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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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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...

Shirley Chisholm — Unbought and Unbossed

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.

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

Women's Army Corps uniform worn by Private First Class Ara Belle Brown Jennings

Date
1944
Issued by
Women's Army Corps, American, 1942 - 1978
Worn by
Ara Belle Brown Jennings, American, 1920 - 1993
Manufactured by
Unidentified
Caption
Private First Class Ara Belle Brown wore this Women's Army Corps (WAC) uniform while serving with the 4705th Army Air Forces Base Unit in Fresno, California. Approximately 6,500 Black women served in the WAC during World War II.
Description
This is a Women's Army Corps uniform worn by Ara Belle Brown Jennings. It consists of an olive brown wool jacket (a) and matching skirt (b). The uniform jacket buttons up the front with four gold-colored buttons, with the bottom button missing. The gold-colored buttons have a raised decoration of the Great Seal of the United States. The jacket has two upper chest pockets with flap closures and button fasteners, and two angled hip pockets. On the inside back collar is a smudged stamp that reads “[illegible]B Brown / [illegible]4[illegible]703.” Next to the stamp is a sewn-on tag that is coming unsewn. The white cloth tag has black text and reads “SHORT / 14.” The uniform skirt is an A-line style with a side button and zipper. There is a small white tag sewn into the inside of the waistband. At the top of the tag is handwritten text that reads “4972.” Below this is printed text that reads “SIZE 14.
Place used
Fresno, Fresno County, California, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Military
Women
World War II
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Ara Belle Brown Jennings and Robert Sydnor Jennings (La Vinia Delois Jennings, Executrix) Oct. 2022
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2022.91.1ab
Type
military uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool with metal, plastic, and synthetic fiber
Dimensions
H x W x D (a: jacket): 26 3/16 × 15 3/8 × 1/2 in. (66.5 × 39 × 1.3 cm)
H x W x D (b: skirt): 25 11/16 × 12 × 3/8 in. (65.3 × 30.5 × 1 cm)
Title
Object Name • Women's Army Corps uniform worn by Private First Class Ara Belle Brown Jennings
Record ID
nmaahc_2022.91.1ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS UNIFORM WORN BY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ARA BELLE BROWN JENNINGS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1940s • 1939-1945
Name
Women's Army Corps • Jennings, Ara Belle Brown
Place
Fresno • United States • North and Central America • California • Fresno County
Topic
Women • WW II • Clothing and dress • Military • World War, 1939-1945
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Geo Location
City • Fresno • County • Fresno County • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Military uniforms
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.

NMAAHC

Women's Army Corps uniform worn by Private First Class Ara Belle Brown Jennings

Date: Date

Caption

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No preview image
NMAAHC

Photograph of Ara Belle Brown Jennings in Women's Army Corps uniform

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NMAAHC

Tinted photograph of Ara Belle Brown Jennings in Women's Army Corps uniform

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NMAAHC

Button from Army Nurse Corps uniform worn by Lt. Louise Lomax

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

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.