Campaign for US Postage Stamp
Dr. John Henrik Clarke (1915-998) was the oldest son of an Alabama
sharecropper family and rose to prominence as an educator, scholar,
activist and historian who was admired worldwide. He has written or
authored more than thirty books and articles which have been translated
in more than a dozen languages. He was the first president of the
African Heritage Studies Association and was a founding member of the
Black Academy of Arts and Letters, the African Scholars’ Council and The
Association for the Study of Classical African Civilization. He has
received over a dozen citations for excellence in teaching and was
Professor Emeritus of African World History in the Department of
Africana and Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College.
Dr. Clarke
was an advisor and personal friend to both Kwame Nkrumah and Malcolm X
with whom he was instrumental in drafting the charter for the
Organization of Afro-American Unity. He was a consultant for the
Budweiser “Great Kings and Queens of Africa” series and was the subject
of a documentary, “John Henrik Clarke: A Great and Mighty Walk.
His
articles and conference papers on African and African American History,
politics and culture have appeared in leading journals throughout the
world. The John Henrik Clarke Collection at the Schomburg Center and
Atlanta University Center house the majority of his books and documents.
A
U.S. Postal Stamp to honor Dr. Clarke would be an inspiration to
students, educators and scholars throughout the nation. It would also be
a fitting tribute to an Army veteran and social activist who devoted
his life to protecting the personal and intellectual freedoms of all
Americans.
Getting a new postage stamp suggestion accepted is a
real challenge. Each year, the Postal Service receives over 50,000
proposals recommending subjects for stamps. The suggestions and
proposals are evaluated by the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee who
send their recommendations to the Postmaster General for the 25 to 30
new subjects for commemorative stamps issued each year.
You can
honor the legacy of Dr. John Henrik Clarke by writing letters or
postcards in support of a commemorative stamp in his likeness. They may
be sent to: Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, U.S. Postal Service,
1735 N. Lynn Street Room 5013, Arlington, VA 22209-6432.
The
Committee does not track how many individual people submit a stamp
design, only the number of postcards and letters they receive. Please
use our sample letter as a guide, or you can sign your name and address
and mail the letter to the Committee.
You can duplicate the letter and
distribute it to your friends, family and co-workers. We ask that you
make a commitment to send one letter a month for one year.
Thank you for your support,
Anthony T. Browder
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Download a
pdf version of a sample letter
Sample Letter
Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
United States Postal Service
1735 N. Lynn Street Room 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am
writing to express my enthusiastic support of a United States Postage
Stamp honoring Dr. John Henrik Clarke, educator and activist.
Dr.
Clarke was the oldest son of an Alabama sharecropper family and rose to
prominence as an educator, scholar, activist and historian who was
admired worldwide. He has written or authored more than thirty books and
articles which have been translated in more than a dozen languages. He
was the first president of the African Heritage Studies Association and
was a founding member of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, the
African Scholars’ Council and The Association for the Study of Classical
African Civilization. He has received over a dozen citations for
excellence in teaching and was Professor Emeritus of African World
History in the Department of Africana and Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter
College.
Dr. Clarke served his country as a Master Sergeant in
the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII, and was an advisor to both Kwame
Nkrumah and Malcolm X. He was a consultant for the Budweiser “Great
Kings and Queens of Africa” series and was the subject of a documentary,
“John Henrik Clarke: A Great and Mighty Walk.
A U.S. Postal
Stamp to honor Dr. Clarke would be an inspiration to students, educators
and scholars throughout the nation. It would also be a fitting tribute
to an Army veteran and social activist who devoted his life to
protecting the personal and intellectual freedoms of all Americans.
I urge the Committee to consider and approve a stamp to honor this great African American scholar.
Sincerely,
Name