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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

1915 Mauser Gewehr 98 Bolt Action Rifle

Date
1915-1916
Created by
Mauser, German, founded 1811
Used by
Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey, Sr., American, 1897 - 1968
Subject of
369th Infantry Regiment, American, 1913 - 1945
Description
1915 Mauser Gewehr 98 Bolt Action Rifle found in Germany by Corporal Lawrence McVey during World War I. The Gewehr 98 rifle has a bolt action system that has two locking lugs just behind the bolt head. The rifle has a long metal barrel attached to the main body of the gun that is comprised of wood and metal pieces. The trigger guard is adjustable with numbers written on all sides and an adjustable locking lug. The rifle ends in a long wooden shoulder hold, in a triangular shape, with a notch cut out from the top. There are inscriptions on many parts of the rifle. On the top of the bolt, is the manufacture's name and location, [7.90 / WAFFENFABRIK / MAUSER. A.-G. / OFERNDORF A/N. /1915 l 16]. On the side of the loading bolt is the type of rifle, [GEW 98.] Under the barrel are the identifying numbers, [ 66 / 2766]. Attached to the middle of the rifle, where the barrel meets the body is a leather strap that has adjustable holes throughout for the metal hinge to attach. The leather has deteriorated and become detached at the shoulder of the rifle but the metal attachment remains on the body.
Place made
Oberndorf, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Europe
Topic
African American
Military
World War I
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Weapons and Ammunition
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina McVey
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2019.8
Type
rifles (long guns)
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
wood and metal with leather
Dimensions
H x W x D (without strap): 4 7/8 × 49 1/4 × 1 3/4 in. (12.4 × 125.1 × 4.5 cm)
H x W (strap): 34 × 1 1/4 in. (86.4 × 3.2 cm)
Title
Object Name • 1915 Mauser Gewehr 98 Bolt Action Rifle
Record ID
nmaahc_2019.8
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
1915 MAUSER GEWEHR 98 BOLT ACTION RIFLE
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1910s • 1914-1918
Name
McVey,, Lawrence Leslie • Mauser • 369th Infantry Regiment
Place
Oberndorf • Baden-Württemberg • Europe • Germany
Topic
WW I • World War, 1914-1918 • Military
Culture
African Americans
Geo Location
City • Oberndorf • State • Baden-Württemberg • Country • Germany • Continent • Europe
Type
rifles (long guns)
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

Rifle and case owned by Lt. Colonel Charles Blackwood

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NMAAHC

1915 Mauser Gewehr 98 Bolt Action Rifle

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NMAAHC

U.S. Model 1861 rifle musket by WM. Muir & Co.

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NMAAHC

Model 1854 Lorenz rifle

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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.