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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
BHP HOME BEFORE AMERICA 1800–1936 1937–1957 1958–1980 1981–2000 2001–PRESENT

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Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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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...

Katherine Johnson — Mathematics to the Moon

Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.

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

Trench lantern

Date
1914-1918
Created by
Portia, British
Description
A trench lantern lighting device made of a glass bulb, with metal wick opening and a glass cover. The rope can be seen through the glass and goes through the metal opening at the top of the lantern creating a wick. A collar of fogged glass connects the metal and glass bulb bottom. A gold colored metal tip covers the top. [BRITISH MADE / PORTIA] is impressed on the base of the lantern. The top of the lantern is made of fogged glass that fades into clear glass at the top. Burn marks can be seen inside the glass.
Place made
England, United Kingdom, Europe
Topic
African American
Military
World War I
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alan Laird
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.111.4ab
Type
lanterns (lighting devices)
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
glass, metal and rope
Dimensions
H x W (4a): 4 1/4 × 3 × 3 in. (10.8 × 7.6 cm)
H x W (4b): 2 1/2 × 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (6.4 × 3.8 cm)
Title
Object Name • Trench lantern
Record ID
nmaahc_2017.111.4ab
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
TRENCH LANTERN
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1910s • 1914-1918
Name
Portia
Place
Europe • England • United Kingdom
Topic
WW I • World War, 1914-1918 • Military
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Country • England • Nation • United Kingdom • Continent • Europe
Type
lanterns (lighting devices)
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

Trench lantern

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

The Others, Lantern M

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Description

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NMAAHC

Small flashlight from pilot survival vest owned by Charles F. Bolden

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Lamp hand-painted by Julian F. Abele

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 heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.