Auto-biographical comics stay a steadfast favourite of mine within the indie and alternative realms of comics. Ode to Keisha, written by Jamila Rowser (Wash Day), illustrated by Trinidad Escobar (Drawing Power, Be Homosexual, Do Comics), and edited by Marly Pierre-Louis, is an eighteen-page autobiographical comedian about friendship, racism, and identification. Black Josei Press is an award-winning indie comedian ebook publishing firm centered on celebrating comics made by and for girls and non-binary folks of colour. This comedian was initially created and revealed by Versal for his or her VERSO/subscription field and is now accessible for readers who love studying about Black ladies in every single place, across the globe.
Ode to Keisha briefly however artfully explores the friendship of two five-year-old Black ladies within the early ’90s who meet in kindergarten within the Netherlands. Author Rowser speaks about her distinctive expertise of being a brown-skinned lady born in England after which residing in a completely completely different nation whose language she didn’t even communicate. At the moment, there have been no different kids who seemed like her, after which Keisha, one other little Black lady, joined her class!
The comedian oh so sweetly showcases pages of the 2 ladies noticing one another, first talking, and the locations they go to across the faculty just like the swing set and the perfect place to have a look at tulips once they bloom. The black and white format of the paintings makes the strange merely magical: the 2 little Black ladies on the web page are emphasised on the web page by their ponytails, full with barrettes and balls. Add in particulars just like the ebook cowl of beloved childhood ebook traditional Mufaro’s Stunning Daughters and the “brown/cafe/brun” coloured crayon {that a} fellow classmate refuses to make use of and chooses purple when he colours darker-skinned folks that add weight to the visuals.
Escobar, as illustrator, makes very good makes use of of not simply the colour black but in addition with the positioning of the panels, so studying by no means permits both the story or the paintings to look cluttered or exhausting to comply with. In doing this, there’s additionally respiration room to pause and mirror on sure moments like with the brown and purple crayons when the author mentions that she didn’t perceive why she knew that it was improper however felt a kinship in not having to clarify it to her new good friend Keisha. There may be additionally duality in visuals of the women in apparent poses of pleasure—laughing when taking part in with dolls, working collectively on the playground. There are different moments like the place a determine from native folklore that carries a racist look arrives through the holidays on the faculty that strikes the 2 buddies silent however beholden to solely one another.
At its coronary heart, Ode to Keisha is an earnest and loving take a look at the love for fellow Black ladies and the way sisterhood will be fashioned early on in life and needs to be treasured. This comedian actually leans into the inside energy that Black and brown of us, notably ladies, can obtain once they see themselves in buddies, classmates, and others who’ve shared life experiences. However, finally, it speaks to the extraordinary revelation of with the ability to see a mirrored image of themselves at an early age. At solely eighteen pages, one may assume that an entire story can be hard-pressed to kind at first look, but I guarantee you it does delve into important themes. These themes embrace the facility of friendship, how kids start to navigate the world independently, and the way Blackness is seen and never celebrated in locations abroad, not essentially america.
Auto-biographical comedian lovers will adore this story that explores friendship, racism, and identification in a narrative a couple of pricey childhood good friend. Quick and candy however extremely shifting, Ode to Keisha facilities Black ladies entrance and heart whereas being written and illustrated by creatives who usually are not unfamiliar with being the one marginalized particular person within the room or on the desk.
Ode to Keisha is out there now from Black Josei Press.
Ode to Keisha
TL;DR
Auto-biographical comedian lovers will adore this story that explores friendship, racism, and identification in a narrative a couple of pricey childhood good friend. Quick and candy however extremely shifting, Ode to Keisha facilities Black ladies entrance and heart whereas being written and illustrated by creatives who usually are not unfamiliar with being the one marginalized particular person within the room or on the desk.
Carrie navigates the world as a author, editor, and media scholar who firmly believes that we will and we should always critique the media we eat. She’s a lover and fierce supporter of all issues comics, manga, webcomics, manhwa, and graphic novels–discover her rereading Yotsuba for healthful vibes.
