Latest USPS Forever stamp showcases vibrant Kwanzaa celebration

The United States Postal Service unveiled a new stamp design honoring Kwanzaa on September 25, 2024, at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. This marks the Postal Service’s tenth Kwanzaa stamp since 1997, highlighting the holiday’s ongoing significance. USPS director Roderick Sallay emphasized the stamp’s role in recognizing Kwanzaa’s unifying principles, while the Association for the Study of African American Life and History praised its cultural importance.

The stamp’s design, created by artist Ekua Holmes, draws inspiration from a live performance she witnessed at a Kwanzaa event in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The vibrant image depicts three young performers: a male drummer and two female dancers. The drummer wears a dark blue, green, and orange kufi, a white shirt, and pants with a geometric black and white pattern reminiscent of mud cloth. He plays a blue djembe with a white drumhead suspended from a red strap. The female dancers are dressed in orange with gold jewelry, one wearing a red hair band. All three figures feature silhouetted black skin and hair.

Holmes’ artwork incorporates the colors of the Pan-African flag – black, red, and green – and integrates West African designs. The floor beneath the performers displays a diamond pattern in shades of green, while the background features red triangles. Adding a dynamic element, each dancer’s knee and a portion of the orange skirt extend beyond the image frame into the stamp’s white margin.

Kwanzaa, a Pan-African American holiday observed annually from December 26 to January 1, was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. The week-long celebration honors seven principles: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani). Millions of African Americans gather during this time to celebrate their heritage and reflect on these guiding values.

The new Forever stamp will be issued in panes of 20, maintaining a value equal to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. This latest addition to the USPS stamp collection commemorates Kwanzaa and serves as a visual representation of African American culture and traditions, inviting all Americans to join in the celebration.