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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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Civil Rights

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

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

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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

US Navy dress uniform jacket worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as commander

Date
1999
Caption
A 1982 Naval Academy graduate, Michelle Howard commanded Task Force 151 in 2009, which freed Captain Richard Phillips and other hostages from the Maersk Alabama. In 2014, she became the first female four-star admiral in the Navy, as well as the highest-ranking Black woman in the military, and was appointed vice chief of naval operations.
Description
A US Navy women's dress uniform jacket worn by Admiral Michelle Howard as commander. The single-breasted jacket is made from black twill fabric and has a short slightly flared skirt with a straight cut hemline. It has a rounded collar with a notched lapel. The jacket closes at the center front with four (4) large gold-colored metal buttons with a raised design of an eagle holding an anchor surrounded by thirteen (13) stars. One (1) decorative pocket flap without a corresponding pocket is sewn to each front side breast. At the cuffs of the straight cut full-length sleeves are three (3) bands of gold tape beneath a black patch featuring one (1) five-pointed star embroidered in gold thread, denoting the rank of commander. The jacket is fully lined with black synthetic satin. There are four (4) black plastic buttons sewn along the interior proper left front side that correspond to the exterior gold button closure. At the proper left interior waist is a black zipper that is open to the exterior of the garment. A manufacturer's label is sewn at the interior proper right waist with text reading "PATRIOT / STYLED BY / Weintraub Bros. Co. / DRY CLEAN ONLY". A size "REG. / 12" tag is sewn at the interior center back neck. An additional tag at the center back neck also functions as a hanger loop, and reads "MADE IN U.S.A. BY / American Craftsmen / DRY CLEAN ONLY".
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Admiral Michelle J. Howard, U.S. Navy
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.146.1.2
Type
mess jackets
dress uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
synthetic fiber with metal and plastic fasteners
Dimensions
H x W x D (on form): 26 1/2 × 22 × 12 1/2 in. (67.3 × 55.9 × 31.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • US Navy dress uniform jacket worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as commander
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.146.1.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
US NAVY DRESS UNIFORM JACKET WORN BY ADM. MICHELLE HOWARD AS COMMANDER
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s
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

US Army green service uniform pants worn by General Colin L. Powell

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

US Navy dress uniform pants worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as commander

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

US Navy dress uniform jacket worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as commander

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

US Army green service uniform worn by General Colin L. Powell

Date: Date

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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 Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.