Carrying the Torch

Observing the progression of Torchy Brown from peppy Mississippi teenager to song-and-dance star and then to empowered, fully-grown woman was an awesome thing. That being said, I found it quite interesting that, in terms of character arch, the latter-half of Torchy’s publication existence is spent in the arms of her handsome doctor-boyfriend, which seems to be a step backwards from the life of fame and fortune Jackie Ormes creates for her in the Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem series. Understandably, this reality is probably a result of the times during which the comic was made; 1950’s America was no shining beacon for gender equality, and finding a husband/settling down was universally accepted as “success” for American women. With an adherence to upholding Torchy’s unconventionally strong character traits and dialogue, however, I’m intrigued as to whether or not making her second series a romantic one was a move made on Ormes’ part to help better engage and empower her audience, be it African-American, female, or both.

Torchy is a strong female character in each series, exhibiting traits not often seen in other female-centric comics before Wonder Woman in this period. She’s shown not as a stereotype of African-Americans, but as an attractive, fashionable, and determined young woman with aspirations for city-life and adventure. With jokes and dance skills she gets herself out of Dixie and into a life of fame devoid of any romantic features, but this changed with Torchy in Heartbeats in 1950. While her character stays the same, the focus of Heartbeats lies in Torchy’s relationship with Dr. Paul Hammond and her/their adventures and battles for justice across the world. I have to wonder if this was done to make her more relatable to Ormes’ audience. While still markedly independent, Torchy takes on a role that all American women at the time could identify with, more so than with the Harlem starlet of the 1937-38 series. Perhaps, in her place besides Dr. Hammond and in possession of the privileges bestowed upon his gender, Torchy makes for a perfect example of the ideal, equal [black] woman to her audience.