Making Comics

In the last week I'm reminded of all that I have and how it is very complicated to feel both thankful and guilty for the gifts I've been given in my life as a b...yproduct of my skin color and gender. I've posted this before. This amazing comic by Ronald Wimberly, c/o The Nib, explores racism, and its prevalence, in the comics industry - specifically within the coloring part of the process. When I first read this, five years ago, I was shocked that, in all the years I spent idolizing the comic industry, I had not been presented with the inherent racism prevalent within. How could I have missed this? In the last five years I've grown to appreciate this weird predicament of having loved something most of my life and also feeling betrayed by its ability to hurt and marginalize others. I find it sad that, five years after me being dumbfounded by the marginalization and damage by this industry, that I'm no longer surprised. The comic industry is just a microcosm within the larger civilization we live in. A racist one. I know more now and I'm not as ignorant as I once was, but I still have so much more to learn. For now I'm going to wrestle, quietly, with feeling grateful and guilty for the gifts I was given as a byproduct of a broken system. I plan to use my position of privilege to share and amplify stories by those who have been silenced and marginalized as a byproduct of this broken system. I hope you do the same. If this post, Mr. Wimberly's comic or something I said, connects to you and you have a similar piece of writing or art to share - please do.

Looking for something to do during self-isolation? Ever wanted to make a comic book for the first time but was nervous to give it a go? Have a kid at home you want to do some guided art with?... Our all-ages online course (with special new supports for educators teaching online all of the sudden) "How To Make A Comic Book" is now free and available on a new platform care of the High Tech High Graduate School of Education! Check it out and share away.

If you have kids at home tune in today (in about 45 minutes actually) to Stories with Len Cabral . He is absolutely AMAZING - adults will enjoy as well.

For those out there trying to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic right, here is a great set of resources assembled by our own Educational Guru Kirsten Flewelling. It is formatted like a worksheet to be done by yourself but could also be ideal for you to work through with children who find themselves at home during the next couple of weeks. https://docs.google.com//19SHWM78PKcPyYJFQegqnZ1ISfV/edit