ROGERS PARK— Cartoonist Tim Jackson noticed that not much had been said about the history of African-Americans in his chosen profession. So he decided to change that.
Jackson, a Rogers Park resident, compiled an archive on his website showing the long history of black cartoonists. Before he knew it, he had amassed so much information that he was approached to write a book.
"A publisher saw the website and wanted to do a book. The University of Michigan approached me," Jackson said, though ultimately he published with University Press of Mississippi. "I began to take the information I compiled on the website and put it into a book."
Jackson's book, "Pioneering Cartoonists of Color," was made available to the public May 1 and provides a detailed history of black cartoonists. It covers comic strips, editorial cartoons and illustrations drawn by African-Americans from the mid-1880s to the 1960s.
Jackson said that anyone reading his book can get a lot out of it.
This book provides a historic look at the untold story of Black men and women who created cartoons. pic.twitter.com/PPQQwz3Ngv
— Tim Jackson (@tim_jackson) April 17, 2016
"As I did research, there were people out there I had never heard of. Everyone had stories of trying to get recognition," Jackson said. "The biggest surprise was seeing how many were in the field who had written for newspapers that are still around today. They worked at mostly black publications."
Jackson, an Ohio native, was a cartoonist for the Defender 14 years. Many of his editorial cartoons, which have been featured in more than 26 newspapers, take on the serious topics of race relations, politics and gun violence.
#cosby #BillCosby #Fatalbert pic.twitter.com/UQrh1f08Ik
— Tim Jackson (@tim_jackson) July 7, 2015
"I put forth the information to the reader in one image. The image can be packed with a lot of information," Jackson said. "I try to use culturally specific information that I know people of color would get."
Jackson, 58, said the book was his way of keeping his industry relevant, since people do not read as many newspapers as they used to.
"That presented a problem for me, since I had been drawing cartoons for so many [years]. Newspapers started folding," Jackson said. "There were less and less places I could sell cartoons to. That led to the book."
Jackson also offered advice to those out there who may want to follow in his footsteps.
"I would tell them to read a lot. You have to know what you are talking about in order to make a cartoon," Jackson said. "I would constantly draw. It kept me out of trouble for most of my life. I was at home drawing instead of being in the streets getting in trouble."
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