But clever black characters could not be fully contained by predjudice. Often they took the opportunity to subversively demonstrate, right under the editors' notes, just how much more they were capable of, if treated with respect.
Clever guys like the railroad porter from the Wonder Woman comic book we met during our Black History Month profiles:
Suitcase, comin' up!Dis suitcase show am heaby!
Must be fulla books!
"Oh, yes; you can force me to speak in minstrel dialect, but if you do, I'll be waiving my big black dialect haiku if your face, thank you very much."
Can you compose a haiku of admiration for this clever pioneer or one that appreciates how far we've come in the portrayal of black characters since his day?
Mister Terrific
ReplyDeleteWould sit down and talk to him.
"Have some respect, man."
Years later, he would
ReplyDeletetake up the hero's mantle
and expose his thighs
Harvey Jerkwater wins.
ReplyDeleteDespite our progress
ReplyDeletehow come all the Black stars were
made by King Kirby??
Harvey Jerkwater made a man cry today.
ReplyDeleteScipio,
ReplyDeleteI was intro'd to your excellent blog by a poster on Classic Comics over at CBR, when I did a post about great black comics characters.
I still haven't gotten thru all your old blogs but am enjoying them greatly. Kudos.
Gene Phillips
Which issue of wonder woman did this image come from?
ReplyDelete