Black Heritage Series

Beginning in 1974 the U.S. Postal Service initiated what is now its longest running series; United States Black Heritage Commemorative Stamp Series. The series had its roots in a 1975 planning meeting of the Queens County, New York, Bicentennial Committee Present at the meeting was the founder of the Black American Heritage Foundation (BAHF), Clarence L. Irving. Mr. Irving proposed asking the U.S. Postal Service to include black Americans in the stamp program associated with the upcoming Bicentennial of the United States. The proposal received very favorable response from the USPS and quickly outgrew its original scope. The U.S. Postal Service, as part of its mission statement, endeavoring "to celebrate the people, events, and cultural milestones that are unique to our great nation," created a totally new stamp series to honor black Americans and the vital role they have played in U.S. history. Why has the series lasted so long? Simply, it continues to be popular and sell stamps for the Post Office and meet the USPS mission statement