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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
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

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Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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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

Swan shaped ring holder owned by Ginger Smock

Date
late 20th century
Manufactured by
Unidentified
Owned by
Ginger Smock, American, 1920 - 1995
Description
A silver plated ring holder in the shape of a swan owned by Ginger Smock. The swan's head is looking straight up and its neck fully extended. The swan is attached to a silver plated decorative plate with a green felt bottom. The plate has an embossed floral design with a roped edge. The bottom of the holder is covered with green felt.
Topic
African American
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Lydia Samuel Bennett
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2016.161.4
Type
holders
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
silver, metal, felt
Dimensions
H x W x D: 3 3/4 × 3 1/16 × 3 7/16 in. (9.5 × 7.8 × 8.7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Swan shaped ring holder owned by Ginger Smock
Record ID
nmaahc_2016.161.4
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
SWAN SHAPED RING HOLDER OWNED BY GINGER SMOCK
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1990s • 1950s
Name
Smock, Ginger
Topic
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Culture
African Americans
Type
Holders (containers)
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

Wooden stereoscope

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Swan shaped ring holder owned by Ginger Smock

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

World War I enlisted soldier's tunic and cigarette holder

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Votive candle stand with base from Saint Augustine Catholic Church

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

Who became the first Black woman to travel into space?

Mae Jemison, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.