Jackie Ormes (1911-1985) was the first black woman to write and draw widely distributed comic strips.
Born Zelda Mavin Jackson on Aug. 1, 1911, in Pittsburgh, Ormes enjoyed drawing as a child and was praised for her artistic abilities. Following graduation, she began working as a proofreader for The Pittsburgh Courier, which was once the country’s most widely circulated black newspaper.
On May 1, 1937, Ormes created her first cartoon, Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem: an action, romance and soap opera comic featuring a black heroine named Torchy Brown. The Courier distributed it to 14 other black papers around the country making Ormes the first black woman in America to become a syndicated cartoonist. She remained the only one until the 1990s.
Torchy started out as a teenager living with her family, but quickly developed into a strong and independent woman. She was all the things black women in mainstream media of the time were not — resolute, intelligent, resourceful, courageous … and sensual, a word critics and commentators have repeatedly used to describe her. Ormes drew her with a bolder pen line than was generally used which helped convey the inner power of the character herself. Torchy was ahead of its time, tackling issues like sexism, racism and environmental pollution particularly perpetuated upon black populated areas.
Jackie Ormes’ Torchy’s Togs
In her first incarnation, Torchy lasted only until 1940. She returned a decade later, however, in a new weekly comic, Torchy in Heartbeats, which ran until 1955. Ormes also marketed her in paper doll form, as Torchy Togs. Young girls liked her as a paper doll, while older girls who could sew, made their own versions of Torchy’s togs. Black servicemen used them as pin-ups.
In 1942, Ormes moved to Chicago and began writing for the Chicago Defender. Her single panel cartoon, Candy, about an attractive and wisecracking housemaid, appeared in the Defender.
Three years later, Ormes introduced another single panel cartoon, Patty Jo ‘n Ginger. It ran for eleven years and featured a big sister-little sister set-up, with the precocious, insightful, and socially/politically-aware Patty Jo as the only speaker, and the beautiful adult woman, Ginger, as a sometime pin-up figure and fashion mannequin. The Patty Jo character went on to become the nation’s first positive black character image doll and hit toy stores in 1948. Patty Jo was the first black doll to have an extensive upscale wardrobe and the Patty Jo dolls are now collector’s items.
In 1950, the Courier began an eight-page color comics insert, where Ormes re-invented Torchy in a new comic strip, Torchy in Heartbeats. This Torchy was a beautiful, independent woman who finds adventure while seeking true love. Ormes expressed her talent for fashion design as well as her vision of a beautiful black female body in the accompanying Torchy Togs paper doll cut outs. Few cartoonists have ever been as fashion-conscious as Ormes, who modeled her protagonists on her own appearance.
Ormes was devoted to leftist causes and the FBI amassed a 287-page file on her, which didn’t mention her cartooning at all. As McCarthyism and the Civil Rights Movement gathered steam, the best jokes in Patty Jo ‘n Ginger were often the most politically pointed. In one 1955 strip, published shortly after 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered, Patty-Jo approaches her sister: “I don’t want to seem touchy on the subject, … but that new little white tea-kettle just whistled at me!” A few months later, Ormes’ drawing style changed dramatically, becoming looser and more awkward, and by the end of 1956, she’d left the comics page for good; nobody is sure why.
Ormes continued to create art, including murals, still lifes and portraits. She contributed to her South Side Chicago community by volunteering to produce fundraiser fashion shows and was also on the founding board of directors for the DuSable Museum of African American History. A passionate doll collector, Ormes possessed over 150 antique and modern dolls in her collection and was active in Guys and Gals Funtastique Doll Club, a United Federation of Doll Clubs chapter in Chicago. Jackie Ormes died in Chicago on January 2, 1986, at the age of 74.
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Concrete Loop features ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week honoring black people who have played pivotal roles in history and submissions are welcome.
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Outstanding to hear about fellow black artists. I’m one myself.
Wow, what an interesting history tidbit! We are so much more amazing then we are aware at times.
We’ve had our hand in so many historical events, changes and inventions. It is sad that these things are not taught to the masses as part of curriculum rather then as an elective.
Thanks for the facts CL!
Love it!!!!!
y’all really bring it with these…props to you guys!
this was interesting…so i wonder what really happened after that emmitt till cartoon ran…
We (Black women) have been have been setting standards for years. We need to keep letting the world see our talent . This was interesting.
I love the black history spotlights. This site is covers all realms of blackness: history, entertainment, fashion, politics….I love it!
Yes, this was refreshing. I’m glad she contributed something positive to race and the culture. Awesome!
Amazing! She is from my hometown too!
I love these post it interesting to read them.
That was very interesting. I’m gonna look into her more. I love ya’ll 4 these =o)
I’m really feelin the weekly doses of history!! I’m becoming more “in touch” every week!!
very interesting my cousin has one of those collector dolls in her collection I also seen it but never thought of the story behind it
i love this
Yeh..V.happi that CL is doing these kind of things…big upp to all da inteligent.beautiful black women everi..America..Nigeria..south America..u name it
Thanks J.Dakar for the weekly BH updates. I don’t always have time to read them in their entirety but it is MUCH APPRECIATED! Keep up the good work
I LOOOOOVe the black history spotlight! (and im very pleased that i can read it, in its entirety) You guys really find some interesting people to write about! Keep up the good work!
I LOVE IT!!! We set so many standards by the things we’ve accomplished; yet we don’t seem to realize it.
Very cool history facts, she was pretty too.
Now THAT was interesting! I love comics and it would be great to see more black (men and) women involved in that medium.
