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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...

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

Black skullcap wtih rhinestones and feathers

Date
1960s
Created by
Description
A black skullcap with rhinestones and feathers. The foundation of the hat is made from stiffened black millinery netting in a lattice knit pattern that has been blocked into a skullcap shape. The hat shape is oblong and features scalloped edges that are finished with black satin bias tape, which encases metal wire for shaping. The proper left side of the hat comes dome slightly lower, while the proper right side is more rounded. A spray of 11”- 13” long black feathers are attached at the proper left side and extends over the top of the hat widthwise, ending at the proper right. The feathers are bound together with black floral tape, which is hand stitched to the net foundation. 1/8” white glass rhinestones in metal frames are adhered on the upper bundle’s floral tape. A glass rhinestone floral decoration, placed at a 45-degree angle is secured into place with tacking stitches. 1/8” and ¼” white glass rhinestones are adhered throughout the front, back, and sides of the hat with adhesive. Two clear plastic combs are attached with elastic cord at the proper right and proper left side of the hat. There is no label.
Cataloging Notes
This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2007.3.528
Type
hats
skullcaps
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
glass, rhinestone, plastic, metal wire, elastic cording, silk satin, tape, and adhesive
Dimensions
H x W x D: 4 × 5 1/2 × 6 × 10 1/2 in. (10.2 × 14 × 15.2 × 26.7 cm)
Title
Object Name • Black skullcap wtih rhinestones and feathers
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.528
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
BLACK SKULLCAP WTIH RHINESTONES AND FEATHERS
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1960s
Type
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 skullcap wtih rhinestones and feathers

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NMAAHC

Black skullcap with corded triangular panels

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NMAAHC

Red straw skullcap with matching ruffle flower

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NMAAHC

Straw skullcap with blue flower trim

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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.