Honors for a Native Son
I never intended this space to become the Philatelic Society News. It just happens to be working out that way because the United States Postal Service appears to be one of the only institutions regularly recognizing the achievements of Black Americans, some of whom are also Black and gay.
The latest figure to be honored with a commemorative postage stamp is the late author, poet and playwright James Baldwin, who will be officially honored on July 23 during a ceremony at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in his native Harlem, New York. The stamp is the 20th in the Postal Services' Literary Arts series. The event is free and open to the public.
During his adolescence, Baldwin (1924-1987) planned a career as a minister and was active for a time as a young preacher. However, by the time he graduated from high school, he had published articles, plays, fiction and poetry in his school literary magazine, and he knew he wanted to be a writer. He counted Dickens, Dostoevsky and Harriet Beecher Stowe among the authors who influenced his desire to write. Traces of the preacher remain in the biblical rhythms and allusions in Baldwin's prose.
Baldwin's first novel, "Go Tell It on the Mountain," published in 1953, was partly autobiographical. This account of a young boy's struggle with personal and spiritual issues elicited praise for Baldwin's exceptional talent. His first essay collection, "Notes of a Native Son," published in 1955, enhanced his reputation as a master of American prose.
Baldwin's work eloquently articulated the complexities of race relations during the years when the civil rights movement was at its height. "The Fire Next Time," published in 1963, solidified Baldwin's status; that same year, his success landed him on the cover of Time magazine.
Baldwin's novels include "Giovanni's Room" (1956); "Another Country" (1962); "Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone" (1968); "If Beale Street Could Talk" (1974); and "Just Above My Head" (1979). His plays are "Blues for Mister Charlie" (1964) and "The Amen Corner" (1968). A collection of short stories, "Going to Meet the Man," was published in 1965. Other works include "Jimmy's Blues," a poetry collection published in 1985, and essays and nonfiction including "Nobody Knows My Name" (1961); "No Name in the Street" (1972); "The Devil Finds Work" (1976); "Evidence of Things Not Seen" (1985); a screenplay, "One Day When I Was Lost" (1972); and "The Price of the Ticket," a collection of essays printed in 1985.
James Baldwin received many awards during his lifetime, including France's highest civilian award, commander of the Legion of Honor, presented by President François Mitterrand in 1986. He died at his home in France on November 30, 1987, at the age of 63.
Stamp artist Thomas Blackshear II based his portrait of Baldwin on a black-and-white photograph taken around 1960, probably in New York. The stamp background is evocative of Baldwin's novel "Go Tell It on the Mountain," set in Harlem, and is based on a photograph by Berenice Abbot taken in Harlem in 1938.
HOW TO ORDER THE FIRST-DAY-OF-ISSUE POSTMARK
Customers have 30 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
JAMES BALDWIN COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
POSTMASTER
821 8TH AVE RM 2029B
NEW YORK NY 10199-9998
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by
August 21, 2004.
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