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Black History Month: Richard “Grass” Green

black history month richard grass green black cartoonists

Today’s Black History Month Figure is Richard “Grass” Green, the first African American cartoonist to make work in the 1960s fanart movement AND the 1970s underground comix movement. He did LOTS of superhero parody comics, especially in Star-Studded Comics with his character Xal-Kor. In the 70s and 80s, his work often used humor to expose America’s bigotry and racism.

Image from Museum of Uncut Funk.

You can read more about Richard “Grass” Green at The Museum of Uncut Funk’s website.

Now, let’s see if I can find any of his work anywhere to read it for myself…

Thank you for reading!

You. Are. Awesome.

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Thoughts on “Transgender Warriors” and Leslie Friedman

I’m currently reading a fascinating book called Transgender Warriors by Leslie Friedman. It makes me think of The Yellow Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee in that both books are part memoir, part history books. The Yellow Lighted Bookshop is about the history of books as much as it’s the tale of the author growing into a mature librarian. Transgender Warriors is as much about Friedman as it is about trans people in history.

I recognized quite a few names of warriors in the first few chapters, as those people of history also appear in David E. Jones’s Women Warriors: A History. Women Warriors acknowledges that many of the women cross-dressed or exhibited more masculine qualities (like King Nzinga) but still has that gender binary. You have to infer that some women in that book were, in fact, non-binary. Maybe not “trans,” but definitely falling outside of man/woman dichotomies.

With that said, Friedman’s personal history is profoundly biased in one way: s/he was an active member, for many years, of the World Workers Party, a communist organization that was an offshoot of the Socialist Party in the USA. For all I know, s/he may still be a member.

So, there are many, many, many, MANY moments in the book that are cringe/noteworthy. To say s/he is NOT a fan of capitalism is an understatement on par with “I think North Korea may have a humanitarian problem.” Continue reading “Thoughts on “Transgender Warriors” and Leslie Friedman”

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History of American Comics (Abridged)

WARNING: The following is a rough summation of actual events. However, I have paraphrased dialogue. These events DID happen in real life, just (sometimes) not as absurdly as depicted.

So way back in the 1890s, aka back when men dressed like Mister Peanut, the first comics in the United States were one-panel cartoons making fun of politicians and businessmen who owned ALL THE THINGS. Continue reading “History of American Comics (Abridged)”

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The Boardwalk of Savannah, GA

savannah, georgia

Last weekend I went to Savannah for Swarm Con and had a blast!

I had never been to Savannah before, so my pal Chloe showed me around the town. She’s currently going to the Savannah College of Art and Design, so I got to see a few of their buildings. Mostly we explored along the boardwalk and the shops that were there.

savannah, georgia shops

savannah, georgia boardwalk

It reminded me a bit of Marietta, OH since almost all the historic roads are brick or stone. The standout difference?

THE STUPIDLY STEEP HISTORIC STEPS.

savannah, georgia historic steps
SERIOUSLY.

 

Dotted here and there throughout the alleyways are steps that are almost two feet high each step. It’s ri-goddamn-diculous.

At least the architecture was cool to look at. The boardwalk had buildings and stores stacked on top of each other like layer cakes.

savannah, georgia

savannah, georgia architecture

 

savannah, georgia

savannah, georgia

savannah, georgia hyatt hotel
This one is a road that cuts through the Hyatt Hotel.

We also had dinner at the River House. Their shrimp and grits are absolutely delicious and pairs really well with sweet tea.

Oh man I hadn’t had genuine southern sweet tea in such a long time. It was SO refreshing to get it in Savannah.

I also tried oysters, which was…interesting.

The first one made me go, “Ugh, what a weird texture. But let me try another one just to see if it gets better.”

The second one? “AUGH, too much vinegar on that one! Let me try one more.”

The third one? “…Yeah, oysters are not for me.”

I was expecting something rubbery, and…it was, but it was also slimy and cold. Not my thing. But I gave it a try!

Next time I’ll actually talk about Swarm Con, because there are some commissions I did while I was there that I think you would enjoy seeing.

Thanks for reading! You. Are. Awesome.