The USPS Honored Representative John Lewis With The Forever Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service recently celebrated the life and legacy of Rep. John Lewis (1940-2020), an American hero and key figure in some of the most pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement, by issuing a Forever stamp with his portrait. A dedication ceremony for the stamp was held today at Morehouse College.

“Look carefully at how the shadow falls on the right side of his face, illuminating the left side in a way that seems to take the viewer from darkness into the light. A fitting tribute to a man who sought to awaken the conscience of a country,” said Ronald A. Stroman, a member of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors and dedicated official for the stamp. “The Postal Service is proud to celebrate Lewis — a national treasure — and to honor his legacy with the tribute of this Forever stamp that is as beautiful visually as was the spirit of the man whose image it bears.”

Joining Stroman for the ceremony was mistress of ceremonies Alfre Woodard, activist; Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., professor and founding dean, Martin Luther King, Jr., International Chapel at Morehouse College; John-Miles Lewis, son of John Lewis; Henry M. Goodgame Jr., vice president of external relations and alumni engagement, Morehouse College; Linda Earley Chastang, president and chief executive officer of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation; Michael Collins, chair of the board for the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation; U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock; Peggy Wallace Kennedy, civil rights activist, and author; and Bill Campbell, and Shirley Franklin, former mayors of Atlanta. Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir; dancer Logan Byrd; and vocalists Dottie Peoples, Bettie Mae Fikes, and Victory Brinker.

The stamp features a photograph of Lewis taken by Marco Grob for the Aug. 26, 2013, issue of Time Magazine. Lewis’s name is at the bottom of the stamp. The words “USA” and “Forever” appear in the stamp’s top left corner. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

The John Lewis Forever stamp is available in panes of 15. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail

1-ounce price. Followers of the Postal Service’s YouTube page can view the previously recorded ceremony at John Lewis Commemorative Forever® Stamp Dedication Ceremony – www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJC3fdmJ3oM

Background On John Lewis

A key figure in some of the most pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement, John Lewis was the face of the Nashville Student Movement, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an original Freedom Rider, and one of the keynote speakers at the historic 1963 March on Washington. Even in the face of hatred and violence, Lewis remained resolute in his commitment to what he liked to call “good trouble.”

Devoted to equality and justice for all Americans, Lewis spent more than 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives steadfastly defending and building on key civil rights gains he helped achieve in the 1960s. He was a staunch and unwavering believer in and advocate for nonviolent protests. The recipient of more than 50 honorary degrees, Time magazine called him a “saint” and “the conscience of the Congress” by his colleagues.

Elected to represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986, Lewis garnered the support needed to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1991, sponsored the legislation that created the 54-mile Selma-to-Montgomery National Historic Trail and worked for more than a decade to establish the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, DC. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama.

Customers may purchase the stamp at usps.com/shopstamps or by calling 844-737-7826. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon.

Cannes Lions Honors Academy Award® Winning Filmmaker

Spike Lee with the Festival’s first Creative Maker of the Year Award

Cannes Lions bestowed the first honorary Creative Maker of the Year award as part of the 70th edition of the International Festival of Creativity. The inaugural award was presented to legendary filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, and producer Spike Lee at the Festival.

Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, said: “We know that world-class creative work takes so much to deliver. Since its inception, Cannes Lions has always been about the makers and the creatives who walk through walls to realize their vision. Going forward, this award will honor creative makers from any discipline who are inspirational beacons for our whole community. In our 70th year, it seems appropriate that the inaugural Creative Maker award should go to a director. It’s a huge honor to present Spike Lee, one of the most influential figures in contemporary cinema and culture, with this accolade live at the Festival. Spike embodies the spirit of this award as a maker that strives to make creative stories and show the world what they can only see in their imaginations.”

The award, supported by Black At Cannes, honored multi-Lion award winner Spike Lee, whose unparalleled body of work has made an indelible mark on filmmaking, television, and the creative industry.

And as the founder of his own creative agency, Spike DDB, his mission has been to help brands change the world by keeping pace with culture.

Commenting on receiving the award, Spike Lee, filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, and producer, said:

“I’m honored to accept the inaugural Cannes Lions Creative Maker of the Year award for my contributions to the advertising industry, but a reminder: “We keep having these obstacles, these hurdles, we have to face, and we have to keep knocking them down.” I said this in 1997 and still say it today.”

Lee’s career spans over 30 years, receiving fivetime Oscar® nominations for Do The Right Thing, 4 Little Girls, and the critically acclaimed hit feature

BlacKkKlansman that he co-wrote and directed, going on to win the Oscar® for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2018. He was also awarded an Honorary Oscar® in 2015 for his lifetime achievement and contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences.

Lee is also known for his legendary Jordan Brand TV commercials and marketing campaigns with Michael Jordan. Commenting on the award and Spike’s legacy as a world-renowned creative maker, Shannon Watkins, Chief Marketing Officer at Jordan Brand, said: “Spike’s focus on telling stories, combined with his ability to capture the pulse of Black Culture, sets him apart from others in the industry. Spike created iconic memories and helped to build the soul of what Jordan Brand represents. Maybe the shoes on our feet wouldn’t make us jump as high as MJ, but just for a moment, we might feel the confidence and self-belief of the greatest to ever do it.”

Peter O Ukhurebor, Founder of Black At Cannes, commented: “Spike Lee is a creative role model who has paved the way for so many black creatives. The Creative Maker of the Year award inspires us to continue spearheading the creation of pathways for diverse voices and promoting inclusion and equity across the global creative industry. We applaud the partnership.”

Further information on the Awards and Festival, including how to attend next year, June 21-24, 2024, can be found at www.canneslions.com.

During our interview, Rodney Bullard openly discussed changing careers, The Same House, and the Beloved Benefit.

Q. What inspired you to leave Chickfil-A after working there for 12 years to become The Same House’s CEO?

A. I was inspired not to leave corporate America but to take corporate America and galvanize not just Chick-fil-A but to galvanize other corporate relationships that we have accrued into focusing on our community’s toughest issues. We started The Same House as a public benefit corporation, which is really an effort to do good.

We have put on the Beloved Benefit since 2019. We had Bruno Mars, Steve Harvey, TI, and Congressman John Lewis at one of his last public events. We did not know he was ill at the time. He said very profoundly, “We’re one people, one family. We all belong to the same house, the house of Atlanta, Georgia”.

That stuck with me in the sense that if we all belong to the same house, then it is our responsibility, individually and collectively, to build this house. When I decided to leave Chick-fil-A to do something different, it was to bring together not just corporate Atlanta but the community, politicians, and others so we could build this house together. I thought that it would be easier to do that from another platform. So it was clear that this was not a brand effort. This was not us trying to aggrandize Chick-fil-A or Coca-Cola.