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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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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...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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

Queen Anne style chair from the Rock Rest Tourist Home

Date
mid 20th century
Manufactured by
Description
A Queen Anne style chair from the Rock Rest Tourist Home. The chair features a brownish red, wooden frame, and a red velvet padded seat. The curved chair frame is wider at the top and tapers inwards towards the seat. It has rounded shoulders, a carved, center splat, and a carved crossbar at the bottom that functions as a shoe. The shoulders of the chair’s top rail terminate with swirl shapes on either side. At the center of the top rail is a carved decorative element: a palm leaf framed on either side by mirrored S-shaped carvings. The splat is vase shaped and features horizontally carved elements and two punch out carvings at the ear of the splat and the center. The crossbar that attaches to the bottom of the splat is also carved and features a simple fleur-de-lis design at the center. The chair seat is round and covered in dark red velvet. Red silk trim at the base of the cushion covers the attachment point between the cushion and the seat frame. The chair legs are turned and feature rounded beads near the top and bottom. There are four, thin, supporting spindles between all four chair legs.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
The Rock Rest Tourist Home Collection
Classification
Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Inc.
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2011.12.24
Type
dining chairs
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
varnish on wood with velvet , trimming (material) , textile materials , padding (material) and steel
Dimensions
H x W x D: 34 1/8 × 18 × 21 1/2 in. (86.7 × 45.7 × 54.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Queen Anne style chair from the Rock Rest Tourist Home
Record ID
nmaahc_2011.12.24
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
QUEEN ANNE STYLE CHAIR FROM THE ROCK REST TOURIST HOME
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1930s • 1970s
Geo Location
City • Kittery • County • York County • State • Maine • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
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

Queen Anne style chair from the Rock Rest Tourist Home

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Framed photograph of General Colin L. Powell and President Barack Obama

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

CDV of John Hines, formerly enslaved and cook of Company K, 15th Penn. Cavalry

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No preview image
NMAAHC

Chromogenic print of an elderly woman sitting in a chair

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.