Recognizing the History of the Black Heritage Stamp Series and Honoring Clarence Irving

RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY OF THE BLACK HERITAGE STAMP SERIES AND HONORING CLARENCE IRVING

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, during the week of the World Philatelic Exhibition being held at the Washington Convention Center, to recognize the history of the Black Heritage Stamp Series and to honor my former constituent, Chairman and Founder of the Black American Heritage Foundation, Mr. Clarence Irving.

In 1976, Mr. Irving conceived the idea of commemorating Black American Women on U.S. Postage Stamps. His proposal was that either of two women, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune or Mary Church Terrell be so commemorated. This proposal was presented to the Honorable Joseph P. Addabbo who represented my district at the time and the initiative became part of the activities surrounding the bicentennial celebration of the United States.

Two years later, the U.S. Postal Service created a completely new series commemorating Black Americans, with Harriet Tubman chosen as the first historical figure to start the ``Black Heritage USA Series''. Each year another stamp appears in this commemorative series honoring a prominent African American figure.

Today, at 82, Clarence Irving still heads the Black American Heritage Foundation, organizing or supporting African American art initiatives throughout the country. I am grateful for his determination in realizing his vision and acknowledge him as the ``Father of the Black Heritage Stamp Series''.

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