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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

Film clips from a re-release of The Gold Rush

Date
1969
Produced by
Dennis Atkinson, American
Subject of
Charlie Chaplin, English, 1889 - 1977
Owned by
Ernie Smith, American, ca. 1925 - 2004
Description
A motion picture film with scenes from the first half of The Gold Rush, the 1925 feature film. It consists of a single reel of positive, black-and-white, acetate film with bilateral variable-area optical sound. The film starts with ["THE GOLD RUSH" / PART / 1] appearing briefly in the leader. After a few cameo shots, [THE MOVIES / OUT MODERN ART] appears on the screen while footage of a film set can be seen in the background. A narrator then begins discussing topics such as Hollywood and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin while scenes from The Gold Rush play in the background. At one point, the narrator says, "In 1925, he made what is considered today by many film historians to be the funniest comedy ever made: The Gold Rush," after which two title cards appear on screen. The first reads [Walter Reade/Sterling, Inc. / presentation], while the second reads [Charles Chaplin / in THE / GOLD RUSH / copyright © MCMXLXIX by Spectra Pictures / All Rights Reserved]. The opening credits role after both title cards and include cast and crew for the original 1925 film and the "New Version." Individuals credited in the re-release include James L. Limbacher (narration author), Michael Whorf (narrator), John Muri (composer and performer), Joseph Siracuse (sound engineer), William Gyrofy (associate producer), and Dennis R. Atkinson (producer and supervisor). The rest of the film features scenes from The Gold Rush, with occasional narratorly comments.
Place filmed
California, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Comedy
Film
Jazz (Music)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Anonymous Gift in memory of Ernest (Ernie) R. Smith, Jazz Historian
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.275.43.1a
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)
film clips
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration (digital file): 00:30:51
Physical extent (film): 1150 ft
Title
Object Name • Film clips from a re-release of The Gold Rush
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.275.43.1a
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
FILM CLIPS FROM A RE-RELEASE OF THE GOLD RUSH
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s
Name
Smith, Ernie • Chaplin, Charlie • Atkinson, Dennis
Place
United States • North and Central America • California
Topic
Motion pictures • Comedy • Jazz (Music)
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
black-and-white films (visual works) • 16mm (photographic film size) • sound films • film clips
Online Media Rights
Restrictions Likely

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

Film clips from Westinghouse Preview Theatre: The Benny Goodman Show

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Film clips from Artistry in Rhythm

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Film clips of a dance contest and a performance of “Old Rockin' Chair"

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Film clips from a re-release of The Gold Rush

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.