STOCKTON — The public has an opportunity to witness a historic event on Saturday, April 11th when Stockton Postmaster Scott Renteria will be dedicating the Maya Angelou Forever stamp in Stockton, CA.
The 11 a.m. stamp dedication ceremony will take place at the Maya Angelou Library, 2324 Pock Ln, Stockton, CA 95205. The event is free and open to the public. Also participating in the ceremony will be The Rosa Parks Academy students.
Angelou fans are encouraged to share the news on social media using #MayaForever. The Maya Angelou Forever stamps may be pre-ordered now at this link for delivery shortly after April 7.
Maya Angelou was no stranger to Stockton, Ca. Her mother Vivian Baxter died in 1991 at the age of 79 after 23 years in Stockton. A community leader, she founded the Stockton Black Women for Political Action, and also was a founding member of the Women’s Center.
As an author, poet, actress, and champion of civil rights, Angelou (1928–2014) was one of the most dynamic voices in 20th-century American literature. The book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” an autobiographical account of her childhood, gained wide acclaim for its vivid depiction of African-American life in the South.
The stamp showcases Rossin’s 2013 4ft. by 4ft. oil-on-canvas portrait of Angelou. The large hyper-realistic painting is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's collection, where it will be on display through Nov. 1. The stamp features this quotation by the pioneering author: “A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” The stamp pane includes a short excerpt from Angelou’s book, “Letter to My Daughter.” It reads: “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, designed the stamp.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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