Thank you CL! Fantastic again!
J. Dakar keep up the good work! Reading new and interesting things about our history is such a breath of fresh air. Thanks CL!!
OK PGHNNC!…which part?
Lovely story! I wish you all would put up at least one of these stories per day regarding black history. Since we have contributed soooooooooo much to the worlds society, Im sure you would NEVER run out of people, groups, issues etc to display daily. Thanks
I’m a long-time reader of CL and now, a first-time commenter. Jackie Ormes was an amazing, intelligent black woman and hearing about the accomplishments of many ‘unsung’ African-American heroes makes me so proud.
This is the precise reason why CL stands out as one of the best black blogs. Keep up the good work.
Thanks CL! That was very interesting.
OMG!! Thank you sooo much. I really enjoyed reading this. I’m an artist and fashion designer. I’ve never heard of Jackie before. She is an inspiration
Great i loved this post. This goes to show us that Blk women,hell women of all races shouldn’t have to resort to selling sex to make it in this world,people always say,well i’m blessed with hips,ass,tits etc.God blessed us with a brain too, we should try to utilize that as well.
Right on! This is the business. Educational and Entertaining. CL is both of these. That is why I visit this site before I do most things…it wakes you up like Folgers! Honors to Jackie Ormes and all the other black historical figures that continue to make a difference.
Proud to be black!I’m loving it.
This is good because it informs of black people who don’t get alot of recognition like MLK or Malcolm X…need to know as much black history as possible
It makes me really sad to see only 4 comments to this post. Everyone wants to comment about J and Raven. Ridiculous! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this aspect of ConcreteLoop. J. Dakar. I am so glad they brought you on. You never cease to amaze me in terms of the people you spotlight every single week. This section of the blog does my heart good and certainly helps broaden my knowledge about influential Black peoples. Keep doing your thing J. Thank you ConcreteLoop for not catering to the BET style coon anthics of some other blogsites.
Very good.
I enjoy these BHSpotlights so much!
thanks for sharing
Thank you.
Wow, this is a great information on our history! I just love these spotlights! Keep em’ coming!
Thanks to this post,I just purchased a book about Jackie Ormes.
I hadn’t heard of her before. This was a nice read. Keep up the good work
Learn something new…keep up the good work yall!
I think that this is very cool. I wonder if i can look up some of her stuff on the web when I get home.
Damn, that was insightful!
I have really enjoyed these black history posts. I was unaware of many of these individuals and like to be informed. Thanks for sharing a good read! : 0 )
Wow, J. Dakar you always have the best posts and inform me on people I had previously not known of that were/are very important and influential people…you’ll make a great teacher…Thanks
a TRUE lady!!!
Thank you, this is such a great site to read never told black facts. This story really should be made into a movie, or written as an autobiography, because children should read about positive black images, and positive images period.
Wow thanks so much. I never heard of her sadly. But thanks to you guys I know. That is amamzing.
amazing* sorry
She is so pretty I didn’t even realize that she made african american history I had no clue they didnt teach us that back when I was in school and she was born where Im from yep Pittsburgh is reppin the great beginings of major contributors!!!!!! 412 all day every day
This is amazing. I would love to read some of her comics.
This was such a nice story J. Dakar. I have got to get back to my art. I have never heard of this lady but then, I wonder why not?
Too bad people like her are not taught in school. Keep on doing what you all do at CL. This site is so nice!! 
This was a great story! I’ve never heard of her…I love our history because there’s so much that is learned. I am disappointed, though, that there aren’t more comments on this article. If this was something relating to the latest “gossip” there would be 200+ comments….geez!!! KNOW YOUR HISTORY!!!
Yay! i learned something new today!!! 2 bad i never heard of her b4, im going 2 have 2 do some research
She was so talented and FINE!
It shows that we can make a change with whatEVER talent God gives us!
Scurv
“Ormes was devoted to leftist causes and the FBI amassed a 287-page file on her, which didn’t mention her cartooning at all. As McCarthyism and the Civil Rights Movement gathered steam, the best jokes in Patty Jo ‘n Ginger were often the most politically pointed. In one 1955 strip, published shortly after 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered, Patty-Jo approaches her sister: “I don’t want to seem touchy on the subject, … but that new little white tea-kettle just whistled at me!” A few months later, Ormes’ drawing style changed dramatically, becoming looser and more awkward, and by the end of 1956, she’d left the comics page for good; nobody is sure why.”
Can someone please fill in this info!!!! I want to know what happened!! i wouldnt be suprised if the FBI drugged her, they use to test LSD on people.But does anyone has facts
Great post! I always love these tidbits you guys do. Black History Life, not BHM!
Hey
Thanks J. for this post
I haven’t been to this site in a while
and i love these Black History posts
This was one that i found very interesting…
Not too many women in comics and even fewer
black women, actually this is the first black woman
i heard of and i didn’t hear of her until this post…
Hey MiMi where did you get that book?…
Wow this is interesting,
thank you J. Dakar!
Big ups to CL,I love how unique and fresh you guys are!
First black woman? correct me if im wrong but she looks mixed race to me.
Thanks for sharing! I plan on buying the Patty-Jo doll. Love hearing stories about African Americans, especially ones we never hear anything about. Keep up the great work Concrete Loop!
wow that made me cry.. my great grandmother used to call me “PATTY JO” when i asked her why she calls me that she told me simple.. my dad name is patrick and my mom name is jonell.. how ironic is that. now i know where she probably got the idea to call me that.. WOW.. im happy to find out about my black history. “we need this in school” rather then learn about we were only slaves.