Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes
by Traci N Todd (Author) Shannon Wright (Illustrator)
An evocative picture book biography about the prolific life of Jackie Ormes, whose groundbreaking cartoons became some of the first empowering depictions of Black women in America!
Jackie Ormes made history. She was the first Black woman cartoonist to be nationally syndicated in the United States. She was also a journalist, fashionista, philanthropist, and activist, and she used her incredible talent and artistry to bring joy and hope to people everywhere. But in post-World War II America, Black people were still being denied their civil rights, and Jackie found herself in a dilemma: How could her art stay true to her signature "Jackie joy" while remaining honest about the inequalities Black people had been fighting?
Rising stars Traci N. Todd, author of the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Nina: A Story of Nina Simone, and Shannon Wright, co-creator of the bestselling graphic novel Twins, have crafted a gorgeous and heartfelt tribute to the indelible legacy of Jackie Ormes, whose life and work still influences illustrators and cartoonists today.
Locate at a Library Near You WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
Find books about:
Kirkus
Publishers Weekly
This biography of Jackie Ormes (1911-1985), born Zelda Jackson outside of Pittsburgh, follows her arc toward becoming the first nationally syndicated Black woman cartoonist, spanning her childhood in an artistic household and her time as a rhetorically gifted sports reporter relegated to the "women's activities" pages of renowned Black-owned newspaper the Pittsburgh Courier. Soon, though, she fords the funny pages of that publication with a successful comic strip called Torchy Brown, taking inspiration from both the paper's stories and "the jump and jive of Harlem." After WWII, Jackie joins the fight for civil rights in her own way: raising money and creating comic character Patty-Jo, who both speaks to wide-ranging social concerns and is designed "to make people smile." Todd's reportorial text hints at Ormes's journalist beginnings and quick wit, while Wright's paneled illustrations alternate between images of the subject and spreads that follow her maturing art style. Ages 7-10. (Jan.)
Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
When Chicago native Traci N. Todd was born, her parents decided her initials should stand for dynamite, just like her father's. He raised her on Ray Charles and Nina Simone, and her mother read her every good book. Traci is the author of Nina: A Story of Nina Simone, illustrated by Christian Robinson, and is also a children's book editor. She lives in Queens, New York, with her partner.
JNF006010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Art | Cartooning
