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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

Electronic Valve Instrument played by Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra

Date
early 1980s
Manufactured by
Crumar
Used by
The Sun Ra Arkestra, American
Marshall Allen, born 1924
Designed by
Nyle Steiner
Caption
This electronic valve instrument was one of seven given to Sun Ra’s reed section and was often played by Arkestra bandleader, Marshall Allen. EVI’s can switch from flute, oboe and saxophone modes and give the instrumentalist more freedom to produce new and creative sounds at a dynamic range.
Description
The Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI) consists of a cased control panel and a handheld unit (a). The case and handheld unit cannot be separated from each other. The case housing also serves as a carrying case. The exterior of the case is covered in stickers with gouges and abbrasions. Stickers advertise for the 2006 Marbella International Jazz Festival and Fiesta Mundial Del Jazz, and a large orange sticker reads [INTERPLANETARY MUSIC / MARSHALL ALLEN / DIRECTOR OF THE / SUN RA ARKESTRA]. The lid to the case (component 'b') is detached with hinge pins missing and is no longer a functional closure. The control panel consists of a black panel with row of dials and toggles. Panels, dials, and toggles show oxidation and grime. A three-pronged power cord extends from the panel. The handheld unit, black, with [STEINER] printed in white text on one side, has dials for tune, scale, and port. Three black switches are analogous to trumpet valves. The handheld unit is attached to instrument panel with wire covered by black plastic cord.
Topic
African American
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Jazz (Music)
Technology
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Musical Instruments
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
2021.52.1ab
Type
musical instruments
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
plastic, metal and wire
Dimensions
H x W x D (cased instrument): 5 × 18 1/8 × 4 1/4 in. (12.7 × 46 × 10.8 cm)
H x W x D (detached lid): 1 3/16 × 18 5/16 × 4 15/16 in. (3 × 46.5 × 12.6 cm)
H x W x D (controller): 3 9/16 × 2 7/16 × 14 3/8 in. (9 × 6.2 × 36.5 cm)
Title
Object Name • Electronic Valve Instrument played by Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra
Record ID
nmaahc_2021.52.1ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
ELECTRONIC VALVE INSTRUMENT PLAYED BY MARSHALL ALLEN AND THE SUN RA ARKESTRA
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s
Name
The Sun Ra Arkestra • Allen, Marshall • Steiner, Nyle • Crumar
Topic
Technology • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Jazz (Music)
Culture
African Americans
Type
Musical instruments
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

Electronic Valve Instrument played by Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra

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Caption

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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.