On may, the city dropped a satchel of explosives onto the rooftop bunker of moves headquarters at 6221 osage avenue, resulting in a widespread fire that destroyed more than 60 homes and left 11. Another attempt to rebuild on osage ave 31 years after the. On may, 1985, the city of philadelphia bombed the home of the radical black organization move that was. Describes the confrontation between philadelphia police and members of the move. Philly cops drop a bomb on the move house may 1985. The city rebuilt osage avenue, but the construction was so shoddy that years of repairs failed to fix the homes. Properties tied to 1985 move bombing up for sale curbed philly. Next month will mark the 28th anniversary of the philadelphia police bombing of the move compound on osage avenue, which left 11 people dead, five of them children, and. May, 2019 gerald and connie renfro are longtime residents who enjoy the sound of construction in the 6200 block of osage avenue, the site of the 1985 inferno sparked by the police bombing of the move house. The bombing of osage avenue, louis massiah, 1986, digital. In 2008, a friend who identified strongly with her polish heritage asked me something that no one had ever asked me.
Dec 09, 2016 philly cops drop a bomb on the move house may 1985. Only adult move bombing survivor speaks at ch library. Behind renfrow, homes sit empty and shuttered along treelined osage avenue in west philadelphia. The city of philadelphia redevelopment authority pra wants to rebuild 36 houses on the 6200 block of osage ave in west philadelphia. About the film let the fire burn is composed entirely with archival footage yet unfurls with the tension of a. May 12, 2014 the city rebuilt osage avenue, but the construction was so shoddy that years of repairs failed to fix the homes. Join us for a screening of the extraordinary film the bombing of osage avenue by filmmaker and videographer louis massiah, which examines the destruction of an african american neighborhood in philadelphia by state violence. The 1985 move bombing in philadelphia the confrontation duration. Aside from a note from the public broadcasting affiliate whyy of philadelphia, the first shot we see is a group of young, black boys riding bikes from behind the camera and away as a piano begins what is clearly soul and funk. The hollywood theatre presents a special screening of the bombing of osage avenue benefiting liberation literacy, a nonprofit organization bringing social justice literacy to those living inside the oregon prison system.
New film revisits the tragic 1985 bombing of move colorlines. May 10, 2020 a view of osage avenue in philadelphia, pennsylvania, following the polices bombing of move. Violence, sin, and art in jia zhangkes a touch of sin. Massiah was the producer of the local pbs affiliates broadcast of the move commission hearings.
Now on the 34th anniversary of the bombing, 16 of the homes are freshly rebuilt and new neighbors are moving in. Some move members now live in a blueandwhite victorian in the citys clark park section, about two miles from osage avenue. Theatre presents a special screening of the bombing of osage avenue. The bombing of osage avenue with documentary filmmaker louis messiah. The bombing of osage avenue 1986, a film by louis massiah. After rehab, homes destroyed by move bombing find buyers whyy. Aside from a note from the public broadcasting affiliate whyy of philadelphia, the first shot we see is a group of young, black boys riding bikes from behind the camera and away as a piano begins what is clearly soul and funk music. The bombing of osage avenue was created one year following the bombing of the apartment building move lived in at 6221 osage avenue.
Members of the radical organization named move were attacked in their homes by the philadelphian police department with a bomb dropped from a helicopter which contained c4 and tovex. The bombing of osage avenue is a 1986 documentary by toni cade bambara and louis massiah that contextualizes the bombing using the history of the cobbs creek community and focuses on the bombings impact on the communitys residents. Remembering the bombing of osage avenue karen beckman. The brutal bombing of the move organization by the philadelphia police department on may, 1985 qualifies as one of those dreadful moments in recent history that, when explained, sounds as if it came out of an octavia butler novel rather than real life. Ruby rich calls readers attention to the film festival and more. The events are situated in the history of blacks in philadelphia, the move organization, and the cobbs creek neighborhood. There are no slats, no roof bunker, no loudspeakers just a few dogs. Years of tension and violence between the city and members of move, a local black liberation group, resulted in the infamous move bombing of 1985. On mothers day 1985, an army of city and state police converged on a quiet block in historic cobbs creek, philadelphia.
Let the fire burn philadelphia police clash with move group. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. A view of osage avenue in philadelphia, pennsylvania, following the polices bombing of move. Another attempt to rebuild on osage ave 31 years after the move bombing.
