Who:

Manager Post Office Operations Joe Zapata
OC Black Chamber of Commerce  Representative Bobby McDonald
Erica Ball, PhD, Associate Professor of American Studies & Chair of African American   Studies, Californian State University Fullerton

What:

The Dr. Maya Angelou Forever® stamp unveiled and dedicated on the day it goes on sale nationwide.

When:

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 – 4:00 p.m. PT

Where:

Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce – Downstairs Conference Room
2323 N. Broadway
Santa Ana CA 92706

Background:

As an author, poet, actress, and champion of civil rights, Maya 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 Dr. Maya Angelou Forever® stamp is officially being issued on April 7, at 11:00 a.m. ET, in Washington D.C., where Postmaster General Megan Brennan will be joined by Oprah Winfrey, Ambassador Andrew Young and Artist Ross Rossin, among other notable guests.
The stamp showcases Rossin’s 2013 oil-on-canvas portrait of Angelou. The large 4 ft. by 4 ft. hyper-realistic painting is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's collection, where it will be on display through Nov. 1. Featured on the stamp is 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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