Black History Month and features the contemplative visage of Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz). There are seven members of Alpha Phi Alpha who have had their faces placed on U.S. Postal stamps over the years. They include Brothers Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney Moore Young, Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Jesse Owens, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, Hubert H. Humphrey and Frederick Douglass. The first Alpha Brother to Stamp issue! 1986 be bestowed with this honor, which some equate to being featured on American currency, was Frederick Douglass. His 25-cent stamp was issued on February 14, 1967 as part of the U.S. Postal's "Prominent Americans Issue (1965-78)." Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was one of "America's dominate black abolitionists and agitators during the 19th century," states the Postal Service's "Celebrate African-American History With Stamps" brochure. And his posthumous 1921 induction into the Fraternity has for many years created controversy within the rank and file of the Brotherhood. During the Fraternity's 14th Annual Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, a historic pilgrimage was made to the home of the late "father of the civil rights movement" where he was inducted as an exalted honorary member into Omega Chapter, "the chapter for deceased Alpha Brothers." According to the Fraternity's history book, The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in College Life, by Charles H. Wesley (Foundation Publishers, Baltimore, Maryland 1996), "There has been some criticism of this action of 'robbing the grave for Fraternity membership'." A second full-color Frederick Douglass stamp was issued on June 29,1990 and was a part of the U.S. Postal Service's "Black Heritage Series." On January 13, 1979, the U.S. Postal Service paid tribute to Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "The most powerful and popular leader of the AfricanAmerican protest movement of the 1950s and 1960s," with a fullcolor rectangle 15-cent commemorative stamp that was the second issue in the "Black Heritage Series." Harriet Tubman Hubert H. Humphrey was the first. Brother Whitney M. Stamp Issued 1986 Young, Jr.'s distinguished "Black Heritage Series" portrait graced the front of a 15-cent U.S. Commemorative Postal Stamp, which was issued on January 30, 1981. According to the "Celebrate African American History with Stamps" booklet, Brother Young was memorialized because he,
"served as executive director of the National Urban League for 10 years," and he was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor in 1969This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary, big band leader and composer Brother Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. Numerous concerts, television specials and academic conferences have been held this year in tribute to Brother Duke Ellington, one of the most venerated entertainers in the world. One of the highest honors the band leader has received to date was a 22-cent "Black Heritage Series" stamp. This somber-colored issue captures the sophisticated essence of the jazz legend. The commemorative stamp was introduced on April 29,1986. In 1940, Alpha Phi Alpha removed the word "Negro" from its Constitution, which allowed the admission of worthy men of all races, a sentiment that was rarely emulated in America during this period. And one of Alpha Phi Alpha's most noted white members who has been lauded with a commemorative stamp is, the Honorable Hubert H. Humphrey, the 38th Vice President of the United States. He was honored with a "Great Americans (1986-93)" stamp, which was issued in 1986. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was made an Honorary Member Stamp Issued 1979 of Alpha on August 8,1965 during the Fraternity's 59th Anniversary Convention in Chicago, Illinois where he addressed the body and was awarded the President's Award. "General President (Lionel) Newsom awarded to Vice President Humphrey an Honorary Life Membership in the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity with a certificate, a medal passcard and a copy of the History of Alpha Phi Alpha. Brother L. Howard Bennett.. .pinned the Alpha pin on him," states Charles H. Wesley in the Fraternity's history book. Humphrey was a Minnesota Democrat who gained national attention as a staunch advocate for the passage of federal civil and human rights laws, and was a featured guest and speaker during various conventions in the past. Olympic track and field gold medallist, Brother James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was commemorated with a 25-cent U.S. Postal Service's "Olympians" stamp, which was released on July 16, 1990. This stamp captures the moment just before the start of one of his historic runs during the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. It should be noted that the task of getting commemorative U.S. Postal stamps issued in honor of African-American men and women has proven to be an arduous but important effort taken up by private citizens and various organizations. In 1997, the National Committee for the 100th Anniversary Birthday of Paul Robeson led a gallant but unsuccessful effort to THE SPHINX™ SUMMED 1999