q2K BHP
Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
What's New!
THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

✊🏾

Civil Rights

Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.

⚙️

Black Inventors

Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.

🏆

Sports

Pioneers, champions, Negro Leagues, records, activism and excellence.

♟️

People

Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the journey.

📍

Places

Black towns, communities, institutions and places where history happened.

📜

Events

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

Enter a person, place, event, or topic.
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.

MORE →
BLACK FACTS
The Truths They Never Taught You...

Katherine Johnson — Mathematics to the Moon

Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.

MORE →
BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 9 strongest Black History matches.
← BACK TO RESULTS
NMAAHC

Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal

Date
2007
Caption
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian recognition awarded by the U.S. Congress. This medal was presented to the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots flying for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Awarded on March 29, 2007, the medal recognized their “unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.”
Description
A gold medal featuring three men in profile in the center, with "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN" at top and an eagle with spread wings at the bottom.
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Movement
Civil Rights Movement
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
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2007.8
Type
medals
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
gold
Dimensions
2 15/16 × 2 15/16 × 3/16 in. (7.5 × 7.5 × 0.5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.8
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2000s • 1939-1945
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Type
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions

Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Rights and restrictions shown above are supplied by the Smithsonian record.

YouTube

Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen? | Dogfights | History

Date: 2020-02-10T16:59:46Z

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of pilots who overcame racism and prejudice, becoming decorated war heroes of WWII.

MORE →
National Archives

Alabama SP Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site

Date: 77836702

This resource is located in Macon County, Alabama. Areas of significance include: Transportation. The National Historic Places Register Reference Number is 01000284.

MORE →
National Archives

Assignment Number: 441-GD-07-NA21 - Combined Federal Campaign - Tuskegee Airmen Event

Date: 53745388

Date Taken: 9/25/2007

MORE →
National Archives

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Area Map 2, Project Years 2004-2012

Date: 33754810
MORE →
National Archives

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Area Map 1, Project Years 2004-2012

Date: 33754808
MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Red Tuskegee Airmen blazer and nametag worn by Woodrow Crockett

Date: Date

Caption

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal

Date: Date

Caption

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Group portrait of seven Tuskegee Airmen

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
No preview image
NMAAHC

Photograph of two Tuskegee Airmen

Date: Date

Description

MORE →
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.

MORE →
TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.