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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...

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

Red jumpsuit designed by Willi Smith

Date
1969-1987
Designed by
Willi Donnell Smith, American, 1948 - 1987
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
Red jumpsuit designed by Willi Smith for WilliWear Limited.
The jumpsuit has a v-neck, a notched lapel collar, and short cuffed sleeves and is made of a red cotton fabric. There is a breast pocket on the proper left side with rounded bottom corners. There are six red plastic buttons going down the center on the proper left side, starting at the base of the v-neck and going down to where the pant legs start. There is a hem around the bottoms of the pant legs. There is a cinched waist with two belt loops on the back and a slash pocket on either hip. There are a few snags and loose threads on the jumpsuit.
There are three white tags sewn into the back of the collar on the inside. The small tag on the proper right side reads [7/8] in black. The tag next to it is larger and reads [WILLI WEAR LTD / Designed by Willi Smith] in black. In between the two lines of text there is a cartoon drawing of a man's face in profile. The man has short hair, glasses, and a collared shirt. The tag below it reads [100% COTTON / MADE IN / MAURITIUS / HAND WASH] in black.
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Design
Fashion design
Sportswear
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture 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
2007.3.155
Type
jump suits
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
cotton and plastic with thread
Dimensions
H x W: 56 × 16 in. (142.2 × 40.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Red jumpsuit designed by Willi Smith
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.155
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
RED JUMPSUIT DESIGNED BY WILLI SMITH
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s • 1980s
Name
Smith, Willi Donnell • Black Fashion Museum
Place
New York City • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Design • Clothing and dress • Fashion • Sportswear
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
jump suits
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

Baseball bat used by Willie Mays

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Diploma cover for Booker T. Washington High School's Willie Williams

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Red jumpsuit designed by Willi Smith

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Yellow jumpsuit designed by Willi 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 Black woman became the first elected to the United States Congress?

Shirley Chisholm, elected in 1968.