USPS "Black Heritage" - Malcolm X

 

USPS on 20 January 1999 issued a series of "Black Heritage" stamps, including one that honoured Malcolm X. First Day Cover stamps were pos, using the  lithograph printing method. This multicoloured 33 cent featured a serpentine die cut with 11.4 perforations and postmarked New York, NY. Banknote Corp. of America printed 100,000,000 copies.

In 1952, Malcolm X became a leading spokesman for the Nation of Islam. He  delivered stirring speeches and encouraged followers to demand peace by any means necessary, including violence and militant protests.In 1963, Malcolm and Elijah Muhammad began disagreeing, and Malcolm X was suspended from the movement. He traveled to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Islam’s holy city. There he learned that orthodox Muslims preach equality. After the pilgrimage, he adopted the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and embraced the idea that equal rights could be attained peacefully.

To this end, Malcolm started the Organization of Afro-American Unity in 1964. However, tragedy struck before he could firmly establish the group. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm was slated to speak at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. As he was speaking, three men rushed the stage and shot him multiple times at close range. He died before reaching the hospital at age 39.

The three men (two radicals in the Nation of Islam), were given life in prison for the murder. Although Malcolm X is often remembered for his pro-violence stance, his highly acclaimed posthumous autobiography (The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley) shed new light on his spiritual journey.

Source: Mystic Stamps