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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

Red suit jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles

Date
Mid to late 20th century
Created by
Unidentified
Worn by
Melvin Van Peebles, American, 1932 - 2021
Description
A plaid red jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles. The single-breasted jacket is made from red and tan wool blend fabric. There is a single notched collar, and the jacket closes down the center front with two .75” maroon plastic buttons on the proper right and corresponding buttonholes on the proper left side. The bottom button the proper right is missing. Each sleeve has padding at the shoulder and is made from two panels of fabric. There’s a half- cuff, roughly six inches long, machine sewn to each sleeve end. At the chest proper left chest is a welted pocket, and at the waist, are two pockets – one at each side, with a 4” wide flap, that secures with a maroon .75” wide plastic button. The button at the proper right waist pocket is missing and cream-colored silk blend fabric lines the underside each pocket flap. The silk blend fabric has an all over pattern of black hexagon outlines filled with solid red hexagons. Two panels of fabric make up the back of the jacket and there is a 11” long vent at the center back bottom. Three panels of cream hexagonal fabric lines the interior body of the jacket, and two panels line each sleeve. There are two interior welt pockets, one at the proper right front chest, and one at the proper left front chest. Sewn above the interior left breast pocket is a white fabric tag that reads [DRY CLEAN ONLY]. There is no brand label.
Place made
United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Actors
Black Enterprise
Clothing and dress
Film
Musicians
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Melvin Van Peebles Archive Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2024.60.6
Type
jackets
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool synthetic blend, silk synthetic blend, padding, and plastic
Dimensions
Length (collar to hem): 34 1/16 in. (86.5 cm)
Width (shoulders): 18 in. (45.7 cm)
Chest (flat): 20 in. (50.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • Red suit jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles
Record ID
nmaahc_2024.60.6
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
RED SUIT JACKET WORN BY MELVIN VAN PEEBLES
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Name
Van Peebles, Melvin
Place
United States • North and Central America
Topic
Black Enterprise • Actors and actresses • Clothing and dress • Motion pictures
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
jackets
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

Red suit jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Gray suit jacket owned by Melvin Van Peebles

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photographic postcard of Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries clinching

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Cabinet card of a Mrs. Houston

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 Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.