Tag Archives: martin luther king jr.

Graphic Policy Radio: X-Men and the MLK Legacy Roundtable

One of our most listened to episodes of Graphic Policy Radio discussed the X-Men and their use as an allegory of the civil rights, it covered the series throughout its many incarnations and writers. The discussion also veered into the depiction of minorities in “comic” entertainment and Marvel’s continuity. In honor of MLK Day, we present that podcast discussion.

Guests joining in on the conversation were:

  • Steve Attewell – A political & union activist, Steve holds a PhD in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the founder and writer of Race for the Iron Throne as well as The Realignment Project
  • David Brothers – David works for a comics publisher, blogs about stuff at 4thletter.net, & tweets about everything at @hermanos. Find his life story at iamdavidbrothers.com.
  • Gene Demby – Gene Demby is an American writer and journalist & the lead blogger for NPR’s Code Switch team.
  • Emma Houxbois – Emma is a queer blogger for hire out of Vancouver, BC most recently attached to Girls Read Comics. Follow her @emmahouxbois
  • Kendra James – a blogger who writes on race, comics, television & more for Racialicious, follow her @wriglied

You can listen to the archive above or go here and download it for on the go.

Review: Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story

Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story

One of the best releases of the last decade of comics is Top Shelf‘s March trilogy which details the life of Congressman John Lewis. Lewis was an instrumental individual in the Civil Rights movement. That successful graphic novel lead Top Shelf to partner with the Fellowship of Reconciliation to publish a new edition of the Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story. The comic is an amazing piece of history that has been used to promote peaceful, non-violent protests around the world, being translated into numerous languages.

The 16-page comic is a wonderful summary of the Civil Rights movement taking individuals through the methods and thought process used to protest Montgomery’s policy that African Americans were to ride in the back of the bus. The narration is from an individual named “Jones” and his experience through the protest. After the story wraps up, there’s a step-by-step checklist that breaks down the exact methodology used and also how it’s been used throughout the world, in particular, to win India’s independence.

Top Shelf focused not just on reprinting the comic in modern standards, they used similar paper and coloring from the time that it originally was printed. This looks like a copy you might have held decades ago. A fantastic recreation of an important piece of comic and civil rights history.

Everyone should check this out, to learn about United States history, but also how comics have been used to create change and in political movements. Comics have been political since their formation over 100 years ago and have been a tool to fight for political change ever since.

While it’s difficult to get a print copy, there are a few options to at least read it digitally.

Story: Alfred Hassler, Benton Resnik Art: Sy Barry
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy


Purchase: IDWcomiXologyKindle Amazon

Graphic Policy Radio: X-Men and the MLK Legacy Roundtable

One of our most listened to episodes of Graphic Policy Radio discussed the X-Men and their use as an allegory of the civil rights, it covered the series throughout its many incarnations and writers. The discussion also veered into the depiction of minorities in “comic” entertainment and Marvel’s continuity. In honor of MLK day, we represent that podcast discussion.

Guests joining in on the conversation were:

  • Steve Attewell – A political & union activist, Steve holds a PhD in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the founder and writer of Race for the Iron Throne as well as The Realignment Project
  • David Brothers – David works for a comics publisher, blogs about stuff at 4thletter.net, & tweets about everything at @hermanos. Find his life story at iamdavidbrothers.com.
  • Gene Demby – Gene Demby is an American writer and journalist & the lead blogger for NPR’s Code Switch team.
  • Emma Houxbois – Emma is a queer blogger for hire out of Vancouver, BC most recently attached to Girls Read Comics. Follow her @emmahouxbois
  • Kendra James – a blogger who writes on race, comics, television & more for Racialicious, follow her @wriglied

You can listen to the archive below or go here and download it for on the go.

Review: Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story

march-mlk-1958-cover

One of the best releases of the last decade of comics is Top Shelf‘s March trilogy which details the life of Congressman John Lewis. Lewis was an instrumental individual in the Civil Rights movement. That successful graphic novel lead to Top Shelf partnering with the Fellowship of Reconciliation to publish new editions of Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story. The comic is an amazing piece of history that has been used to promote peaceful, non-violent protests around the world, being translated into numerous languages.

