Trendsetting filmmaker and entrepreneur Oscar Micheaux is the latest person to be honored in the Black Heritage series of stamps from the Post Office. The United States Postal Service announced that a set of 20 self-adhesive commemorative stamps bearing a stylized portrait of Oscar Micheaux will be issued on June 22.
Micheaux was truly a pioneer in the early years of the Hollywood film industry. Extremely versatile and prolific, Oscar Micheaux wrote, directed, produced, and distributed over 40 movies during the first half of the 20th century. He continually broke new ground, as in 1919, when he became the first African-American to produce a full-length feature film, "The Homesteader". In 1931, Micheaux became the first African-American to produce a sound feature film, "The Exile".
He persevered and succeeded in film at a time when African-American filmmakers were not only almost unheard of, but were also not accepted or supported by the industry as a whole. This makes Micheaux's accomplishments during his career all the more remarkable.
The stamp will be available nationwide on June 22 for $8.80 for a sheet of 20 stamps or individually for .44 each. The stamps will also be available for purchase at the Postal Store website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24.
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