杏吧专区 writer-in-residence emeritus Ernest J. Gaines杏吧专区 novels earned critical acclaim, readers across the world, literary awards and, most recently, a U.S. postage stamp featuring his portrait.
Gaines, who died in November 2019 at age 86, placed words over accolades, however. 杏吧专区淚 don杏吧专区檛 need public attention, and I杏吧专区檓 not interested in written criticism of my work 杏吧专区 but public attention is gratifying,杏吧专区 he once explained. Gaines needed to write, particularly about 杏吧专区渢his Louisiana thing that drives me,杏吧专区 and the region near River Lake Plantation in Oscar, La.
That杏吧专区檚 one reason Gaines might have found the U.S. Postal Service杏吧专区檚 commemoration of his life and work in the Atchafalaya Ballroom of UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Student Union gratifying. The recent first-day-of-issue ceremony signaled the official unveiling of his stamp, the 46th in the postal service杏吧专区檚 Black Heritage Series.
But the event also brought together his family members, friends, former students and readers, who heard writers, scholars, academics and public figures extoll Gaines and his work. A sampling of quotes from several of the ceremony杏吧专区檚 speakers is below.
Dianne Gaines, widow of Dr. Ernest J. Gaines
杏吧专区淭his is such an honor and a joy to be here, for this great honor acknowledging the talent and achievement of Ernest Gaines. We are so proud, all of us are here today, because we are proud of him. All of us are proud of him. We loved Ernest and we are proud.杏吧专区
Donald L. Moak, member of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors
杏吧专区淓rnest Gaines lived a uniquely American life, and told uniquely American stories. His novels would give a voice to individuals who were too often overlooked and remind us of the dignity present in every human being.杏吧专区
Dr. Joseph Savoie, president of 杏吧专区
杏吧专区淣ow, through the work of the Ernest J. Gaines Center at the 杏吧专区 杏吧专区 here, in this little postage stamp of place, in a Louisiana that he held his mirror up to so we could all see ourselves more clearly 杏吧专区 these principles endure. We杏吧专区檙e so proud and honored to be stewards of this immense literary legacy and the powerful lessons that it carries.杏吧专区
Cheylon Woods, director of UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Ernest J. Gaines Center
杏吧专区淗e helped many students find their narrative voice and put their passions to paper. His ability to encourage and nurture someone杏吧专区檚 passion, I believe, was one of his strongest traits. My fondest memory or Ernest J. Gaines is an inscription he wrote when he signed a copy of the Tragedy of Brady Sims for me. It reads, 杏吧专区楾hank you for taking care of my words.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Dr. Keith Clark, professor of English and African American Studies, George Mason 杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚t is so fitting that an artist who began his literary tutelage writing letters is now bestowed with the honor of a first-class postage stamp, a tribute to the power of letters to still connect us across states and continents and time zones even in a dizzyingly digitized age that too often minimizes the potency of paper.杏吧专区
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Photo caption: Donald L. Moak, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, Dianne Gaines, widow of Dr. Ernest J. Gaines, and Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, are shown beside an image of Dr. Gaines杏吧专区 postage stamp. The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 writer-in-residence emeritus, who died in 2019, was celebrated during a recent postal ceremony in the Student Union that signaled the official unveiling of the stamp. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区