The 16-page comic is a wonderful summary of the Civil Rights movement taking individuals through the methods and thought process used to protest Montgomery policy that African Americans were to ride in the back of the bus. The narration is from an individual named “Jones” and his experience through the protest. After the story wraps up, there’s a step by step checklist that breaks down the exact methodology used and also how its been used throughout the world, in particular, to win India’s independence.

Top Shelf has focused on not just reprinting the comic in modern standards, they’ve used similar paper and coloring from the time that it originally was printed. This looks like a copy you might have held decades ago. A fantastic recreation of an important piece of comic and civil rights history.

Everyone should check this out, to learn about United States history, but also how comics have been used to create change and in political movements.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story

march-mlk-1958-coverOne of the best releases of the last few years is Top Shelf‘s March trilogy which details the life of Congressman John Lewis. Lewis was an instrumental individual in the Civil Rights movement. That successful graphic novel lead to Top Shelf partnering with the Fellowship of Reconciliation to publish new editions of Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story. The comic is an amazing piece of history that has been used to promote peaceful, non-violent protests around the world, being translated into numerous languages.

The 16 page comic is a wonderful summary of the Civil Rights movement taking individuals through the methods and thought process used to protest Montgomery policy that African Americans were to ride in the back of the bus. The narration is from an individual named “Jones” and his experience through the protest. After the story wraps up, there’s a step by step checklist that breaks down the exact methodology used and also how its been used throughout the world, in particular to win India’s independence.

Top Shelf has focused on not just reprinting the comic in modern standards, they’ve used similar paper and coloring from the time that it originally was printed. This looks like a copy you might have held 40 years ago. A fantastic recreation of an important piece of comic and civil rights history.

Everyone should check this out, to learn about United States history, but also how comics have been used to create change and in political movements.

All fees and proceeds have been waived by Top Shelf and will be donated to the Fellowship of Reconciliation, from your purchase of this timeless and globally influential piece of comic book history.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story

march-mlk-1958-coverOne of the best releases of 2013 was Top Shelf‘s March, which details the life of Congressman John Lewis. Lewis was an instrumental individual in the Civil Rights movement. That successful graphic novel lead to Top Shelf partnering with the Fellowship of Reconciliation to publish new editions of Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story. The comic is an amazing piece of history that has been used to promote peaceful, non-violent protests around the world, being translated into numerous languages.

The 16 page comic is a wonderful summary of the Civil Rights movement taking individuals through the methods and thought process used to protest Montgomery policy that African Americans were to ride in the back of the bus. The narration is from an individual named “Jones” and his experience through the protest. After the story wraps up, there’s a step by step checklist that breaks down the exact methodology used and also how its been used throughout the world, in particular to win India’s independence.

Top Shelf has focused on not just reprinting the comic in modern standards, they’ve used similar paper and coloring from the time that it originally was printed. This looks like a copy you might have held 40 years ago. A fantastic recreation of an important piece of comic and civil rights history.

Everyone should check this out, to learn about United States history, but also how comics have been used to create change and in political movements.

All fees and proceeds have been waived by Top Shelf and will be donated to the Fellowship of Reconciliation, from your purchase of this timeless and globally influential piece of comic book history.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Listen to the Archive of Graphic Policy Radio’s Roundtable on the X-Men & the MLK Legacy

This past Monday the latest episode of Graphic Policy Radio hit the air with numerous special guests joining our roundtable discussion. While the main discussion was about the X-Men and their use as an allegory of the civil rights, it covered the series throughout its many incarnations and writers. The discussion also veered into the depiction of minorities in “comic” entertainment and Marvel’s continuity.

