Profiles in Black Cartooning: Barbara Brandon-Croft

In celebration of Black History Month, CBLDF has partnered with Black Nerd Problems to spotlight Black comics creators and cartoonists who made significant contributions to free expression. Visit CBLDF.org throughout the month of February to learn more! One of the most complicated truths about Black History Month is this: while celebrating means being able to feel pride in our rich culture, it also often means discovering just how many important historical figures continue to be erased from public consciousness. For instance, although she was the first African American woman to publish a nationally syndicated comic strip, Barbara Brandon-Croft’s incredible impact with her all Black women strip unfortunately does not get nearly the recognition she deserves. Years before comics like Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks became one of the most recognizably Black comic strips with important political commentary, Brandon-Croft’s Where I’m Coming From reclaimed the funnies as a space where Black women’s voices could be represented and amplified. Luther by Brumsic Brandon Jr.[divider type=”space_thin”]Brandon-Croft’s story roots itself in progressing family tradition just as much as revolutionizing the comic strip art form. As the daughter of Brumsic Brandon Jr., a cartoonist made famous by his strip Luther which detailed the everyday exploits of a group of Black youth, Brandon-Croft began her career path at just 10-years-old by assisting her father’s work in order to earn allowance money….