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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

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

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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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

Pants from Fruit of Islam uniform

Date
ca. 1960
Description
Navy blue pants (male) with white braided stripes on flanks; Red and white Nation of Islam logo featured on top of shoulders
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Exhibition
Making a Way Out of No Way
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 050
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
2010.47.1b
Type
slacks
uniforms
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
polyester with cotton (textile)
Dimensions
H x W (Overall): 43 x 18 1/2 in. (109.2 x 47 cm)
Inseam: 32 in. (81.3 cm)
Waist: 42 in. (106.7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Pants from Fruit of Islam uniform
Record ID
nmaahc_2010.47.1b
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
PANTS FROM FRUIT OF ISLAM UNIFORM
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1950s • 1970s
Exhibition
NMAAHC • Making a Way Out of No Way
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

Black track suit pants worn by Melvin Van Peebles

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Gray suit pants owned by Melvin Van Peebles

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Pants from Fruit of Islam uniform

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Light green suit pants by Everett Hall

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 Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.