Activist

I am curious if the Comic Code of Authority applies to editorial comics since it was released in 1954 and Jackie Ormes was still creating pieces up until 1956 and she was she addressing social, economic and political problems African Americans were facing at the time. In her March 1949 editorial comic, Ormes comments on racisms by having Patty- Jo say “It would be interestin’ to discover WHICH committee decided it was un-American to be COLORED!” including a “rear door” sign and “Southern Fury” sign. Ormes also comments on the living condition of African Americans. Living in a broken down apartment but still getting evicted. Patty-Jo state “Now you folks can REALLY stop worryin’ . . . Uncle Sam’s blowing our national wad on a H-bomb for your PROTECTION . . . course, that don’t spell HOUSING, but you gotta admit it ain’t HAY, either!” The apartment appears to be run down with cracked walls, leaking water, a broken window as well as a merge between a kitchen and room.  Jackie Ormes is commenting on how the United States government is worried about protecting the people from others but yet they cannot protect the African Americans from unjust living conditions.  In 1955 Jackie Ormes commented on the Emmett Till murder. A 14-year-old boy was murdered in Mississippi for flirting with a white woman.  Emmett Till was mutilated and beat than shot to death. Patty-Jo stated, “I don’t want to seem touchy on the subject … but, that new little white tea-kettle just whistled at me!” Ormes is commenting on the racism, barbarism of lynches and the limitation of American democracy since justice was not served. This case motivated a fight for equality. Jackie Ormes served as an activist and had some motivation towards the African American Civil Rights Movement.