Artist History - George Herriman

George Herriman at his work station. Picture found here. 

Born August 22, 1880, George Herriman is the creator of Krazy Kat, an interesting - the LA Times called it "avant-garde" - comic strip that began in 1916 and ran until his passing in 1944. Herriman was born to a Creole family in New Orleans and moved to Los Angeles early in life, where he hid any trace of his African roots. He began work as an engraver in 1897 at the Los Angeles - Herald Examiner. From there, he moved up to produce a comic strip called The Dingbat Family for The New York Evening Paper. Out of that comic strip came the more well known Krazy Kat stories.

Krazy Kat follows the eponymous cat who is in love with a mouse named Ignatz. The mouse does not return these affections, and shows hatred toward the Kat by throwing a brick at him/her. (The gender of Krazy Kat is contested.)  Krazy Kat mistakes this treatment as a sign of love.

You can see how this could be confusing.
Found here

Many kids didn't get it. 

While it had low viewership among the adolescents of the time, intellectuals found something interesting in the comic strip. President Woodrow Wilson, T.S. Eliot, and Gertrude Stein among others loved it. William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnate, was responsible for keeping the comic strip in the newspaper for its complete run. It was he that insisted Krazy Kat would be laid to rest with its creator. Even after his death, no one really knew that Herriman was black.   

Find more things to read about George Herriman after the jump. 

Artist History - Jackie Ormes

This fantastic picture of Jackie at her workstation found here

Jackie Ormes was born Zelda Mavin Jackson in 1911 and became a well known cartoonist for the African American newspapers Chicago Defender and Pittsburgh Courier. Her comic strips focused on the black elite, defying stereotypes while presenting a leftist political message. She created multiple characters, including Torchy Brown, a Mississippi teen who worked in the Cotton Club and Candy, a witty maid who worked for the never seen Goldrocks. Each character focused on class and elegance, even in the face of racism.

Mrs. Ormes is best known for Patty-Jo n Ginger, a one panel comic that featured the precocious child Patty-Jo and her big sister/guardian Ginger. While the latter never talked, she was the epitome of glamour. Patty-Jo, meanwhile, would add quips, sometimes political in nature, to the scene. One famous post even had the young child comment on the Emmett Till's 1955 murder. (Side note: Due to her political voice during the Red Scare, the F.B.I. compiled a 287 page file on her.)

In 1956, Mrs. Ormes stopped drawing, and she passed away in 1985. Although no one is certain why she walked away from her art, it is undeniable that her work was essential for African Americans and women alike. She portrayed black women as smart, mobile, and elegant on a daily basis in an era where depictions of mammies and pick-a-ninnies were unfortunately the norm.

You'll find more information about Jackie Ormes after the jump.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a time for reflection on the African American men and women who have donated their genius, creativity, passion, and blood to this country. While we will all rightfully honor Fredrick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Booker T. Washington to name a few, Art Way Alliance would like to highlight the unsung heroes of the comic book world.

Despite the lack of visibility, there have been quite a few black creators. Some, such as the incomparable Dwayne McDuffie, have been influential in the cartoons and animation that you see today. Others, such as Jackie Ormes, pictured, may not have the same recognition, but their impact is no less important.

We also intend to acknowledge the black characters that dispelled stereotypes through their story lines, intelligence, and bravery. Storm, Black Panther, Steel, and Luke Cage each changed the face of superheroes and contributed to the black experience in their own way.

We hope you follow our blog and Facebook posts throughout the month of February for more information on these amazing men and women.  As always, if you have a particular artist or character that you would like to see emphasized this month, feel free to let us know.