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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...

The Violence That Helped Spark the NAACP

In August 1908, a white mob attacked Springfield, Illinois’s Black community, destroying homes and businesses and lynching two Black men. National outrage over the violence helped spur the movement that created the NAACP the following year.

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

Burgundy, red, and orange dashiki tunic worn by Dr. Baba Chuck Davis

Date
2000-2017
Manufactured by
Unidentified
Designed by
Charles Rudolph Davis, American, 1937 - 2017
Worn by
Charles Rudolph Davis, American, 1937 - 2017
Description
A burgundy, red, and orange dashiki tunic worn by Dr. Baba Chuck Davis. The tunic is constructed from burgundy brocade, heavily decorated with red, orange, and white embroidery on the front and back. The neckline of the tunic has a single scallop on the front and back. It is embellished with a solid white triangular design at the collar with two (2), stacked, orange diamonds in the center of the triangle. Below, is a large, embroidered white and orange Adinkra Sankofa design outlined in red. The Sankofa symbol is accented at the top with two (2) red and orange teardrop shapes. Below the Sankofa are two white diamonds, outlined in orange and red alternating lines. The central design is framed on either sides by vertical bands of red curlicue lines and red and orange circular swirls bands separated by white lines. Just above the Sankofa symbols is a white, paper, adhesive tag that reads [CHUCK / Davis / Honorary Chair / Bid # 188 / Table No. 2] with a small green salamander graphic in the bottom right corner. The sleeves and side pockets that are embellished with four (4) embroidered Adinkra Gye Nyame symbols. The back of the tunic is embroidered with a large central design that includes two (2) encircled Ankh symbols and two (2) Sankofa symbols in orange and white. Both Ankh symbols are accented with orange diamonds and red circular swirls.
Topic
African American
Africa
Clothing and dress
Modern dance
Ornamentation
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Dr. Baba Chuck Davis Archive
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Clothing - Costume
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ngoma & Normadien Woolbright in memory of Dr. Chuck Davis
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
A2018.98.1.9.2
Type
tunics
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
thread on cotton (textile)
Dimensions
H x W: 37 13/16 × 31 9/16 in. (96 × 80.2 cm)
Title
Object Name • Burgundy, red, and orange dashiki tunic worn by Dr. Baba Chuck Davis
Record ID
nmaahc_A2018.98.1.9.2
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BURGUNDY, RED, AND ORANGE DASHIKI TUNIC WORN BY DR. BABA CHUCK DAVIS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2010s • 2000s
Name
Davis, Charles Rudolph
Topic
Clothing and dress • Modern dance • Ornamentation
Culture
African Americans
Type
tunics
Online Media Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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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NMAAHC

Burgundy and orange kufi worn by Dr. Baba Chuck Davis

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Burgundy, red, and orange dashiki tunic worn by Dr. Baba Chuck Davis

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Burgundy, red, and orange dashiki robe worn by Dr. Baba Chuck Davis

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Burgundy, red, and orange dashiki pants worn by Dr. Baba Chuck Davis

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

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.