Black History Month: 23 Civil Rights Activists Honored On U.S. Stamps
Ever since e-mail and Instagram replaced handwritten letters and postcards, your visits to the post office have probably become even less frequent than your dentist appointments (reminder: get that check up!). Yet when it comes to commemorative postal stamps, snail mail is still a big deal. Civil rights icon Rosa Parks rang in her posthumous 100th birthday earlier this month with her own sticky forever stamp. But she's not the only leader who's earned one of America's greatest honors by fighting the good fight. As Black History Month winds down, take a look at these Civil Rights leaders who've been featured on U.S. stamps. --Terry Carter
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
One of the most recognizable figures associated with the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. is most notable for his 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his epic I Have A Dream speech.
One of the most recognizable figures associated with the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. is most notable for his 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his epic I Have A Dream speech.
Medgar Evers (1925-1963) & Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977)
Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist involved in ending segregation in his hometown of Mississippi up until his assassination in 1963.
Fannie Lou Hamer was a voting rights activists who fought for blacks to have the right to vote.
Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist involved in ending segregation in his hometown of Mississippi up until his assassination in 1963.
Fannie Lou Hamer was a voting rights activists who fought for blacks to have the right to vote.
Malcolm X (1925-1965)
Malcolm was a civil rights movement icon whose "by any means necessary" mantra was a rally call for discriminated Blacks ready to fight back against violence and racism, figuratively and literally. A masterful orator, Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 as he prepared to give a speech in Harlem's Audubon Ballroom.
Malcolm was a civil rights movement icon whose "by any means necessary" mantra was a rally call for discriminated Blacks ready to fight back against violence and racism, figuratively and literally. A masterful orator, Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 as he prepared to give a speech in Harlem's Audubon Ballroom.
Paul Robeson (1898-1976)
Paul Robeson used his platform as a singer and actor to bring awareness to racism and African history to the public. He was a key figure in the early stages of the Harlem Renaissance which used the arts as a way to end racial and social segregation in the 1920's.
Paul Robeson used his platform as a singer and actor to bring awareness to racism and African history to the public. He was a key figure in the early stages of the Harlem Renaissance which used the arts as a way to end racial and social segregation in the 1920's.
Ella Baker (1903-1986) & Ruby Hurley (1909-1980)
Ella Baker was an African-American civil rights activists beginning in the 1930's, working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall.
Ruby Hurley was a leader of civil rights movements in the South during the 1950's and 1960's.
Ella Baker was an African-American civil rights activists beginning in the 1930's, working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall.
Ruby Hurley was a leader of civil rights movements in the South during the 1950's and 1960's.
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955)
Mary McLeod Bethune was a true civil rights leader. She created the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls, today known as Bethune-Cookman College. She was also the President of Florida's National Association of Colored Women and Vice President of the NAACP.
Mary McLeod Bethune was a true civil rights leader. She created the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls, today known as Bethune-Cookman College. She was also the President of Florida's National Association of Colored Women and Vice President of the NAACP.
W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)
W.E.B. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a doctorate when he graduated from Harvard. His roles as a socialist, author and editor during the civil rights movements made him one of the well known social reformers of that time.
W.E.B. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a doctorate when he graduated from Harvard. His roles as a socialist, author and editor during the civil rights movements made him one of the well known social reformers of that time.
Charles Hamilton Houston (1895-1950) & Walter White (1893-1955)
Charles Hamilton aka The Man Who Killed Jim Crow was an African American lawyer involved in every civil rights case in the Supreme Court between 1930-1954.
Walter White was the leader of the NAACP for almost a quarter of a century.
Charles Hamilton aka The Man Who Killed Jim Crow was an African American lawyer involved in every civil rights case in the Supreme Court between 1930-1954.
Walter White was the leader of the NAACP for almost a quarter of a century.
Roy Wilkins (1901-1981)
Roy Wilkins was the editor of The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP. He went on to become the executive editor of the organization. This work as an activist earned him the nick name 'Senior Statesman' of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
Roy Wilkins was the editor of The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP. He went on to become the executive editor of the organization. This work as an activist earned him the nick name 'Senior Statesman' of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
J. R. Clifford (1848-1933) & Joel Elias Spingarn (1875-1939)
J.R. Clifford was the first African-American attorney in West Virginia, working to end racial discrimination in the school systems.
Joel Elias Spingarn was an educator and civil rights activist who created the Spingarn Medal, annually awarded to African-Americans for their achievements.
J.R. Clifford was the first African-American attorney in West Virginia, working to end racial discrimination in the school systems.
Joel Elias Spingarn was an educator and civil rights activist who created the Spingarn Medal, annually awarded to African-Americans for their achievements.
Ida B. Wells (1862–1931)
Wells was a journalist who documented lynchings and fought for women's rights. Frederick Douglass championed her writings.
Wells was a journalist who documented lynchings and fought for women's rights. Frederick Douglass championed her writings.
Oswald Garrison Villard (1872-1949) & Daisy Gatson Bates (1914-1999)
Oswald Garrison Villard was journalist and one of the original founders of the NAACP.
Daisy Gatson Bates was an American civil rights activist and mentor of the "Little Rock Nine" students who were a group of African-Americans who faced discrimination while attending an all white school in 1957.
Oswald Garrison Villard was journalist and one of the original founders of the NAACP.
Daisy Gatson Bates was an American civil rights activist and mentor of the "Little Rock Nine" students who were a group of African-Americans who faced discrimination while attending an all white school in 1957.
Whitney Moore Young (1921–1971)
A determined fighter of employment discrimination, Whitney Young led the National Urban League from '61 until his death 10 years later, helping the organization's membership and presence grow exponentially during his tenure.
A determined fighter of employment discrimination, Whitney Young led the National Urban League from '61 until his death 10 years later, helping the organization's membership and presence grow exponentially during his tenure.
Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954) & Mary White Ovington (1865-1951)
Mary Church Terrell was the first African American woman to earn a college degree. She was a woman's rights and race activist.
Mary White Ovingtonn was a suffragist leader who helped co-found the NAACP.
Mary Church Terrell was the first African American woman to earn a college degree. She was a woman's rights and race activist.
Mary White Ovingtonn was a suffragist leader who helped co-found the NAACP.
Asa Philip Randolph (1889-1979)
A. Philip Randolph was a leader in the African American Civil Rights movement. He created the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, which was the first black labor union. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his historic I Have A Dream speech in Washington D.C.
A. Philip Randolph was a leader in the African American Civil Rights movement. He created the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, which was the first black labor union. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his historic I Have A Dream speech in Washington D.C.
Anna Julia Cooper (1858-1964)
Anna Julia Cooper was the fourth African American woman to earn a doctoral degree. She went on to become a educator and activist for civil rights and African American women's rights in her hometown of Washington D.C.
Anna Julia Cooper was the fourth African American woman to earn a doctoral degree. She went on to become a educator and activist for civil rights and African American women's rights in her hometown of Washington D.C.
