Dr. Maya Angelou Limited Edition Forever Stamp Special Dedication Ceremony was held Thursday, Aug. 20, at the African Burial Ground National Monument, located at 290 Broadway, New York City.
Dr. Angelou’s fans filled the sacred space with a standing room only audience. Everyone present could feel the spirit of love, warmth and respect for the Great Maya Angelou.
Shirley McKinney, superintendent, Six NYC Historical Sites delivered the welcoming address; Jane Tillman Irving, WCBS-AM/News Radio 88 who served as mistress of ceremonies, shared many fond memories and her early interviews with Maya Angelou. The beautiful Susan Taylor, founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Essence Magazine, gave a heartfelt tribute and shared personal stories of love, respect and admiration for Dr. Angelou. Ms.Taylor’s delivery was given with such warm affection.
Lorrraine G. Castellano, district manager, U.S. Postal Service, New York District conducted the official stamp dedication the following guest were asked to help unveil the stamp: Don Neal, Mayor David Dinkins, Rachel Robinson, Denise Pease, Shirley McKinney, Marsha Thompson and Harriet Tubman’s great-grand-niece, Ms. Daniels.
Steven Fullwood, archivist, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture gave a wholehearted tribute and shared his personal experience of viewing Dr. Maya Angelou’s papers that focused on her literary career spanning some 40 years chronicling her compassionate voice of hope, love, inspiration and joy for humanity. This collection was acquired by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 2010. Fullwood shared what he felt when he saw the rare, personal and professional papers, from yellow notepads to original draft pages, the wealth of which span her writing career.
Maya Williams, personally inspired by Dr. Angelou, delivered the spoken word tribute – who wrote “Our Maya” especially for the occasion. Marsha Thompson, Soprano, who bought the house down with her beautiful soprano voice while Rev. C. Imani Parker, and Dr. Juanita Howard, actress, Singer, Educator both performed a dramatic interpretation of Dr. Angelou’s “Still I Rise.”
This momentous event was hosted by The Ebony Society of Philatelic Events & Reflections (“ESPER”) and Don Neal, editor, ESPERS’ who delivered the greeting and closing remarks. Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, executive pastor, spiritual engineer, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY offered the moving benediction.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Dr. Maya Angelou
We will never forget how The Dr. Maya Angelou Forever Stamp Special Dedication Ceremony made us feel … “Full of Pride.”
