Smithsonian African American History Museum Gets Own Stamp | The Afro

[dropcap]On[/dropcap] Oct. 13, the USPS will hold a dedication ceremony at the museum. The stamps will be available across the nation the same day.

“Black history is inseparable from American history, and the Black experience represents a profound and unique strand of the American story,” the U.S. Postal Service said in their announcement. “This stamp issuance recognizes the richness of that experience by celebrating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.” [mc4wp_form id=”6042″]

The stamp comes nearly a year after the institution, the 19th Smithsonian museum, opened on the National Mall – the museum celebrated its first anniversary on Sept. 24. In that year, nearly 3 million people visited the museum. “What’s really clear is that people need to find a place where they can understand history, that they can get the facts, places where they feel free to have the conversations,” National Museum of African American History and Culture Director Lonnie Bunch told NPR host Michele Martin, Sept. 23. “We’ve noticed a great movement towards the museum in a way that’s made the museum both a symbol and a metaphor.”

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The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. (Website).

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