Materials
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
2012.46.71
Type
books
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper, wood, and leather
Dimensions
H x W x D: 9 x 6 x 1/2 in. (22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm)
Title
Title • A Semi-Centenary Discourse delivered in The First African Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on the Fourth Sabbath of May, 1857: With a History of the Church from its First Organization, including a Brief Notice of Rev. John Gloucester, its First Pastor
Record ID
nmaahc_2012.46.71
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
A SEMI-CENTENARY DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN THE FIRST AFRICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, ON THE FOURTH SABBATH OF MAY, 1857: WITH A HISTORY OF THE CHURCH FROM ITS FIRST ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING A BRIEF NOTICE OF REV. JOHN GLOUCESTER, ITS FIRST PASTOR
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1850s
Name
Wilson, Joseph M. • Catto, William T. • Gloucester, John • First African Presbyterian Church
Place
United States • North and Central America • Philadelphia • Pennsylvania
Topic
Slavery • Presbyterian • Literature • Preaching • Religion • The Black Church • Worship services • Free communities of color • U.S. History, 1815-1861
Culture
Christians • African Americans
Geo Location
City • Philadelphia • State • Pennsylvania • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Books
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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NMAAHC

Young children reenact the birth of Jesus in the Christmas Nativity play at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, Washington, D.C. 2003

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

A Semi-Centenary Discourse delivered in The First African Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on the Fourth Sabbath of May, 1857: With a History of the Church from its First Organization, including a Brief Notice of Rev. John Gloucester, its First Pastor

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Processional cross from Saint Augustine Catholic Church of New Orleans

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photograph of St. Augustine High School exterior

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

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

The Greenwood District.