02/15/08
Postal Service unveils Black Heritage Stamp
in honor of
Charles W. Chesnutt in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
officials, along with the U.S. Postal Service, dedicated
a 41-cent commemorative stamp honoring
Charles W. Chesnutt, a renowned educator,
lawyer, columnist, lecturer, entrepreneur and author at
Mount Vernon City Hall, City Council Chambers on
February 21. Chesnutt is the 31st person honored in the
popular Black Heritage stamp series.
Chesnutt was a distinguished writer recognized as a
major innovator and singular voice among
turn-of-the-century literary realists who probed
the color line in American life. Known as a man
who “chose” to be black, Chesnutt in his
writings explored the challenges faced by people
of mixed race.
Chesnutt was born in Cleveland, June 20, 1858, and grew
up in Fayetteville, NC. He died in his hometown
in 1932. Scholars describe Chesnutt not as a
household name but note that, in recent years,
his work has attracted growing interest.
Special guest speakers included Mount Vernon Mayor
Clinton I. Young and Terrie Williams. Acting
as MC was Anthony Musso, U.S. Postal Service Retail
Manager, Westchester District.
The well attended ceremony commenced with the singing
of the National Anthem by Jamaar Crump, a Mount Vernon
High School student.
The invocation was provided by Rev. Carlton C. Spruill,
from Allen Memorial Church in Mount Vernon.
The Black National Anthem was song by Susan Ferrell,
just before the introduction of Mount Vernon's new
mayor, Clinton I. Young, Jr.
As in many of his other appearances as the new mayor of
Mount Vernon, Young received a rousing hand of applause.
He opened by stating: "I am very pleased that Mount
Vernon was chosen for this great celebration. He also
reminded those in in attendance to learn more about
African-American history all the time, not just during
Black History Month.
Another Mount Vernon student, Trey Watkins, spoke about
Chesnutt's many accomplishments and
contributions during the reading of his biography.
Guest speaker,
Terrie Williams, author and mental
health advocate, whose mother and aunt were in
attendance, said: "Life is very challenging, and
sometimes you have to rely on the strength and spirit of
the people who came before us. We need to celebrate the
fact that we are still standing and on the shoulders of
those who came before us."
Williams is founder and president of the Stay Strong
Foundation, and is an inspirational author and
mental health advocate.
She has written
three successful books: the business
bestseller
The Personal Touch: What You Really Need
to Succeed in Today’s Fast-Paced
Business World;
the inspirational
A Plentiful Harvest: Creating Balance
and Harmony through the Seven Living
Virtues;
and
Stay Strong: Simple Life Lessons for
Teens,
the basis for the 2001 launch of The
Stay Strong Foundation, a national
non-profit designed to educate and
encourage American youth.
Williams'
current work, a book entitled
Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re
Not Hurting,
was published by Scribner in January
2008 and tells the untold story of depression among
African-Americans as well as Williams' tale of her own chronic
and crippling depression—a revealing
narrative she shared in the June 2005
issue of
ESSENCE
magazine. She made herself available for
interviews after the ceremony.
Following Williams at the podium with closing remarks
was Pat Mozzone, Mount Vernon Postmaster.
The ceremony ended with the unveiling of the
Charles Waddell Chesnutt
stamp.
Terrie Williams holding a book signing session after the
ceremony
Pat Mozzone, Mount Vernon Postmaster
Jamaar
Crump singing the National Anthem
Susan Ferrell singing the Black National Anthem
Anthony Musso, U.S. Postal Service Retail
Manager, Westchester District
City Council President, Loretta Hottinger
Trey Watkins reading a
biography about
Charles W. Chesnutt
