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Black History Portal
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
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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...

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.

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

Navy velveteen circle skirt by Jay Smith

Date
1980s
Designed by
Jay Smith, American, 1942 - 1986
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
A navy velveteen full circle skirt by Jay Smith. The skirt is made of a cotton synthetic blend, it has a one-inch self-fabric waistband that opens on the proper left side. A metal hook and eye are sewn to the waistband opening. A plastic zipper with a metal tap is handsewn below the waistband along the proper left side seam. A yoke is sewn to the top of the skirt. The hem of the skirt has a single fold and is finished with a black synthetic lace ribbon which is hand and machine sewn. A navy synthetic ribbon hanger loop is attached to each side of the skirt below the waistband. The skirt is unlined, the side seams are finished with the selvage edges. A woven fabric label is sewn to the center back of the waistband which reads [JAY SMITH].
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.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Fashion design
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
2007.3.339
Type
skirts
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
cotton synthetic blend, synthetic ribbon, synthetic lace, plastic, and metal
Dimensions
Length (waist to hem): 30 in. (76.2 cm)
Waist (flat): 13 in. (33 cm)
Title
Object Name • Navy velveteen circle skirt by Jay Smith
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.339
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
NAVY VELVETEEN CIRCLE SKIRT BY JAY SMITH
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
Black Fashion Museum • Smith, Jay
Topic
Design • Clothing and dress • Fashion
Culture
African Americans
Type
Skirts (garments)
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

Black velvet belt with gold metallic thread by Jay Smith

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Black velvet belt with gold trim by Jay Smith

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Black quilted robe with gold applique by Jay Smith

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Navy velveteen circle skirt by Jay Smith

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

Which heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.