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.