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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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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...

Wilmington 1898 — An American Coup

Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.

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

US Navy fatigue jacket worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as rear admiral (lower half)

Date
2009
Caption
A 1982 Naval Academy graduate, Michelle Howard commanded Task Force 151 in 2009, which freed Captain Richard Phillips and other hostages from the Maersk Alabama. In 2014, she became the first female four-star admiral in the Navy, as well as the highest-ranking Black woman in the military, and was appointed vice chief of naval operations.
Description
A US Navy fatigue jacket worn by Admiral Michelle Howard as rear admiral (lower half). The single-breasted flak jacket with a standard collar is made from a brown, tan, and beige toned camouflage print nylon and cotton blend fabric. It closes at the center front with five (5) tan plastic buttons hidden from the facing side with an additional placket. The wide straight cut sleeves have adjustable cuffs that can be closed at varying levels of tightness around the wrist using one buttonhole tab and three (3) tan plastic buttons. Each sleeve has a self-fabric rectangular elbow patch panel. There is a square of tan fabric with one (1) five-pointed star embroidered in black on each front collar. The jacket has four (4) exterior pleated patch pockets with flap closures that close with two concealed tan buttons, one at each breast and one at each waist. At the proper left breast above the pocket is a rectangular patch with a Surface Warfare Officer insignia embroidered in brown thread of a shield in front of crossed swords. Below it is a rectangular patch with brown thread reading "U.S. NAVY". On the proper right breast above the pocket is a patch with brown thread reading "HOWARD". A size and style tag is sewn at the interior center back neck. An additional tag is sewn at the interior proper right front waist that is illegible from washing and wearing.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Admiral Michelle J. Howard, U.S. Navy
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.146.2.2
Type
flak jackets
military uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
nylon and cotton blend fabric with plastic buttons
Dimensions
H x W (flat): 30 × 21 in. (76.2 × 53.3 cm)
Title
Object Name • US Navy fatigue jacket worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as rear admiral (lower half)
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.146.2.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
US NAVY FATIGUE JACKET WORN BY ADM. MICHELLE HOWARD AS REAR ADMIRAL (LOWER HALF)
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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

US Navy fatigues worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as rear admiral (lower half)

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Undershirt worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as rear admiral (lower half)

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

US Navy fatigue jacket worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as rear admiral (lower half)

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

US Navy fatigue pants worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as rear admiral (lower half)

Date: Date

Caption

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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 was the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States?

Madam C.J. Walker