Black Heritage Stamp unveiling is Feb. 27 at Marshall

Marshall University Multicultural Affairs and the United States Postal Service in Huntington are sponsoring a ceremony to unveil the 2006 edition of the postal service’s Black Heritage Series of Stamps.

The ceremony is part of the annual Black History Month celebration. This year’s Black History Month theme is “Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social and Civic Institutions.”

The stamp unveiling takes place at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in the Memorial Student Center’s Don Morris Room on Marshall’s Huntington campus.  The public is invited to attend.

Hattie McDaniel, who in 1940 became the first African American to win an Academy Award for her role as best supporting actress in the1939 film, “Gone with the Wind,” is featured on the stamp. The Hattie McDaniel 2006 Black Heritage Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp is the 29^th in the postal service’s series.

“The stamp unveiling at Marshall is always a thoughtful, enthusiastic and very well-attended event,” Dr. Betty Jane Cleckley, vice president for multicultural affairs at Marshall, said. “It is very important, not only because we honor an outstanding black American on the stamp, but because of the collaboration between Marshall University and the postal service. We encourage everyone to attend this event.”

McDaniel, who was born in Wichita, Kan., in 1895, and raised in Denver, Colo., was an actress, singer, and radio and television performer. As an actress, she often was criticized for playing maids and other stereotypical roles. She is remembered for saying, “I’d rather play a maid than be one,” and often is credited with subverting any idea of subservience through her interpretative performances.

Encountering racism in Hollywood, she and several other black actors worked to change the film industry from within during the 1940s.

McDaniel showed talent at an early age. She dropped out of school as a teenager to tour with vaudeville companies, traveling musical ensembles and minstrel shows, including one run by her father. She sang on Denver radio as early as 1925, and wrote and recorded several of her own songs.

McDaniel arrived in Hollywood in 1931 and soon began to appear in films. She is credited with appearing in more than 90 films, but by some estimates she is believed to have appeared in as many as 300, including uncredited roles and extras, maids and chorus singers.

Some of her notable films include “Judge Priest” in 1934, “Saratoga” in 1937, “Show Boat” in 1936, “This Our Life” in 1942 and “Since You Went Away” in 1944.

From 1947 until 1952, McDaniel played the title role in “The Beulah Show,” which was broadcast on national radio. As the first radio show to feature a black star, “The Beulah Show” was praised by the NAACP and the National Urban League. McDaniel died in 1952 at age 57 from breast cancer.

Featured speaker at the stamp unveiling will be Dr. Dolores Johnson, associate professor and director of writing in Marshall’s English department. Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp will offer greetings as will Tammy Autenrieth, Appalachian District Manager with the United States Postal Service in Charleston, and William Smith, superintendent of Cabell County Schools. Cleckley will give closing remarks.

Special music will be performed by the Kellogg Elementary School Choir, under the direction of Stacy Morrison, Maurice Cooley, director of the Center for African American Students’ Programs at Marshall, and William Smith.

Handouts and door prizes, including a football signed by Marshall football coach Mark Snyder, will be provided, and a reception will follow the program.