Wakanda Forever Stamp Set
This set of ForeverUSA stamps portrays prominent Black figures as Wakandan leaders and warriors. Paying tribute to Black history and culture by regarding them as superheroes specifically in a way which is tied to their Blackness. Each figure has been assigned a Wakandan tribe based on their contributions to the culture.
ART DIRECTION - Monica Brodovsky
INSTITUTION - Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
ILLUSTRATION
Design
The clean vector illustration style ensures that the design still reads well at a small scale. Wakanda already has a relationship with color from the earth tones of the land to the electric blues and purples of vibranium. The color palette reflects these relationships and play a part in differentiating between tribes. Their costume designs are pared down versions of traditional Wakandan tribal wear.
MEDGAR EVERS | July 2, 1925 - June 12, 1963
Medgar Wiley Evers, a distinguished World War II veteran, and a pioneering civil rights leader, served as NAACP’s first field secretary in Mississippi - organizing protests and voter registration drives, recruiting new workers into the civil rights movement, and pushing for school integration. He fought against Jim Crow laws and launched an investigation into the Emmett Till lynching. Medgar Evers was assassinated by white supremacist, Byron De La Beckwith, at the young age of 38. Beckwith wasn’t convicted until 1994 and was sentenced to life in prison.
JABARI TRIBE
Medgar Evers was a leader who carved his own path, which is why I assigned him to the Jabari Tribe. The Jabari tribe is known for their woodworking and agriculture and, though formidable warriors, shunned the use of vibranium in warfare. The tribe left Wakanda in order to form their own path and challenge Wakandan leadership, much like Medgar.
MADAM CJ WALKER | December 23, 1867 - May 25, 1919
Madam C.J. Walker - born Sarah Breedlove - was born into slavery on a Delta, Louisiana plantation and had been enslaved until the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Walker was the first American self-made millionaire, and the first Black woman millionaire in America. Orphaned at 14 and widowed at 20 with a 2-year-old daughter, Walker made her fortune by selling her line of homemade hair products and cosmetics. Walker established clubs for her employees where she encouraged them to give back to their communities and gave bonuses when they did. She donated towards many issues, Black charities, the NAACP, Black YMCA, funded scholarships, and more.
DORA MILAJE TRIBE
The Dora Milaje tribe are the group of female special forces, highly trained in combat. Most notably they serve as the Black Panther’s bodyguards. She was in a class of her own becoming the first self-made millionaire while persevering through Jim Crow era America as a Black Woman. As such strategic and domineering women, I thought Madam C.J. Walker would fit perfectly with this tribe.
KOBE BRYANT | August 23, 1978 - January 26, 2020
Kobe Bryant - also known as the Black Mamba and the G.O.A.T - was one of the best players in American professional basketball. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Kobe spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won 4 All-Star MVP Awards, and 5 championships. Kobe donated to many charities, granted more than 200 wishes with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and was a milestone donor, having contributed more than $1 million to fund the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
PANTHER TRIBE
Kobe Bryant was the most powerful player on the court and so I felt he should be part of the most powerful tribe, the Panther tribe. As a legend in basketball history he is part of the tribe which holds the royal line and brought order among 5 of the 6 tribes. His prowess on the court reminded me of the power and strength of the Black Panther and so he is dressed as such.
NIPSEY HUSSLE | August 15, 1985 - March 31, 2019
Nipsey Hussle - born Airmiess Joseph Asghedom - is an American rapper from Los Angeles, CA. Nipsey grew up in the poverty-stricken gang environment of South Central Los Angeles where he joined the Crips. Determined to change his life, he started to focus on his music career. After numerous mixtapes, Hussle released his only studio album, Victory Lap, which was nominated for best rap album at the Grammy Awards in February 2019. Nipsey was involved in community activism, working to empower and employ underprivileged groups through real estate investment, science and tech learning centers for teens, and was involved in other efforts in his community. He also opened Marathon brand clothing at the corner of Slauson and Crenshaw - an intersection that now bears his name - and owned the strip mall around it. Nipsey believed life was a marathon, not a race. It has inspired and reminded fans that adversity is an opportunity to triumph. In March 2019, Nipsey was shot and killed in front of his store, leaving behind his daughter and partner.
WAR DOGS
The War Dogs are the central intelligence service of Wakanda and an elite espionage group who collects information from around the globe to protect the kingdom and take part in secret missions to help outsiders. This tribe serves as the right hand to the Black Panther and serves to protect the community much like Nipsey. Nipsey took any information he had and was eager to share with his community in efforts to uplift, support, and protect them.
RUBY BRIDGES | September 8, 1954 - Present
At the age of 6 years old, Ruby Bridges advanced the cause of civil rights in November 1960 when she became the first Black student to integrate an elementary school in the South. Because southern states continued to resist integration, the school district created entrance exams for Black students to see whether they could compete academically at the all-white school. Ruby and five other students passed the exam. Ruby and her mother were escorted by four federal marshals to the school every day that year. She walked past crowds screaming vicious slurs at her, but only became frightened when she saw a woman holding a black baby doll in a coffin. She spent her first day in the principal’s office due to the chaos created as angry white parents pulled their children out of school.
DORA MILAJE TRIBE
The Dora Milaje tribe are the group of female special forces, highly trained in combat. Most notably they serve as the Black Panther’s bodyguards. Ruby was resilient and outstanding in the face of great adversity. She paved the way for every Black child who came after her so she belonged in the tribe of the most elite warriors.
SERENA WILLIAMS | September 26, 1981 - Present
Serena is an American professional tennis player, ranked Singles World No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association for 319 weeks, including a joint-record 186 consecutive weeks and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. One of the highest-paid female athletes, she dominates in her sport. A force to be reckoned with, she supported her sister and rose to success with her but still carver her own unique path. Coached by her father she rose to excellence and continued to dominate her sport. Serena is a representation of Black excellence and persistence and an inspiration to young athletes everywhere.
RIVER TRIBE & NAKIA
Nakia is a woman born in the River Tribe who carved her own path and was persistent in her beliefs. She separated herself from Wakanda for a little to find her own way and ended up joining the War Dogs tribe where she was a phenomenal leader in her own right. In honor of Nakia, I dressed Serena in the River Tribe style. Serena, like Nakia is proud of her beginnings and grew from them to success.
