MOVE: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy

In the 1970s, a man who called himself John Africa founded a controversial Black separatist group in Philadelphia called MOVE. The group lived communally and espoused a lifestyle set out by Africa that involved free thinking, a raw-food diet, and profound respect for animals, among other things. As MOVE gained momentum and attracted members, it became a source of contention in West Philly, rankling neighbors and drawing the ire of law enforcement. In 1978, a shootout between the Philadelphia police and MOVE members that resulted in the death of an officer led to nine MOVE members being sentenced to decades in prison. The conflict persisted, and on May 13, 1985, the city of Philadelphia bombed the house where MOVE members lived, killing six adults and five children–the first and only time the US government bombed its own citizens on American soil.

How did these events unfurl in a nondescript residential Philly neighborhood? Why were city officials determined to disband MOVE? What became of the MOVE members? How and why is this story largely buried in US history books?

This searing audio documentary brings listeners deep inside the unforgettable story of MOVE, gaining unprecedented access to surviving MOVE members, elected officials from the era, eyewitnesses, and historians to create an indelible portrait of an American tragedy. Narrated and executive produced by Tariq Trotter, cofounder of The Roots and Philly native, MOVE: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy urges us to think about race, liberty, and whether there can ever be justice for all.