From the paraÂnoid funÂdaÂmenÂtalÂist tracts of Jack Chick, to Ronald McDonÂald proÂmotÂing scoutÂing, to an upcomÂing graphÂic novÂel explainÂing the sciÂence of cliÂmate change, comics and graphÂic novÂels have long been a means of both prosÂeÂlyÂtizÂing and informÂing, conÂdensÂing comÂplex narÂraÂtives into a digestible forÂmat with broad appeal. The mediÂum is so elasÂtic, it can seemÂingÂly adapt itself to any kind of stoÂry, even the most soberÂly seriÂous and hisÂtorÂiÂcalÂly sigÂnifÂiÂcant. For examÂple, GeorÂgia ConÂgressÂman John Lewis, vetÂerÂan of the CivÂil Rights moveÂment, chose to tell his story—in colÂlabÂoÂraÂtion with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell—as a graphÂic novÂel called March (makÂing him the first lawÂmakÂer to appear at a ComÂic-Con). Part one of three was pubÂlished late last year and rose to the top of the New York Times and WashÂingÂton Post bestÂseller lists. March has also become an imporÂtant resource for teachÂers and librarÂiÂans (downÂload a free 11-page teachÂers guide from pubÂlishÂer Top Shelf here).
Lewis’ choice of mediÂum may seem motiÂvatÂed by the curÂrent esteem in which the form is held in scholÂarÂly and popÂuÂlar cirÂcles alike, but he was priÂmarÂiÂly influÂenced by a much earÂliÂer civÂil rights comÂic book, MarÂtin Luther King and the MontÂgomery StoÂry. (See covÂer up top. Read it online here.) Begun just five months after Rosa Parks’ hisÂtoric refusal, the comÂic aimed to disÂsemÂiÂnate the epic tale of the MontÂgomery, AL bus boyÂcott throughÂout the South. A secÂtion called “The MontÂgomery Method” (first page above) instructs readÂers on the nonÂviÂoÂlent resisÂtance techÂniques employed by civÂil rights workÂers in AlabaÂma, with a primer on GandÂhi and his influÂence on King. In the short video below, see NYU proÂfesÂsor and King scholÂar Sylvia Rhor explain the genÂeÂsis of the comÂic in the work of Alfred HasÂsler, then leader of CivÂil Rights orgaÂniÂzaÂtion FelÂlowÂship of RecÂonÂcilÂiÂaÂtion. HasÂsler, a litÂtle-known figÂure who died in 1991, is now receivÂing more recogÂniÂtion through simÂiÂlar means. He himÂself recentÂly became the subÂject of a graphÂic novÂel project (and now docÂuÂmenÂtary) called The Secret of the 5 PowÂers about his work with BudÂdhist peace activists Thich Nhat Hanh and SisÂter Chan Khong durÂing the VietÂnam War.
As Rhor notes above, the King comÂic has had tremenÂdous influÂence, not only in the past, and not only on Rep. Lewis in the present. In 2003–2004, The MontÂgomery StoÂry was transÂlatÂed into AraÂbic, and EgyptÂian revÂoÂluÂtionÂarÂies durÂing the Arab Spring found inspiÂraÂtion in the comÂic book that “turned MarÂtin Luther King into a superÂhero”
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
200,000 MarÂtin Luther King Papers Go Online
MLK’s Last Days and Final Speech
Josh Jones is a writer and musiÂcian based in Durham, NC. FolÂlow him at @jdmagness
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