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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
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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...

Wilmington 1898 — An American Coup

Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.

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

Treemonisha: Opera in Three Acts

Date
1911
Written by
Scott Joplin, American, 1867 - 1917
Received by
Etta Moten Barnett, American, 1901 - 2004
Description
A black-and-yellow music score for Treemonisha: Opera in Three Acts, written and published by Scott Joplin, and inscribed to singer Etta Moten Barnett from Mrs. Scott Joplin.
The large quarto book has original cloth-backed printed covers and 230 pages. The front cover features an ornate double-lined square border within which is black type that reads: [TREEMONISHA / OPERA / in Three Acts / Words and Music / BY / SCOTT JOPLIN. / Price $2.50 / PUBLISHED BY / SCOTT JOPLIN / NEW YORK.]. Small flowers and various abstract art deco are drawn in and around the title words. On the inside cover is an inscription, “To / Etta Moten / From / Mrs. Scott Joplin / June 18-1939” in dark ink. The last page with black print is numbered at 230. There are no markings on the reverse of the back cover.
Place printed
New York, New York, United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Composers (Musicians)
Music
Opera (Music)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Written Music
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
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
2022.21.17
Type
books
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
ink on paper with fabric and cardboard
Dimensions
H x W x D (open): 8 15/16 × 19 7/8 × 3/4 in. (22.7 × 50.5 × 1.9 cm)
H x W x D (closed): 8 15/16 × 10 3/16 × 3/4 in. (22.7 × 25.8 × 1.9 cm)
Title
Title • Treemonisha: Opera in Three Acts
Record ID
nmaahc_2022.21.17
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
TREEMONISHA: OPERA IN THREE ACTS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1910s
Name
Joplin, Scott • Barnett, Etta Moten
Place
New York • United States • North and Central America
Topic
Opera (Music) • Composers (Musicians)
Culture
African Americans
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Musical Crossroads
Geo Location
City • New York • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
Books
On Physical Exhibit
Yes
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

Flier announcing the NAACP National Youth Legislative Conference

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Treemonisha: Opera in Three Acts

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

A Memorial to Congress For the request of Lands to aid the construction of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad.

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Proof copy of the first printing of The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

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 was the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States?

Madam C.J. Walker