Caption
Author James Weldon Johnson, 1988.
Number
2371
Prompt
Johnson, the figure in the image, should look left and right as if scanning the audience for his mother. He should then smile softly but strongly. The musical score on the stamp could animate, with the notes lighting up in sequence as the melody of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" plays softly.
Body
This stamp from the Black Heritage series celebrates the multifaceted contributions of James Weldon Johnson. His work with the NAACP was instrumental in the fight against racial discrimination, and his literary output, including the novel "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man," was highly influential. "Lift Every Voice and Sing," written with his brother J. Rosamond Johnson, has become an enduring anthem of hope and perseverance for African Americans. The stamp's design, featuring a musical score, pays homage to this iconic composition.