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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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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

Gray suit jacket owned by Melvin Van Peebles

Date
2000-2010
Manufactured by
JCPenney, American, founded 1902
Subject of
Melvin Van Peebles, American, 1932 - 2021
Description
A gray suit jacket owned by Melvin Van Peebles. The single-breasted jacket is made from two panels of grayish-brown synthetic fabric (possibly polyester) for the front and two panels for the back. There is a notched lapel, and the buttonhole on the proper left lapel is stitched with bright red thread. The jacket closes center front with two plastic imitation tortoise shell buttons. Each full-length sleeve is made from two panels of fabric that are sewn together at the inner and outer arm. Four decorative imitation shell buttons are sewn near each cuff. There is a welt pocket at the proper left chest and two pockets with flaps at the proper left and right waist. Two panels make up the back of the jacket and there’s a self-fabric martingale belt at the lower center back.
Brown polyester fabric lines the interior body of the and the sleeves are lined with cream polyester fabric. There are three interior welted pockets, one at the proper right front chest, one at the proper left front chest and one below. The proper right front chest pocket closes with one round gray plastic button. A gray manufacturer's label with white embroidered text reads [STAFFORD / EXECUTIVE] below the company’s logo featuring a lion and a unicorn bookending a circular seal with the [S] at the center. Sewn over the bottom proper left bottom pocket is a black fabric tag with white embroidered text that reads [PROFESSIONALLY / DRY CLEAN /LOW MOISTURE / STEAM PRESS].
Place made
United States, North and Central America
Topic
African American
Actors
Black Enterprise
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Fashion design
Film
Musicians
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Melvin Van Peebles Archive Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
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
2024.60.2.1
Type
ensembles (costume)
blazers
suits
jackets
pantsuits
pants suits
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
polyester and plastic
Dimensions
Length (collar to hem): 28 1/2 in. (72.4 cm)
Width (widest point): 21 3/4 in. (55.2 cm)
Title
Object Name • Gray suit jacket owned by Melvin Van Peebles
Record ID
nmaahc_2024.60.2.1
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
GRAY SUIT JACKET OWNED BY MELVIN VAN PEEBLES
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
2010s • 2000s
Name
Van Peebles, Melvin • JCPenney
Place
United States • North and Central America
Topic
Design • Black Enterprise • Actors and actresses • Clothing and dress • Fashion • Motion pictures
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America
Type
pantsuits • Blazers • Suits (main garments) • Costume • pants suits • Ensembles (costume) • jackets
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.

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NMAAHC

Black crepe pant suit designed by Michael Harrell and worn by Patti Labelle

Date: Date

Caption

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NMAAHC

Gray suit jacket owned by Melvin Van Peebles

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Gold green and blue Kente print ensemble with fabric length

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Photograph of George Clinton

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

What prosperous Tulsa district became widely known as “Black Wall Street”?

The Greenwood District.