1933: Jay Jackson was an artist and Head of the Cartoon Division at the Chicago Defender newspaper. Mr. Jackson created a variety of cartoons during the 1940’s such as Bungleton Green and the Mystic Commandos, The Adventures of Bill, As Others See Us, and Billy Ken. Many of Jackson’s comic strips were published in various Black newspapers throughout the United States.
 

1937: Jackie Orme (aka Zelda Mavin Jackson) was the first published Black woman Cartoonist. She began working as a freelance journalist for the Pittsburgh Courier. Orme created comic strips such as Torchy Brown in "Dixie to Harlem" and Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger. Her cartoon heroines were strong independent women who dealt with relevant and contemporary issues. The success of her cartoons allowed Jackie to create the Torchy Togs paper doll and a lifelike Patty-Jo doll for Black girls.
 

1944: Matt Baker was a Pencillier and illustrator who worked on comic books such as Sheena Queen of the Jungle, Phantom Lady, and Voodah. Matt Baker’s illustrations of female characters were so glamorous, that White comic book companies sought him out to illustrate their books. Mr. Baker went on to become a sought after freelance artist for Atlas Comics, which was the forerunner to Marvel Comics.
 

1947: Orrin Cromwell Evans was the first Black journalist to integrate the Philadelphia Record newspaper. After the closure of the Philadelphia Record in 1947, he went on to open his own publishing company called All-Negro Comics Inc. His first published work was named All-Negro Comics, a 48-page comic book written and illustrated solely by Black writers and artists. Unfortunately, Mr. Evans was not able to produce a second volume because he could not obtain the newsprint paper, due to racism.