Celebrating African American History and Culture Forever Stamp 2017
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service has issued the Celebrating African American History and Culture commemorative Forever stamp, honoring the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture with a special first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony.
The stamp artwork is based on a photograph by Alan Karchmer, featuring the museum's distinctive architecture as its central image. The words National Museum of African American History and Culture appear in the upper-left corner of the stamp, and the design was created by USPS art director Antonio Alcal.
At the dedication ceremony, Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Government Relations Officer Ronald A. Stroman emphasized the significance of recognizing African American history as an essential part of the broader American story. He described the National Museum of African American History and Culture as a national treasure that preserves and shares the experiences of African Americans, including generations of hardship, perseverance, achievement, and cultural contribution.
Joining Stroman in celebrating the stamp's release were Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture; David M. Rubenstein, chair of the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents; and Gerald A. Roane, postmaster of Washington, DC.
Bunch expressed his appreciation for the Postal Service's tribute, noting that the choice of the museum building itself as the stamp's subject was especially meaningful. He explained that the structure's design serves as a powerful representation of African American history and identity, making it a fitting symbol for the commemorative issue.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in September 2016 and has since welcomed millions of visitors from around the world. Established through an act of Congress, it remains the only national museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to preserving, studying, and presenting African American life, art, history, and culture.
The museum serves both as a place of remembrance and a center for discovery. Its collections span communities across the United States while also exploring the connections between African American experiences and the broader global history of the African diaspora. Through exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and public initiatives, the museum encourages visitors to engage with African American history and recognize its lasting influence on the nation's past, present, and future.
Located on a five-acre site along the National Mall in Washington, DC, the museum's architectural design draws inspiration from the crown-like form found at the top of a Yoruban column. This symbolic element represents enduring themes of faith, resilience, and hope, reflecting the spirit of the history and culture the institution was created to preserve.
The Celebrating African American History and Culture stamp serves as a lasting tribute to the museum's mission and to the central role African American experiences have played in shaping the United States.
