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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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Events

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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...

The Violence That Helped Spark the NAACP

In August 1908, a white mob attacked Springfield, Illinois’s Black community, destroying homes and businesses and lynching two Black men. National outrage over the violence helped spur the movement that created the NAACP the following year.

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

Black jacket with gold decorations worn by LaMonte McLemore of The 5th Dimension

Date
ca. 1980
Designed by
Pierre Cardin, French, founded 1950
Worn by
LaMonte McLemore, American, 1935 - 2026
Subject of
The 5th Dimension, American, founded 1966
Description
Black double-breasted dinner jacket worn by LaMonte McLemore of The 5th Dimension. The black wool jacket has full-length sleeves and a notched silk satin collar. There are four (4) satin-covered buttons at the center front, only the bottom proper right button functions as a closure for the double-breasted jacket while the other three are decorative. There are two (2) exterior inset pockets trimmed in black satin, one at each front side waist, and one (1) additional inset pocket at the proper left breast trimmed in black wool. There are four (4) decorative satin-covered buttons at each cuff. The cuffs are trimmed with gold woven tape. Above the tape on each cuff is a large paillette in a highly stylized floral design with gold beading and sequin flowers and black beaded leaves, with a single clear rhinestone at the center of the flower. There are two additional pailletes, one on each should reaching down the front and down the back, of a different stylized leafy floral design in gold and black beads and gold sequins. The pailletes are all hand-appliqued to the jacket. The jacket is fully lined in cream silk. There are three (3) interior inset pockets, one at each front side chest, and one at the interior proper left waist. There is a black satin-covered button on the interior proper left front that corresponds to the buttonhole on the proper right front side to close the jacket. There are three (3) designer and manufacturer labels in the interior of the jacket.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Costume
Costume design
Design
Popular music
Rhythm and blues (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
Soul (Music)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Costume
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of LaMonte McLemore founding member of The 5th Dimension
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2013.198.1
Type
dinner jackets
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wool, silk satin, paillettes with sequins and glass and plastic beads, and gold foil tape
Dimensions
H x W (Flat): 31 1/2 × 19 1/2 in. (80 × 49.5 cm)
Waist: 23 1/2 in. (59.7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black jacket with gold decorations worn by LaMonte McLemore of The 5th Dimension
Record ID
nmaahc_2013.198.1
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK JACKET WITH GOLD DECORATIONS WORN BY LAMONTE MCLEMORE OF THE 5TH DIMENSION
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s • 1970s
Name
Pierre Cardin • The 5th Dimension • McLemore, LaMonte
Topic
Design • Soul (Music) • Costume • Music • Clothing and dress • Singers (Musicians) • Rhythm and blues (Music)
Culture
African Americans
Type
Coats (garments)
Online Media Type
Images
Online Media Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions

Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Rights and restrictions shown above are supplied by the Smithsonian record.

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NMAAHC

Black jacket with gold decorations worn by LaMonte McLemore of The 5th Dimension

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

US Navy dress uniform jacket worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as commander

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

US Navy dress uniform pants worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as commander

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Pale blue chiffon dress worn by Janet Jackson at her first piano recital

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.