This stamp recognizes Alain Locke's pivotal role as the philosophical architect of the Harlem Renaissance. A Harvard graduate and the first African American Rhodes Scholar, Locke championed the idea of the "New Negro," an assertive and self-aware individual who actively defined their own cultural identity. His work provided a critical framework for understanding and appreciating the artistic outpouring of the period. The stamp's design reflects his intellectualism and his efforts to connect African American art with its African roots.