Before police dropped a bomb on a residential neighborhood on May 13, 1985, few people outside Philadelphia were aware that a Black-led civil liberties organization had taken root there. Founded in 1972 by a charismatic ideologue called John Africa, MOVE’s mission was to protect all forms of life from systemic oppression. They drew their ideology from the Black Panther Party and pre-dated animal and environmental rights groups like PETA and Earth First. MOVE emerged in an era when Black Philadelphians suffered under devastating policies brought by the long, doomed war in Vietnam, Mayor Frank Rizzo’s overtly racist police surveillance, and, eventually, President Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs. MOVE members lived together in a collection of West Philadelphia row houses and took the surname Africa out of admiration for the group's founder.
But in MOVE's lifestyle, city officials saw threats to their status quo. Their bombing of MOVE homes shocked the nation and made international news. Eleven people were killed, including five children. And the City of Brotherly Love became known as the City That Bombed Itself.
Among the children most affected by the bombing was Mike Africa Jr. Born in jail following a police attack on MOVE that led to his parents’ decades-long incarcerations, Mike was six years old and living with his grandmother when MOVE was bombed. In the ensuing years, Mike sought purpose in the ashes left behind. He began learning about the law as a teenager and became adept at speaking and inspiring public support with the help of other MOVE members. In 2018, at age 40, he finally succeeded in getting his parents released from prison.
On a Move is one of the most unimaginable stories of injustice and resilience in recent American history. But it is not only one of tragedy. It is about coming-of-age for a young activist, the strong ties of family, and, against all odds, learning how to take indignities on the chin and to work within the very system that created them. At once a harrowing personal account and an impassioned examination of racism and police violence, On a Move testifies to the power of love and hope, in the face of astonishing wrongdoing.

lgrsnf/On a Move - Philadelphia's Notorious Bombing and a Native Son's Lifelong Battle for Justice - Mike Africa (2024) - Copy - Copy.epub

zlib/no-category/Mike Africa Jr./On a Move_29377400.epub

Longman Publishing

Mariner Books

United States, United States of America

PT, 2024

PS, 2024

The incredible story of MOVE, the revolutionary Black civil liberties group that Philadelphia police bombed in 1985, killing 11 civiliansby one of the few people born into the organization, raised during the bombing's tumultuous aftermath, and in the face of unthinkable systemic abuses, entrusted with repairing what was left of his family and building life anew. Before police dropped a bomb on a residential neighborhood on May 13, 1985, few outside Philadelphia knew a Black-led peace organization had taken root there. Founded in 1972 by a charismatic ideologue called John Africa, MOVEs mission was to protect all forms of life from systemic oppression, drawing ideology from the Black Panther Party, PETA, and Earth First. The organization emerged in an era when Black Philadelphians suffered under devastating policies brought by President Ronald Reagans War on Drugs and Mayor Frank Rizzos overtly racist police surveillance. Living together in a commune of West Philly row houses, MOVE members took the surname Africa out of admiration for the founder. But in MOVEs lifestyle, city officials saw threats to their status quo. The citys bombing of their commune shocked the nation and made international news. Eleven people were killed, including five children. And the City of Brotherly Love became known as the City That Bombed Itself. Among the surviving children most affected by the bombing was Mike Africa, Jr. Born in jail following a police attack on MOVE that led to his parents incarcerations, Mike was placed in an abusive orphanage at age three. He was six and living with his grandmother when the commune was bombed. In the ensuing years, Mike sought purpose in the ashes left behind. He studied the law as a teenager and learned how to speak and inspire public support with the help of other MOVE members. In 2018, at age 40, he finally succeeded in vindicating his parents and securing their release from prison. On a Move is one of the most unimaginable stories of injustice and resilience in recent American history. But Mike Africa, Jr.s experience is not only one of tragedy. It is about coming-of-age as an activist, the strong ties of family, and, against all odds, learning how to take indignities on the chin and to work within the very system that created them. At once a harrowing memoir and an impassioned examination of racism and police violence, On a Move testifies to the power of love and hope, in the face of astonishing wrongdoing.

The incredible story of MOVE, the revolutionary Black civil liberties group that Philadelphia police bombed in 1985, killing 11 civiliansby one of the few people born into the organization, raised during the bombing's tumultuous aftermath, and entrusted with repairing what was left of his family.
Before police dropped a bomb on a residential neighborhood on May 13, 1985, few people outside Philadelphia were aware that a Black-led civil liberties organization had taken root there. Founded in 1972 by a charismatic ideologue called John Africa, MOVEs mission was to protect all forms of life from systemic oppression, drawing ideology from the Black Panther Party, PETA, and Earth First. The organization emerged in an era when Black Philadelphians suffered under devastating policies brought by President Ronald Reagans War on Drugs and Mayor Frank Rizzos overtly racist police surveillance. MOVE members lived together in a commune of West Philadelphia row houses and took the surname Africa out of admiration for the group's founder.
But in MOVE's lifestyle, city officials saw threats to their status quo. Their bombing of the MOVE commune shocked the nation and made international news. Eleven people were killed, including five children. And the City of Brotherly Love became known as the City That Bombed Itself.
Among the children most affected by the bombing was Mike Africa Jr. Born in jail following a police attack on MOVE that led to his parents decades-long incarcerations, Mike was six years old and living with his grandmother when the commune was bombed. In the ensuing years, Mike sought purpose in the ashes left behind. He began learning about the law as a teenager and became adept at speaking and inspiring public support with the help of other MOVE members. In 2018, at age 40, he finally succeeded in getting his parents released from prison.
On a Move is one of the most unimaginable stories of injustice and resilience in recent American history. But it is not only one of tragedy. It is about coming-of-age for a young activist, the strong ties of family, and, against all odds, learning how to take indignities on the chin and to work within the very system that created them. At once a harrowing personal account and an impassioned examination of racism and police violence, On a Move testifies to the power of love and hope, in the face of astonishing wrongdoing.

The incredible story of MOVE, the revolutionary Black civil liberties group that Philadelphia police bombed in 1985, killing 11 civilians—by one of the few people born into the organization, raised during the bombing's tumultuous aftermath, and entrusted with repairing what was left of his family."As necessary and powerful as it is captivating." – Michael Harriot, New York Times bestselling author of Black AF History"Searing and urgent." – Bakari Sellers, New York Times bestselling author of My Vanishing Country and The MomentBefore police dropped a bomb on a residential neighborhood on May 13, 1985, few people outside Philadelphia were aware that a Black-led civil liberties organization had taken root there. Founded in 1972 by a charismatic ideologue called John Africa, MOVE's mission was to protect all forms of life from systemic oppression. They drew their ideology from...

2024-08-06