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Jackie Ormes was the first known and syndicated black woman cartoonist who brought black images and characters to the American funny papers. It was Ormes’ characters that would express the “power of black,” decades before it was openly addressed in mainstream society. Though carrying blatant messages, her characters were elegant and classy.

Born Zelda Mavin Jackson, Jackie Ormes was best known for her 1930’s comic strip, “Dixie to Harlem” starring the character Torchy Brown. Torchy was a sassy Mississippi teen who became a star at New York’s Cotton Club.

“Dixie to Harlem” was the predecessor to Ormes’ second cartoon, “Patti Jo N’ Ginger”, which ran for 11 years, between 1945 and 1956. The outspoken characters of the strip were two sisters, one of which spoke of racial inequality. “Patti Jo N’ Ginger” was syndicated with the Pittsburgh Courier and the Chicago Defender, reaching more than 350,000 people. Though successful, Ormes’ strong political messages caused her to be secretly investigated by the government for communism for 10 years.

Little Known Black History Fact: Jackie Ormes  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

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