Postal Service Joins African-American Read-in to Highlight Accomplishments of 31st Black Heritage Stamp Series Honoree

EVENT:
The U.S. Postal Service teams up with the Dallas County Community College District African-American Read-In 2008 to host the unveiling of the 31st Black Heritage stamp series honoree Charles Chesnutt.

WHO:
Brenda Teele, WFAA-TV personality, mistress of ceremony
Skip Murphy, KRNB-radio personality, master of ceremony
Linda J. Welch, USPS Dallas District Manager
Pat Williams, USPS Dallas Postmaster
Manny Arguello, USPS Sr. Plant Manager

Special guest: Mr. Ashley Bryan, award-winning poet and illustrator; Dallas Black Dance Theater, T.G. Terry Elementary School Choir, Martin Weiss Elementary students, and more.

WHAT:
Please join the U.S. Postal Service, in partnership with the Dallas County Community College African-American Read-In event, as we pay tribute to honor Charles Waddell Chesnutt – the 2008 Black Heritage stamp honoree. Poetry, prose, and lyrics of African-American writers and more will help celebrate this event. Afterwards, there will be commemorative stamps, posters, stamp pins, and other philatelic items available for purchase.

WHEN:
Saturday, February 2, 2008, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Majestic Theater
1925 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75201

BACKGROUND:
This commemorative stamp highlights the achievements of this author and political activist who authored several novels and short stories exploring racism and other social themes. Chesnutt was of mixed race but could pass with relative ease for a white man, although he never chose to pass. Chesnutt began writing stories which appeared in various magazines including, The Atlantic Monthly, where he published his first short story, "The Goophered Grapevine" in August 1887. His first book, a collection of short stories entitled The Conjure Woman, was published in 1899. He continued writing short stories, and a biography of Frederick Douglass.