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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

Funeral program of Deaconess Josie Ware Lewis

Date
1999
Printed by
Unidentified
Subject of
Josie Ware Lewis, American, 1897 - 1999
First Baptist Church of North Tulsa, American, founded 1899
Jack's Memory Chapel, American, founded 1948
Owned by
Eddie Faye Gates, American, 1934 - 2021
Description
Digital copy of a funeral program for Deaconess Josie Ware Lewis. The program is printed in black ink on light pink paper. There are three sheets, folded once and bound at center with a staple to form eight pages. The sizes of the pages gradually increase so that the right edge of each sheet is visible at the right side of the program and printed vertically with the content: [ORDER OF SERVICES / PRECIOUS MEMORIES / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS]. The front cover reads [A Celebration / In Memory of the Life of / Deaconess Josie Ware / Lewis / Sunrise July 24, 1897 - September 23, 1999, Sunset]. At center is a small illustration of a butterfly and roses. Beath this is information about the service, which was held at First Baptist Church North Tulsa.
The first interior page has a portrait of Lewis, followed by the order of service on the second page. This is followed by a two-page obituary titled [Precious Memories of Josie's Life]. The obituary contains details of Lewis's life in Texas, Kansas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, especially her many years of service at the First Baptist Church of North Tulsa, her charity and community work, and her various employment in food service roles. This is followed by [Expressions of Gratitude] at the bottom of page five. Page six has another portrait of Lewis and a prayer titled ["Out of the Depths" / Sis. Josie's Testimony]. The next page has the pall bearers, floral attendant, and information for Jack's Memory Chapel. The back page is blank except for a small message at bottom center reading [Printed with loving care by / ETERNALLY YOURS].
Place collected
Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
American South
American West
Baptist
Communities
Families
Funeral customs and rites
Prayer
Religion
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Eddie Faye Gates Collection, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Eddie Faye Gates, Tulsa OK, author, historian, community activist
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.117.66
Type
digital images
programs
digital media - born analog
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
digital
Dimensions
File size (overall): 482.08 MB
Title
Object Name • Funeral program of Deaconess Josie Ware Lewis
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.117.66
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
FUNERAL PROGRAM OF DEACONESS JOSIE WARE LEWIS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s
Name
Lewis, Josie Ware • Jack's Memory Chapel • Gates, Eddie Faye • First Baptist Church of North Tulsa
Place
United States • Oklahoma • North and Central America • Tulsa County • Tulsa
Topic
American South • Funeral rites and ceremonies • American West • Communities • Religion • Family • Prayer
Culture
Baptists • African Americans
Geo Location
City • Tulsa • County • Tulsa County • State • Oklahoma • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
digital media - born analog • Programs (documents) • Photographs
Online Media Type
Electronic resource • Images
Online Media Rights
Restrictions Likely

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

Portrait of Miss MVC 1955, Lottie R. Herger, with William Ware

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Funeral program of Deaconess Josie Ware Lewis

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Description

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NMAAHC

Red Starfleet uniform worn by Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura on Star Trek

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Trade card for the "Great Negro Mart" in Memphis, Tennessee

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.