5 Political Cartoon Collections You Need

Political cartoons show up in our lives all the time, even if we barely notice them. They’re published in newspapers and magazines, shared on Facebook and Tumblr, and even make appearances in history books. These bits of commentary make the rounds as soon as they’re created, then disappear when the next news cycle hits. Leaving it at that, though, is a big mistake. When we go back to a political cartoon later, whether it’s been a month or a decade, they provide some of the most insightful looks at history. They aren’t detached and logical, but emotional and present, conveying social attitudes, frustrations, and concerns people were experiencing in that moment. And they usually do it in only a few panels. These five collections are some of the most interesting and entertaining looks at American society.
Eat More Comics by The Nib; Editors Matt Bors and Eleri Mai Harris: The Nib was formed in 2013 by Pulitzer Prize finalist Matt Bors. Part of New Look Media, The Nib publishes editorial cartoons and comics online, using work from many independent artists – a refreshing change from the long newspaper tradition of having just one or two staff cartoonists who did all the cartoons. You’re probably familiar with them even if you don’t realize it since so many of their political cartoons have gone viral and been posted all over social media. Eat More Comics is packed with everything from powerful single page cartoons to long-form nonfiction comics. It’ll keep you thinking for days.

They Shoot Black People, Don’t They? by Keith Knight: Keith Knight is an icon of black political commentary and comics. Most recently Knight has been applauded for his police brutality comics – which he has been making for more than two decades. Bringing these comics together began as a presentation Knight gave at conferences. Lucky for us, he’s compiled it with additional content and commentary. Knight’s work is a perfect example of what we can learn from political cartoons. While the mainstream media is realtively new to the issue, these cartoons are undeniable proof of a longstanding problem.

Jackie Ormes: The First African American Woman Cartoonist by Nancy Goldstein: This one is a little bit of a cheat because it isn’t JUST comics, it’s also a prose biography of this amazing woman. Unfortunately, this is the only book that gathers a significant amount Ormes’s work. Jackie Ormes has been all but forgotten by history (like many black women), but she is one of the most important voices in political cartoons. Ormes was part of Chicago’s black elite after WWII, mingling with stars and politicians. Her bitingly funny and whip-smart work was published in landmark black newspapers like the Chicago Defender and Pittsburgh Courier. She was wildly popular. The author includes captions that put each cartoon into historical and political context, though many of them speak for themselves. Seeing the issues of this time period through the eyes of a black woman living them firsthand is priceless.