Contemporaries remember Whitney Moore Young (1921-1971) for his legendary skill as a power broker between whites and blacks. As a leader and executive director of the National Urban League, he worked to find common ground between blacks and whites during the Civil Rights battles of the 1950s and 60s. His background in social work helped him contribute to federal plans to improve housing, employment and education opportunities for the poor. Many of these ideas were adopted into President Johnson's Anti-Poverty Program in the 1960s.
This stamp is part of the Black Heritage Stamp Series. Initiated in 1978, the USPS continues to issue a stamp featuring a notable Black American every February in conjunction with Black History Month and at other times during the year.
