WEEKS OF JULY 10 - 23
Literary legend Richard Wright gets stamp of approval
The power of a little postage stamp is evident in the popularity of a 61-cent, first-class commemorative stamp honoring Richard Wright, acclaimed author and former postal employee (a letter sorter from 1927 to 1930).
The 25th installment in the Literary Arts series of the Postal Service, this unique stamp was issued on April 9, 2009. Inspired by the popular novel “Native Son,” its beautiful artwork depicts Wright in front of snow-swept tenements on the South Side of Chicago and was created by Kadir Nelson of San Diego, California.
Wright, who died on November 28, 1960, penned 16 literary treasures that began with his first book, “Uncle Tom’s Children” (1969). But his 1940s novel, “Native Son” and his 1945 autobiography “Black Boy” are hailed as his most memorable works.
Wright’s literary fiction titles include “Uncle Tom’s Children” (1938), “Native Son” (1940), “The Outsider” (1953), “The Long Dream” (1958), “Eight Men” (1961), “Right of Passage” (1994), “A Father’s Law” (2008).
Nonfiction titles include “12 Million Black Voices: A Folk History of the Negro in the United States” (1941), “Black Boy” (1945), “Black Power” (1954), “American Hunger” (1975).
