Students, faculty and cartoon enthusiasts filled the seats of the Cartoon Research Library to listen to an Ohio State professor discuss the work of a Pittsburgh Courier editorial cartoonist Monday.
“Strands of black political thought can be traced through Sam Milai’s legacy,” said Rebecca Wanzo, an assistant professor of women’s studies and African American and African studies. “The 1930s through the 1960s was the height of Milai’s work. This is when he begins to hit a stride.”
Sam Milai was an artist and cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Courier, an influential black newspaper, for 33 years.
Wanzo said Milai’s editorial cartoons exhibit the everyday cultural concerns of African Americans during his era.
“His work illustrates different kinds of discussions in the black community,” Wanzo said.
“He uses a blend of sorrow and sincerity to express frustration with the unfulfilled political processes in democracy.”
About 187 cartoons, correspondences and photographs of Sam Milai are the feature of a new exhibit at the Cartoon Research Library.
The cartoons in the exhibit feature commentary on voting rights, citizenship, segregation, the Vietnam War, census participation, President Nixon’s administration and black youth.
Wanzo said Milai’s work at the Pittsburgh Courier was an example of an African American illustrating different black representational models without the mediation of white owners.
“[Milai’s work] shows how African Americans thought they could express themselves in public discourse,” Wanzo said. “They were very interested in uplifting the black race.”
The cartoons in the OSU exhibit were found by Sam Milai’s granddaughter in a suitcase from her mother’s attic, according to the Cartoon Research Library press release. She then donated the cartoons to the Cartoon Research Library.
“The gift happened because of someone giving [Milai’s] family the contact information of the Cartoon Research Library,” said Lucy Caswell, a professor of communication and curator at the Cartoon Research Library. “We are grateful [Milai’s family] knew they had a treasure and wanted to find a home for it.”
Brendan Shaw, a graduate student in women’s studies, said that he believes the exhibit will be a new way to frame some of the issues African Americans faced during Milai’s time.
“The collection looks at a medium connected to the Civil Rights era that we don’t normally think of,” Shaw said. “It’s pretty fascinating.”
The “Sam Milai of the Pittsburgh Courier” exhibit will be at the Cartoon Research Library until December 31.
Amber Phelps can be reached at [email protected]
