By B. L. Eikner, Guest Contributor
The United States Postal Service (USPS) hosted the unveiling of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) Postage Stamp at the Greenwood Cultural Center in the historic Black Wall Street District in Tulsa on Friday, October 20,2017. The stamp entitled, Celebrating African American History and Culture, represents the museum which was dedicated on September 24, 2016 after over 100 years of effort and pressure from citizens and congressional membership. The NMAAHC continues to see overwhelming attendance from people from all over the world.
Jean Neal, Program Development & Events Manager of the John Hope Franklin Center, welcomed the audience and introduced internationally known songstress Ernestine Dillard, who gave a soul stirring rendition of Amazing Grace followed by an original poem by poet Phetote Mshairi.
Jonathan Townsend, Community Development & Policy Assistant to Mayor G.T. Bynum, brought greetings and proclamation declaring, Friday, October 20, 2017 as Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Day in the city of Tulsa.
The postage stamp unveiling was led by Tulsa Postmaster, Kathy Ervin-Johnson, Jonathan Townsend and program sponsors. Community Program Sponsors were Greenwood Cultural Center (Mechelle Brown), John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation (Jean Neal), and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (Mary P. Walker).
Other Program participants included Don Thompson (Don Thompson Images), J. Kavin Ross(Publisher), Charlotte J. Bates (North Tulsa Historical Society), Vanessa Adams-Harris(Artist), Shauna Nye (USPS) and Sonya Dulan (USPS).
Members of the USPS provided stamps, special postmark cancellation and other memorabilia for sale to the group. The stamp is available at all postal services locations in Oklahoma.
