Civil rights stamps make sneak preview

WELDON — For the past three years, Halifax Community College President Ervin V. Griffin Sr. has hosted special stamp releases during Black History Month. This year, he out did himself.

Several weeks before its Feb. 21 official national release, Grffin and his HCC staff managed a sneak preview, dedication and unveiling of the new Civil Rights Pioneers Stamp Collection.

Working with Griffin was Carl A. Walton, communications coordinator for the Greensboro District of the U.S. Postal Service, who brought the 6-stamp set that features two civil rights pioneers on each stamp. The elaborate stamp dedication ceremony was held yesterday morning at The Centre at HCC and featured the Praise Dancers from the First Baptist Church of Weldon and KIPP Pride High School students enacting the 12 civil rights pioneers as if they were speaking to the audience.

Griffin opened the ceremony, “We should emphasize not negro history, but negroes in history. What we need is not the history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate or religious credence,” he said quoting Dr. Carter G. Woodson, on founding Negro History Week in 1926.

“He has been called the father of modern Black History Month. He is the son of former slaves. Woodson spent his childhood working in the coalmines and quarries and if you know about coalmines and quarries, that means Carter G. Woodson came from West Virginia. That’s where I’m from,” Griffin said proudly.

Griffin said Woodson chose the second week of February for the celebration because it marks the birthday of two men who greatly influenced the black American population. Frederick Douglas on Feb. 14, an escaped slave who became one of the foremost abolitionists and civil rights leaders in the nation, and Abraham Lincoln, on Feb. 12, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery.

After the Weldon High School JROTC posted the colors, many in the audience sang along with Tina Davis, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Griffin introduced Buffi Flagg, postmaster of the Dock Brown U.S. Post Office in Weldon.

Flagg pointed out that many Americans think of the civil rights struggle as having begun in the 1960s, with leaders like Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Angela Davis, when actually it started long before their time.

“It only seems fitting that we pay homage to 12 truly legendary Americans who fought valiantly most of their lives for the rights and freedoms of others,” Flagg said. “The Civil Rights Pioneers Stamps pay tribute to the 12 men and women who through their intellect, talents and commitment, energized a movement that spanned generations.”

Flagg went on to say that most of the 12 pioneers worked behind the scenes to help bring about change, but all of them were involved with the oldest civil rights organization in the country, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP.

“It’s no coincidence that this month we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the NAACP and these stamps are being issued nationally at its headquarters in New York City on Feb. 21,” Flagg said.

After just a few words from Walton, he and Flagg unveiled a large poster showing all six of the new stamps as Griffin looked on proudly. A huge round of applause and cheers went up from the crowd who had waited patiently to finally see the new stamps.

A reception was held in the atrium of The Centre and attendees were given the first opportunity to purchase sets of the unreleased stamps.

Candis Simmons, one of the members of the Weldon High School JROTC Color Guard said, “I adored it ...its my first time attending one of these stamp ceremonies and it was great being a part of something this big here in Weldon. This will last a lifetime.”

Dr. Erica Holmes of HCC agreed saying, “I think it is great. It’s an honor to host this here at The Centre.”

Walton also thought Griffin and The Centre at HCC played an important role in Black History Month. “This is the third time a stamp has been introduced here, but the first two were part of a series. This set of stamps is a stand alone, special event, so it is really special and this is the first ceremony in the state. It really means a lot to unveil it here.”