Guests joining in on the conversation were:

  • Steve Attewell – A political & union activist, Steve holds a PhD in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the founder and writer of Race for the Iron Throne as well as The Realignment Project
  • David Brothers – David works for a comics publisher, blogs about stuff at 4thletter.net, & tweets about everything at @hermanos. Find his life story at iamdavidbrothers.com.
  • Gene Demby – Gene Demby is an American writer and journalist & the lead blogger for NPR’s Code Switch team.
  • Emma Houxbois – Emma is a queer blogger for hire out of Vancouver, BC most recently attached to Girls Read Comics. Follow her @emmahouxbois
  • Kendra James – a blogger who writes on race, comics, television & more for Racialicious, follow her @wriglied

You can listen to the archive below or go here and download it for on the go.

This Monday Night, Graphic Policy Radio: X-Men and the MLK Legacy Roundtable

GP Radio pic MondayThis Monday join Graphic Policy Radio for a special episode where we examine the X-Men, Professor X, Magneto and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The episode will air live at 10pm ET, Monday Night. You can listen to it here.

Joining us is numerous special guests including:

  • Steve Attewell – A political and union activist, Steve holds a PhD in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the founder and writer of Race for the Iron Throne as well as The Realignment Project
  • David Brothers – David works for a comics publisher, blogs about stuff at 4thletter.net, and tweets about everything at @hermanos. Find his life story at iamdavidbrothers.com.
  • Gene Demby – Gene Demby is an American writer and journalist and the lead blogger for NPR’s Code Switch team.
  • Aaron Rand Freeman – Aaron is the audio engineer for the TWIB podcast network & a co-host on TWIB Radio and We Nerd Hard. I also host my own sports show called Sportsball.
  • Emma Houxbois – Emma is a queer blogger for hire out of Vancouver, BC most recently attached to Girls Read Comics. You can follow her on Twitter @emmahouxbois
  • Kendra James – a blogger who writes on race, comics, television and more for Racialicious. You can follow her on Twitter @wriglied

Join us for a special extra packed and extra long episode of Graphic Policy Radio. Tweet us your thoughts to @graphicpolicy. You can listen in an interact live.

Review: Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story

march-mlk-1958-coverOne of the best releases of 2013 was Top Shelf‘s March, which details the life of Congressman John Lewis. Lewis was an instrumental individual in the Civil Rights movement. That successful graphic novel lead to Top Shelf partnering with the Fellowship of Reconciliation to publish new editions of Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story. The comic is an amazing piece of history that has been used to promote peaceful, non-violent protests around the world, being translated into numerous languages.

The 16 page comic is a wonderful summary of the Civil Rights movement taking individuals through the methods and thought process used to protest Montgomery policy that African Americans were to ride in the back of the bus. The narration is from an individual named “Jones” and his experience through the protest. After the story wraps up, there’s a step by step checklist that breaks down the exact methodology used and also how its been used throughout the world, in particular to win India’s independence.

Top Shelf has focused on not just reprinting the comic in modern standards, they’ve used similar paper and coloring from the time that it originally was printed. This looks like a copy you might have held 40 years ago. A fantastic recreation of an important piece of comic and civil rights history.

Everyone should check this out, to learn about United States history, but also how comics have been used to create change and in political movements.

All fees and proceeds have been waived by Top Shelf and will be donated to the Fellowship of Reconciliation, from your purchase of this timeless and globally influential piece of comic book history.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Catch Graphic Policy Radio Tonight, Live at 9pm!

GP Radio Special Mondya 9pmIt’s Monday and that means it’s a new episode of Graphic Policy Radio which mixes politics, comics and geekdom. You can listen in LIVE at 9pm ET. This week we’ve got a lot on tap!

  • We review Velvet #3
  • We discuss and review Three #4
  • In honor of MLK Day we discuss Top Shelf’s March and the history of Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story
  • We take on CSA: Confederate States of America Vol. 1: Southern Cross
  • We also get in an EARLY REVIEW of Undertow #1 from Image Comics.

We discuss all of that and more on this episode! We want to hear your thoughts too. Call in at (619) 768-2952 or tweet us @graphicpolicy.

Set your clocks and listen in LIVE at 9pm ET.

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