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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

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

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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...

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

Black cloche hat with veil feather and rhinestones

Date
1960s
Description
A black cloche hat with a veil, feather, and rhinestones. The main body of the hat is composed of one panel of black wool felt that has been blocked to shape. At the front of the hat is a black veil made from synthetic net, that is mostly attached via silver plastic rhinestones, which are glued into place via a triangular pattern. The veil is tacked into place at the proper left and right with hand stitches. The brim is composed of a 1” panel of wool felt that has been hand stitched to the bottom of the hat. A 9” black synthetic feather is adhered to the proper right side of the hat and a 5/8” wide black synthetic Petersham ribbon is sewn along the inner brim. At the center back is a cream-colored brand label that reads [CUSTOM MADE BY BENÉ] in gold text.
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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
2007.3.806
Type
cloches
hats
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool felt, plastic rhinestone, synthetic petersham, synthetic feather, and adhesive
Dimensions
H x W x D: 12 × 7 1/2 × 9 × 22 in. (30.5 × 19.1 × 22.9 × 55.9 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black cloche hat with veil feather and rhinestones
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.806
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK CLOCHE HAT WITH VEIL FEATHER AND RHINESTONES
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s
Type
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 cloche hat with veil feather and rhinestones

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NMAAHC

Poster for a Black Rock festival in Italy

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NMAAHC

Costume worn by Terry Ellis in "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" video

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NMAAHC

Badge from the National Convention of Madam C. J. Walker's Agents

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

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

Madam C.J. Walker