While many people probably don’t think of women when they think of cartooning, Jackie Ormes (1911-1985), born Zelda Mavin Jackson, made her mark on the visual art. Hustling her way into popular publications since she was in high school, Ormes’s strips displayed a different view of Black women and Black people in general, while also touching upon serious issues. That’s right, Jackie Ormes was doing more than doodling for entertainment, folks. Check out five things you should know about the first Black female cartoonist.
She Got Her First Serious Newspaper Gig in High School
Jackie started to hone her drawing and writing skills while she was in high school, and in a very bold move, she sent a letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Courier hoping for an opportunity. The then-editor of the African-American newspaper offered her the chance to cover a boxing match for the publication. After doing sports writing, reporting, and proofreading for the newspaper, she was given the chance to have her very first published cartoon: Torchy Brown in “Dixie to Harlem.” It told the story of a woman from Mississippi who moves to New York to become a star at the Cotton Club. Following its debut in 1937, the cartoon ran for a year, and it made Jackie the first Black woman to be a professional newspaper cartoonist. Later on in her career (1945), she would publish her longest-running comic strip with the Courier: Patty-Jo ‘n’ Ginger.
She Displayed Black People in a Non-Stereotypical Way and Touched on Social Issues in Her Comics
Not only did Jackie’s cartoons deal with fashion and dating, but they could also be controversial. They defied stereotypes of Blacks, particularly the Torchy Brown series, and Jackie was sure to take strong stances in terms of social issues and politics. Issues touched on included segregation, the right to free speech, environmental degradation in Black communities and more. Her politics, which were quite left-leaning, were a constant in her work, causing Jackie to be investigated by the FBI. They believed that she had ties to the Communist Party, but it was proven that she was not a member.
She Turned One of Her Most Popular Characters Into an Even More Popular Doll
Jackie’s long-running cartoon Patty-Jo ‘n’ Ginger (which ran for 11 years) ended up creating a new opportunity for her to get into dollmaking. After signing a contract with the Terri Lee Company, a Patty-Jo doll was made and manufactured between 1947 and 1949. The doll was said to be the first one that really portrayed a Black character in a non-stereotypical way while also having a pretty substantial wardrobe. Many other dolls at the time were meant to be the controversial mammy and Topsy-Turvy models, but Patty-Jo was just fashioned into an adorable yet savvy child.
She Was the First Nationally Syndicated Black Woman Cartoonist
Up until 1990, Jackie was the only Black woman to have nationally syndicated comic strips. Her work was featured in a bevvy of Black Newspapers in the States, a major feat for not just a Black woman cartoonist and artist, but any woman cartoonist.
Her Legacy Lives on in Museums and in Other Black Female Artists
If you ever travel to Chicago, one of the great sights to see is The DuSable Museum of African American History in Washington Park. Not only does the museum house an extensive Jackie Ormes collection, but the trailblazer, who lived, worked and died in Chicago (but was born and raised in Pennsylvania) was actually on the founding board of directors for the museum. Not only is her story shared in that venue, but her story continues to be shared with the help of organizations like The Ormes Society. It works to support Black women who are cartoonists and comic creators while also encouraging and promoting the placement of Black women in comic books as characters. It was founded by Cheryl Lynn Eaton in 2007.
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