>> You're listening to "Mid-Day' Addition on KPBS. Marvels Black Panther opens this weekend. This is San Diego's first ever black comics day. We spoke with the event organizer on what to expect on Saturday. But first, this is a little trailer for Black Panther. >> That was a little tease of the Black Panther film that opens today. Are you excited about this film? >> Yes, very much. I think that the excitement generates from seen a virtually entirely black cast of characters in lead roles and supporting roles, with a nice budget. It is a point of pride, I think to see this come across the screen. >> Black Panthers was originally created by two white men. As part of the reason that you are doing this black comics day to focus on black artists that are currently creating more diverse characters now? >> I wanted to put a spotlight. If you go to San Diego comic con it is so big now, with your black white, or whatever, it is very hard to be noticed there because there's so much going on. Information overload. I wanted to get -- people do not have to go searching high and low to find this. Here's the day, here is the spot, easy access, it is free of charge, go over there, meet them, see them. Help get them on the map. That is what the whole show is about. It is not just for black people to show up, it is for all race, creed and color to show up and basically have a cultural experience to see what is going on on the other side of the fence. I wanted to be an annual thing. Hopefully, be just as well known as comic con. >> So people coming to the Malcolm X. library on Saturday, we can they expect? >> There are books on hand. There all kinds of merchandises -- merchandise like posters, food, we also have a children's art contest where the first prize winner wins 50,000 -- $50. Basically, we will talk about why it is important to have black creators in the industry. The host of this -- and his two guests are going to be David Walker, who is a prolific writer. He worked on the cage. The other guest is John Jennings who is a professor who teaches a course D -- that uses comic as a vehicle. >> Do you want to especially to target kids, to get them exposed to these two -- comics? >> Yes, if schools get behind the this, it will be even more successful. It really does benefit your students because, as far as black children are concerned, they are so boxed into the stereotype, the only things they see are as success stories are rap artists, athletes, and everything else is a novelty. I think that it is incumbent on the school system -- the show that I put together is out there, get your students there. Get your parents to bring them. Because this is an opportunity, especially for young artists. This is your opportunity to be professionals. This is your opportunity to network with professionals. >> Do you think that what the black comics day is going to offer children the ability to see and meet the creators? >> Definitely. If I had gone to a show like this, there is no telling how much that would have inspired me. It is creative venue, with easier access and I think for children, like 12 to teenage years, they get a chance to meet these folks. >> We are going to have over 20 industry professionals to independent professionals. Black people are at this stage, in my opinion, we need to implement the changes that we want. Versus asking for the changes that we want, waiting for them. Waiting for somebody to be quit" -- "sympathetic." Personally, I am over that. I have enough power myself. So that we can get to the point that we are not waiting to do a Black Panther film, we are not waiting, we have those types of characters ourselves. We only need the distribution, the exposure to get the machine going. I put the black comics stay together to promote this, to get us on the map. Add a little spice to the mix. >> I want to thank you so much for taking time to talk to me. >> Thank you. >> That was KPBS arts reporter. Complex comics day takes place on Saturday from 11 AM-5 PM at the Malcolm X. library.
With Marvel’s "Black Panther" poised to take over the box office this weekend, it’s the perfect time to shine the spotlight on independent black artists and creators.
"Black Panther" is noteworthy for having African-American director Ryan Coogler at the helm and for having an almost entirely black cast filling out the roles. The film is setting pre-sale records for Marvel and is being talked about as a cultural event with black communities galvanizing around screenings. This is all great news for improved diversity behind and in front of the camera for not just comic book movies but for the Hollywood industry as well.
But two things to note about "Black Panther:" one, the character was created in 1966 by two white guys (Stan Lee and Jack Kirby), and two, it is about an African king not an African-American character. Neither one of those points detracts from the film, but it points to reasons why Keithan Jones of Kid Comics is excited about San Diego's first ever Black Comix Day. He wants to shine a spotlight on black artists and creators, many of whom are creating contemporary African-American characters and superheroes.
"I wanted to create a venue that isolated them, focused on them, so people don’t have to go searching high and low to find these black creators," Jones said. "Here’s the day that they will all be at in one spot (with) easy access. It’s free of charge, so go in there, meet them, see their work, buy their work, develop a relationship with them, and help get them on the map."
Jones loves Comic-Con and attends regularly but he said, "It’s so big now that it’s basically a Hollywood event and whether you are black, white, Chinese, or whatever, if you are an independent artist it’s very hard to be noticed there because there is so much going on. It’s information overload."
But Black Comix Day will be an intimate event at the Malcolm X Library with close to two dozen comic book professionals on hand to meet with attendees, sell their wares, and sign autographs. Jones, who created the comic "The Power Knights," pointed out that the event will allow young artists and students from the black community see comics creators who look like them and that "can be inspiring," he said.
He encouraged teachers to "get your students there, get the parents to bring them there because this is an opportunity, especially for young artists, here’s your opportunity to meet professionals. Here’s your opportunity to network with professionals and even to bring your own work and show your work and get critiqued."
But he is quick to point out that the event is meant for everyone. It's definitely kid-friendly but there is plenty for adults to enjoy, and it's not just geared to the black community.
There will be a panel called Heroes Rise: The Importance of Black Artists in Popular Media focused on black creators at 2 p.m. in the library's conference room. It will be hosted by Hannibal Tabu and featuring David Walker (writer for "Shaft," "Luke Cage," and "Super Justice Force") and educator John Jennings.
Jones said, "Black people need to get a financial foothold in this country so that we can implement the changes we want versus asking for it, or waiting for it, or waiting for someone to be sympathetic. I don't have time for that. I have enough power and freedom to do this myself. What I need and what these guys at the show need is the support from our own community and outside our community so that we can get to the point where we are not waiting for Marvel to do a 'Black Panther' film, we have our own ideas, our own characters. We are not waiting for Jack Kirby and Stan Lee to have the consciousness of mind to create a Black Panther. We have those types of characters ourselves. We only need the distribution, the exposure to get that machine going."
That's why he created Kid Comics so that he could publish his own black superhero comic, "The Power Knights."
There will also be a food truck and a children's art contest with a $50 prize at Black Comix Day. Jones also designed a great souvenir book for the event that lists all the black artists and creators appearing at the show, and it serves as a handy reference guide for some comics you might want to check out.
Malcolm X Library is located at 5148 Market Street.
If you would like to hear David Walker talk about Blaxploitation Cinema with me, check out Cinema Junkie Podcast 60.
