Black Heritage Stamps Tell Many Stories

Harriet Tubman, an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War, was honored on the first stamp in the Black Heritage Stamp series which began in 1978. Tubman was born into slavery and after escaping, made thirteen missions to rescue over 70 slaves using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.

Booker T. Washington was the first African American commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp in 1940. Since that time, the Postal Service has issued more than 100 stamps featuring African Americans and historical milestones in African-American culture. To learn more about African-American leaders, inventors, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and athletes on stamps, visit http://search.usps.com/ and type "Black Heritage" in the search box. There's also Publication 354, "African Americans on Stamps: A Celebration of African-American Heritage."