Monday, April 21, 2025
Hempstead students, teachers, local dignitaries, and officials of the U.S. Postal Service celebrated the yearly Black Heritage Stamp at the Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County on Feb. 25.
Barbara Powell, director of the Hempstead Empire State After-School Program, hosted the event with assistant director Arit Ekong.
This year’s stamp features Allen Toussaint, who lived Jan. 14, 1938 to Nov. 10, 2015. A New Orleans native, Toussaint became internationally recognized as a rhythm-and-blues composer, musician, songwriter and pianist.
Nigel Gretton, an organist, choir director and conductor at St. John’s University and at area churches and founder of the internationally known Voices of Victory Gospel Choir, delivered a tribute to Toussaint.
“Allen Toussaint was an architect of sound,” Gretton said. “His compositions, arrangements, and productions defined the essence of New Orleans rhythm and blues, bringing us classics like ‘Southern Nights,’ ‘Working in the Coal Mine,’ and ‘Yes We Can-Can,’ a song that became an anthem for social change. He founded the New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness, which continues to aid those in need.”
A U.S. Postal official spoke about the Black Heritage Stamp program and four students unveiled the poster bearing the image of Allen Toussaint. The students were accompanied by Gretton, Powell, Hempstead School Board Trustees Lamont Johnson, Elise Nicholson, Joysetta Williams and Jeffrey Spencer, Hempstead Village Trustee Kevin Boone, Museum Director Monet Green and several teachers.
“The New York State Empire State Program has been in our district now for seven years,” said Assistant Superintendent James Clark. “That’s seven years times over a thousand each year. It has touched from pre-kindergarten all the way through 12th. This is what public education is all about.”
In addition to Allen Toussaint, the students pieces also honored famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, as well as the first African American woman to become an officer in the Women’s Army Auxiliary, Major Charity Adams, who commanded the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in World War II.
“I’m so happy with the teachers who worked so hard with this program,” said Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby. “Because (they) came up with things that the kids can truly learn from.”