Philadelphia, the city that bombed itself al jazeera america. Last week we got a chance to peep the new documentary let the fire burn which chronicles the move organization out of philadelphia and the set of tragic events that took place on osage avenue may th 1985 when the citys first africanamerican mayor wilson goode allowed a bomb to be dropped on their headquarters. Among these, louis massiah, karen beckman, and jessica vaughn will engage in a public conversation on wednesday, november 5, 2014 at 6. Aug 19, 20 the bombing of osage avenue 1986 full ducomentary assaf kintzer. On mothers day, 1985, a virtual army of city and state police converged on a quiet block in historic cobbs creek, a blossoming neighborhood of parks and children, aluminum siding and basketball stars nestled in the heart of philadelphias african. On mothers day, 1985, a virtual army of city and state police converged on a quiet block in historic cobbs creek, a. The film is directed and produced by jason osder and was released by zeitgeist films in october 20. This block is the site of the worst crime in philadelphia history.
The bombing of osage ave a documentary produced and directed by louis massiah for whyytv 12 philadelphia, and written and narrated by toni cade bambara. Jun 04, 2015 the bombing of osage avenue was created one year following the bombing of the apartment building move lived in at 6221 osage avenue. Big bombing also known as the bombing or unbreakable spirit is a chinese action wardrama film directed by xiao feng about the japanese bombings of the chinese city chongqing during world war ii. In the spring 2014 issue of film quarterly, we pay attention, as always, to film festivalsthis time, with a range of voices reporting on the rotterdam, berlin, truefalse, and middle east now festivals. Talk to some of the folks who lived through the bombing of 62nd and osage avenue in west philadelphia 30 years ago, and youll notice that they refer to the event by its full date. Music of construction new track on move bombing anniversary. They interview many of the community members and neighbors in cobbs creek. May, 2015 it stands as the only aerial bombing carried out by police on us soil. The bombing of osage avenue 1986 full ducomentary youtube. What its like living on the block that philadelphia bombed.
The bombing of osage avenue, philadelphia may, 1985. At the climax of a chaotic standoff that day, the police. Ramona africa, the only adult survivor of the infamous 1985 bombing of the move compound on osage avenue in west philadelphia, spoke at the chestnut hill library on wednesday, sept. May 12, 2014 let the fire burn premieres on pbs independent lens on may 12, 2014. The bombing of osage avenue is a 1986 documentary by toni cade bambara and louis massiah that contextualizes the bombing using the history of the cobbs creek community and focuses on the bombing s impact on the communitys residents. The screenplay is by the late great writer toni cade bambara, who also is the narrator and directed by louis massiah. Let the fire burn is a 20 documentary film about the events leading up to and surrounding a 1985 standoff between the black liberation group move and the philadelphia police department. The bombing of osage avenue 1986 university of pennsylvania.
The 30year anniversary of the bombing of osage avenue will be commemorated without ward, who was one of only two survivors. Talk to some of the folks who lived through the bombing of 62nd and osage avenue in west philadelphia 30 years ago, and youll notice that they refer to the move bombing simply by its full date. Move bombing still leaves philadelphia scarred cbs news. Massiahs producing and directing credits include trash 1985, the bombing of osage avenue 1986, cecil b. Bettmann archive pressure is also mounting ahead of the anniversary for an apology to be. The bombing of osage avenue was produced and directed by louis massiah and written and narrated by novelist and commentator toni cade bambara. Oct 10, 2014 ramona africa, the only adult survivor of the infamous 1985 bombing of the move compound on osage avenue in west philadelphia, spoke at the chestnut hill library on wednesday, sept. Oct 01, 20 the brutal bombing of the move organization by the philadelphia police department on may, 1985 qualifies as one of those dreadful moments in recent history that, when explained, sounds as if it came out of an octavia butler novel rather than real life. About the film let the fire burn is composed entirely with archival footage yet unfurls with the tension of a thriller. Describes the confrontation between philadelphia police and members of the move organization on mothers day, 1985, which left 11 men, women and children members of move dead and 61 homes destroyed by fire. A biography in four voices 1995, and louise alone thompson patterson. In the midst of both contemporary protests responding to excessive police violence against african americans and the militarys use of drone airpower, black media matters returns our attention to the 1987 documentary, the bombing of osage avenue, produced and directed by louis massiah, written and narrated by toni cade bambara. Jun 29, 2015 from the editor looking back, looking ahead.
