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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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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

Violin owned by Ginger Smock

Date
1849
Created by
Ferdinand August Homolka, Czech, 1828 - 1890
Owned by
Ginger Smock, American, 1920 - 1995
Description
A violin, two bows, case and accessories owned by Ginger Smock.
2016.161.1.1: A wood violin made of dark colored wood with metal strings. The violin’s pegs, neck and tailpiece are dark wood while the body of the violin is stained lighter. Above the pegs, the violin has a traditional scroll at its top. A light-colored wood bridge is located at the center of the violin body between the violin’s ribs. A metal bracket is attached to the tailpiece and metal tuners are at the top next to the strings. A plastic chin rest is attached to the bottom of the violin. There is a white label with black text inside the proper left sound hole that reads “Ferinandus Aug. Homolka / Fecit Prague 1849 / F. H.” Handwritten below the printed text is “5263.”
2016.161.1.2: A wood violin bow with a pearl inlay. The bow is a long, slightly curved, cylindrical rod. One end of the bow has a curved wooden tip, with a metal edge that attaches the horse hair. The opposite end of the bow has a black wood piece, known as the frog, attached to it with decorative pearl inlay in the shape of a circle on both sides. A leather pad covers the metal grip on the rod in front of the frog. A metal screw cap is at the end of the bow.
2016.161.1.3: A wood violin bow with a pearl inlay. The bow is a long, slightly curved, cylindrical rod. One end of the bow has a curved wooden tip, with a metal edge that attaches the horse hair. The opposite end of the bow has a black wood piece, known as the frog, attached to it with a small decorative pearl inlay in the shape of a circle on both sides. These inlays have another circle inlay around it. On the rod of the bow in front of the frog is a metal grip. A metal screw cap is at the end of the bow.
2016.161.1.4a-o: A tan plastic violin case with a removable canvas cover. The case has metal latches and hinges and has a plastic handle. The middle hinge in the back of the case is engraved with “MADE IN / GERMANY.” The case is lined with red felt. A sticker is adhered to the inside cover of the case where the bows are stored. The sticker is clear with an image of a rainbow and clouds on the left side and rainbow colored block lettering on the right side. Under the rainbow on the left side is “PRAISE / the / LORD.” The right side of the sticker says “JESUS.” A red satin violin cover and a white cloth are in the case. A black cloth chin rest with metal brackets is also in the case. Inside a closable tray in the top of the case are several accessories and tools. These include two keys, a rubber ball, two balls of wax like material wrapped in green felt, a spare bridge, a screw driver, a green chin rest and two parts of a metal hinge.
Place made
Prague, Czech Republic, Europe
Topic
African American
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Jazz (Music)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Musical Instruments
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Lydia Samuel Bennett
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2016.161.1.1-.4a-o
Type
violins
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
2016.161.1.1 (violin): wood, metal, plastic;
2016.161.1.2 (bow): wood, horsehair, metal, leather, and mother of pearl;
2016.161.1.3 (bow): wood, horsehair, metal, and mother of pearl;
2016.161.1.4a-o (case and accesories): plastic, metal canvas, felt, rubber, wax
Dimensions
H x W x D (violin): 24 7/16 × 7 15/16 × 3 9/16 in. (62 × 20.2 × 9 cm)
H x W x D (bow): 29 3/16 × 1 3/16 × 1/2 in. (74.2 × 3 × 1.2 cm)
H x W x D (case): 31 11/16 × 10 13/16 × 5 3/16 in. (80.5 × 27.5 × 13.1 cm)
H x W x D (case cover): 32 1/16 × 11 × 5 3/16 in. (81.5 × 28 × 13.1 cm)
H x W x D (satin bag): 25 3/16 × 9 7/16 × 1/16 in. (64 × 24 × 0.2 cm)
H x W (white cloth): 15 15/16 × 15 9/16 in. (40.5 × 39.5 cm)
H x W x D (black rest): 7 11/16 × 2 3/4 × 1 15/16 in. (19.5 × 7 × 5 cm)
H x W x D (key): 1 1/4 × 5/8 × 1/16 in. (3.2 × 1.6 × 0.1 cm)
H x W x D (green rest): 6 7/8 × 3 9/16 × 1 in. (17.5 × 9 × 2.5 cm)
H x W x D (screw driver): 3 1/8 × 9/16 × 9/16 in. (8 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm)
H x W x D (spare bridge ): 2 3/4 × 13/16 × 1/16 in. (7 × 2 × 0.1 cm)
H x W x D (metal hinge): 2 3/4 × 1 3/4 × 1 3/16 in. (7 × 4.5 × 3 cm)
H x W x D (metal hinge): 2 9/16 × 1 3/4 × 1 3/16 in. (6.5 × 4.5 × 3 cm)
Diameter (rubber ball): 2 5/8 in. (6.6 cm)
H x W x D (ball of wax in felt bag): 1 15/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 5/16 in. (5 × 5 × 3.4 cm)
H x W x D (ball of wax in felt bag): 2 1/2 × 3 1/8 × 13/16 in. (6.3 × 8 × 2 cm)
Title
Object Name • Violin owned by Ginger Smock
Record ID
nmaahc_2016.161.1.1-.4a-o
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
VIOLIN OWNED BY GINGER SMOCK
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1840s
Name
Homolka, Ferdinand August • Smock, Ginger
Place
Czech Republic • Europe • Prague
Topic
Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Jazz (Music)
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Musical Crossroads
Geo Location
City • Prague • Country • Czech Republic • Continent • Europe
Type
Violins
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.

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Wood violin and bow from the Sugg McDonald house

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NMAAHC

Violin owned by Ginger Smock

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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.