On Saturday, March 2, 2024, ESPER along with several organizations in Burlington County, New Jersey partnered to present a stamp dedication for the Contance Baker Motley Forever Stamp. The stamp is the 47th in the USPS Black Heritage Series This stamp series was conceived by the late Clarence Irving an original ESPER Board Member and African American cultural activist.

Judge Motley is often called “The Civil Rights Queen” because she broke through barriers for women entering the field of law. She became a legendary civil rights attorney and one of the architects for the Brown Vs. Board victory at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF).

   Judge Motley was the first Black woman to argue before the Supreme Court; the first Black woman to serve in the New York State Senate; the first woman to become New York Manhattan Borough President; and the first Black woman appointed to the federal bench by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966.

    The program sponsors were: ESPER, The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County, NAACP Willingboro & Vicinity Branch, NAACP Greater Delaware Valley Branch, NAACP Southern Burlington County Branch, the American Association of University Women of Burlington County and InFACT, Inc.

     In addition to the sponsor’s presentations, Postmaster Darell Patterson presented a video and an explanation of the stamp selection; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Chapter President, Deanne Wade Johnson spoke of who Judge Motley was as a honorary member of the sorority and Queen Nur and EPSER member Dwight James from InFACT, lead the audience in “They Put a Stamp On It," a lively call and response presentation.

     The US postal service was available to sell the Constan Baker Motley Forever stamps. Table exhibits in the library lobby included: ESPER, The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County, the American Association of University Women and the three branches of the NAACP.

     ESPER member, Sharon Suber wishes to give special thanks to Postmaster Harsarbjit K. Minhas of Mount Holly, NJ for going above and beyond her duties to make this program a success.