Gerald Early brings a mystery to PBS’ History Detectives (Washington University)

0 Shares

Mr. Media® Radio Network • Email • Twitter • Facebook • LinkedIn • YouTube

By Susan Killenberg McGinn
July 5, 2011

During the Golden Age of Comic Books — from the late 1930s to mid-1950s — famous superheroes were introduced, such as Superman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman. Rarely would people find African-Americans as central characters in comic books during that era.

“Blacks appeared in comic books and comic strips during this era largely as savage ‘jungle natives,’” Gerald Early explains, “or as racially demeaning caricatures like Ebony White, the sidekick of Will Eisner’s The Spirit, or Lothar, the exotic sidekick of Lee Falk’s Mandrake the Magician. Having blacks in comic books in non-racist ways was very rare. And there has not been a great deal written about blacks during this time who may have drawn or written comics.”

Click HERE to Keep Reading!

Tweet

Follow @andelman

Subscribe in a reader
Bob Andelman is the author or co-author of 12 books, including ‘The Consulate’ with Thomas R. Stutler, ‘The Profiler’ with Pat Brown, ‘Built From Scratch’ with the founders of The Home Depot, ‘The Profit Zone’ with Adrian Slywotzky, ‘Mean Business’ with Albert J. Dunlap, and ‘Will Eisner: A Spirited Life.’