Writernarrator toni cade bambara and director louis massiah s the bombing of osage avenue provides a radically different perspective from the standard narrative that emerged across national media, focusing instead on the testimony of local black residents as a way to articulate the dismemberment of a community, the relation of a people to a place, ruptured. Since it was made so soon after the bombing and the interviews are personal and fresh. Collective trauma, transitional justice and two documentaries. A view of osage avenue in philadelphia, pennsylvania, following a shootout and bombing between police and the terrorist group move. Move bombing on osage avenue leaves scar april 24, 2014 cobbs creek, history, police, uncategorized, west philadelphia 0 near the heart of cobbs creek parkway lies a brutal scar of a block that holds much significance to the neighborhood. While this event is a benefit, nobody will turned away at the door for lack of funds until capacity is reached. Trailer for the bombing of osage avenue 1986 directed by louis massiah and narrated by toni cade bambara. Oct 08, 20 last week we got a chance to peep the new documentary let the fire burn which chronicles the move organization out of philadelphia and the set of tragic events that took place on osage avenue may th 1985 when the citys first africanamerican mayor wilson goode allowed a bomb to be dropped on their headquarters. A view of osage avenue in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Gerald and connie renfro are longtime residents who enjoy the sound of construction in the 6200 block of osage avenue, the site of the 1985 inferno sparked by the police bombing of the move house. Nov 16, 2016 years of tension and violence between the city and members of move, a local black liberation group, resulted in the infamous move bombing of 1985. Spike lees shes gotta have it had been released a year earlier. It stands as the only aerial bombing carried out by police on us soil.
The bombing of osage avenue, louis massiah, 1986, digital projection, 58 mins on may, 1985, the philadelphia police department orchestrated a militarystyle raid on the communal home of the black liberation organization move, dispatching a small army of almost 500 cops to the residential neighborhood of cobbs creek and assaulting their. He also produced and directed the documentary works louise thompson patterson. The bombing of osage avenue, philadelphia may, 1985 kennedy1op. Film event in philadelphia, pa by cinespeak and black lives matter philly on saturday, may 4 2019 with 6. The bombing of osage avenue is a 1986 documentary by toni cade bambara and louis massiah that contextualizes the bombing using the history of the. Sep 30, 2008 the bombing of osage avenue, philadelphia may, 1985 kennedy1op. On may, 1985, the city aggressively tried to remove the radical group move from the row house at 6221 osage. May, 2019 now on the 34th anniversary of the bombing, 16 of the homes are freshly rebuilt and new neighbors are moving in. Louis massiah is a documentary filmmaker who addresses important but oftenneglected subjects with integrity, insight, and artistry. The bombing of osage avenue 1986 full ducomentary assaf kintzer. In her own words, two films for the eyes on the prize ii series, and w. Members of philadelphia city council apologize for 1985 move. The bombing of osage avenue reinforces abujamals assessment and situates the 1985 move bombing along a historical continuum of white aggression a history fires and bombings, a history of burning toward black and blackfriendly communities and institutions in the united states generally and philadelphia specifically. The film also uses footage of the hearings of the move commission.
The lost boy almost 30 years ago, yearold birdie africa became the face of the move disaster, the only child to survive the bombing of. This is ground zero for the controversial city bombing and fire on may, 1985, that killed 11, including five children. Philadelphias osage avenue police bombing, 30 years on. In march, the demolition teams made their way onto the renfros section of osage near the intersection of pine street, bringing with them the clatter and debris of a construction site that spans more than half a block. Louis massiahs the bombing of osage avenue light industry. This news report contains footage of the bombing and includes an interview with one of the survivors who relates her. On may 1985, philadelphia police moved in to arrest four members of a radical black liberation group called move but a bungled raid left 11 people dead. It gives you an historical background and overview of the community where the move lived. Let the fire burn premieres on pbs independent lens on may 12, 2014.
548 1003 423 452 1048 677 519 1589 1321 1321 588 1180 48 257 1256 1578 800 1351 956 1316 1023 577 139 379 1569 510 210 541 337 1668 1253 748 890 173 1350 831 1213 672 1447 414 20 601 103 1237 1215