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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
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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...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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

Ivory silk ensemble with skirt slip

Date
1970s-1980s
Designed by
Vogue Pattern Company, American, founded 1899
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Description
An ivory lace ensemble (a,b) with a skirt slip (c). The ivory silk blouse (a) features a rounded neckline that’s edged with a self-fabric rolled panel. It’s trimmed with a synthetic panel cord that’s twisted with gold metallic thread. One panel of ivory silk lace creates the front of the blouse, and the fabric is woven with opaque stripes boarded in gold metallic thread. Each bishop sleeve is made from one panel of fabric that’s sewn to itself at the interior arm, and they’re gathered and sewn into 1.75” wide cuffs. The cuffs close with a single faux pearl button. Two panels of fabric create the back of the blouse and at the center back neckline is a 4.5” opening that closes with three faux pearl ivory buttons, which correspond to three self-fabric loops. The center back open is self-faced and there is a .25” wide panel of elastic at the bottom hem. There is half circle shoulder pad made from non-woven padded material machine sewn into place at each interior shoulder. Ivory silk chiffon lines this inside of the blouse, and the interior construction mirrors the outside of the blouse.
The matching skirt (b) is made from two panels of the same ivory silk material – one for the front and one for the back. There is one panel of 1” wide elastic at the waist and there is a 16” side slit. The slit has a 1.75” panel of self-facing. At the bottom of the skirt is a single fold 1.5” hem that has been machine sewn into place. Two panels of ivory synthetic plain weave fabric create the interior lining. The panels have been seamed together at the side seams and then sewn together.
The matching slip (c) is made from two panels of ivory synthetic plain weave fabric, seamed together at the sides. The slip is gathered and sewn into a .5” wide panel of elastic at the waistband and a 14” long side slit. At the bottom is a single fold 3.25” hem that is machine stitched into place.
Topic
African American
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Sportswear
See more items in
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
2007.3.218abc
Type
ensembles (costume)
slips (underwear)
blouses
skirts
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Medium
silk chiffon, crepe, synthetic fiber, padding (material), metallic thread, elastic, and plastic
Dimensions
Length (a: blouse, shoulder to hem): 28 in. (71.1 cm)
Width (a: blouse, flat): 15 in. (38.1 cm)
Chest (a: blouse, full): 44 1/2 in. (113 cm)
Waist (a: blouse, full): 45 1/2 in. (115.6 cm)
Length (b: skirt, waist to hem ): 37 in. (94 cm)
Waist (b: skirt, full): 32 1/2 in. (82.6 cm)
Length (c: slip, waist to hem): 35 in. (88.9 cm)
Waist (b: slip, full): 32 1/2 in. (82.6 cm)
Title
Object Name • Ivory silk ensemble with skirt slip
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.3.218abc
Museum
NMAAHC
Title Sort
IVORY SILK ENSEMBLE WITH SKIRT SLIP
Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Metadata Usage
CC0
Date
1980s • 1970s
Name
Vogue Pattern Company • Black Fashion Museum
Topic
Clothing and dress • Fashion • Sportswear
Culture
African Americans
Type
Costume • Skirts (garments) • Ensembles (costume) • slips (underwear) • Blouses (main garments)
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

Long underwear worn by Seba Johnson

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

White petticoat with embroidery and blue ribbon

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Description

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NMAAHC

Ivory silk ensemble with skirt slip

Date: Date

Description

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NMAAHC

Donation slip of the Anti- Apartheid Day Committee

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

Who was the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States?

Madam C.J. Walker