Maya Angelou Single "Forever" Postage Stamp - MNH, OG - Sc# 4979

Author, poet, actress, and champion of civil rights Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was one of the most dynamic voices in all of 20th-century American literature. The book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiographical account of her childhood, gained wide acclaim for its vivid depiction of African-American life in the South. The stamp showcases artist Ross Rossin's 2013 portrait of Dr. Angelou. The oil-on-canvas painting is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's collection. In the bottom left corner is the following phrase quoted by Dr. Angelou: "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." Above the quotation is her name in black type. The words "Forever" and "USA" are along the right side. The bright red-colored sheet also includes a short excerpt from Dr. Angelou's book Letter to My Daughter. It reads: "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.