AN INTERVIEW WITH JERRY CRAFT

[Z. Julian Cenac]

An Interview with Jerry Craft
Interview conducted by Z. Julian Cenac, Comixfan Staff.

There are no other comics out there like Mama’s Boyz. Jerry Craft’s comic strip covers a variety of issues – diabetes, AIDS and teenage pregnancy – but from a family-centred and educational point of view. Mr. Craft has gone on to receive two Outstanding Supporter Awards from the American Diabetes Association, and an award from the DC Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy. The comic primarily follows the life of Pauline and her two sons, Tyrell and Yusuf. Combining education, some humour, serious issues and maintaining an all-ages approach is no easy task, but 18 years of Mama’s Boyz shows that it is indeed possible.

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Comixfan: When you were starting out, what kinds of responses were you getting when promoting Mama’s Boyz? Surely a comic about positive family values (especially an African American family) would be a bit of a gamble?

Jerry Craft: "Gamble" is a good word. And it still is for the most part. I've always tried to market my strip to newspapers and magazines that run in Black communities because they "get it." It wasn't until I began to talk to comic strip syndicates that I first started hearing negative comments. The worst part was that I tried so hard to make it a positive strip and was STILL met with comments that people in the midwest would never be able to identify with the characters because they lived in such a "bad neighborhood."

The problem was that a lot of these comments were editors dealing with their own preconceived notions of Black teenagers. Because when I looked at the samples that I sent around, 99% of them took place inside of the boys' living room, or in the bookstore that the family owns and operates. I never understood where the "bad neighborhood" comments came from.

Then when I wanted to do a Mama's Boyz book, I quickly found out that publishers REALLY didn't get was I wasn't trying to do. One compared it to a Black sitcom, which was exactly the opposite of what I wanted to hear. So I published my books myself.

CXF: Has there been any pressure to change the core of Mama’s Boyz – to reduce the positive hue, or stop it from covering the issues that it does?

JC: There's always a bit of internal pressure. Especially when I first saw the Boondocks cartoon on TV. I wondered if my "family humor" would ever be appealing enough to obtain that level of success. But I chose not to change.

I have also occasionally gotten into trouble from some of my comics. One story in particular that I did on teen pregnancy got the strip dropped from a newspaper. But that's what I like to do, address issues to help teach (not get dropped by papers). Over the years Mama's Boyz has been involved with lots of organizations that reach out to our communities. So I've done stories on diabetes, AIDS, organ and tissue donation, teen pregnancy, childhood obesity... I find that people are more willing to embrace the info in comic-strip form as opposed to reading a brochure that says "if you don't change your diet you may lose a foot." I'd love to do a anti-drug campaign.

CXF: It is interesting that the comic remains so positive and welcoming despite covering serious issues. How did this seemingly conflicting, yet complementary stance evolve?

JC: I remember getting a newsletter back in the day called "Black on Black Communications" that talked about how diabetes was running rampant through the Black and Latino communities. So I called up the American Diabetes Association to ask them if they wanted to work together. They JUMPED at the chance. So the first thing I did was to weave it into the story of the strip.

Up until then I had never explained the absence of Dad in the strip. But I knew I didn't want it to be like one of the old Black sitcoms where Dad went out for cigarettes 30 years ago and never came back. So I did my research and made it that he passed away due to complications from diabetes. To me, it really brought the strip together. It told why the boys don't have their dad, and it also told why Mom is very protective about what they eat. Plus it added a nice conflict with her dad who is a retired chef. Most of what he cooks is fried or unhealthy. "Ohio pork cake" is one of his specialties.













CXF: I find the mother – Pauline – seems to be the major driving force behind the positive messages in the comic. Where does the inspiration for her come from?

JC: It's funny because Yusuf, the youngest son, used to be the star. Then when I had kids, the parental aspect of my life took over and I began to enjoy featuring Mom a lot more. It's sort of like the Simpsons now, is the star Bart or Homer?

CXF: Why did you choose this particular family set-up?

JC: When I was growing up, it seemed like most of my friends were being raised by either their mom or their grandmother. I was one of the few who had a dad who was really active in my life. (He was an amazing man!) So I did a strip to honor all the women who were raising sons that were as bad as some of my friends. This was way before the whole "baby mama" boom where now there are probably more single moms than married ones. And now they're teenagers. I wanted to honor the mom who bust her butt working all day then rushed home to make sure her kids were taken care of.

CXF: I saw your flash cartoon –‘The Black Superheroes of my Childhood’ over a year ago. - a commentary on the portrayal of Black superheroes. Do you still want to write/draw superheroes, or has the success of Mama’s Boyz shown that there is scope for success in comics outside of the ‘mainstream’?

JC: I just like to create stuff. Comic books, strips, animation, children's book... But, sadly, my dream in life is no longer to draw Spider-Man or the Silver Surfer (my favorite characters growing up). But it's funny you should mention that because recently I got approached by Foxnews.com to draw what a Black superhero would look like now that President Obama is in office. It was the first one that I had drawn since I made the YouTube Black superhero cartoon. He had features like "reinforced bootstraps" to pull himself up by. His name was a take off of the Abomination called "the Obamanation- the socially acceptable Black superhero."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,483544,00.html

As far as "The Black Superheroes of My Childhood," I have to say that I was really surprised by the praise that I received for that piece. The idea came to me one day while I was showing my old comics to my kids and then out of nowhere I realized that none of the Black superheroes that were around when I was a kid ever had any real powers. Sure they were strong, but not one of them could shoot a laser from his hands or even fly without the help of a suit. Then the more I read, the more ideas came to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB7Dl...e=channel_page

CXF: Is Mama’s Boyz, in some way, a reaction to the portrayal of Black characters in the comics (and other media) that you saw growing up?

JC: Oh absolutely. Most of the Black characters that I saw on TV growing up were very negative. Everything revolved around insults. "JJ you so Black that..." -- "Thelma you so stupid" -- "Esther you so ugly" It seemed funny at the time, but then one day it clicked and I had had enough. So when I created Mama's Boyz, I based it on two brothers who actually LIKE each other. And they respect their mom. Novel idea, huh?

CXF: Would you ever consider drawing superheroes if the chance came? I saw that picture you drew of Obama for Fox News …

JC: Oh, there I was rambling about it and you had already seen it. I have a humorous superhero story that I wrote a few years back that I take out every once in a while. Last year I decided to make it into a Flash cartoon and put it up on YouTube, but I haven't finished it yet. I may also just include it in my third Mama's Boyz book which I am beginning to put together.

CXF: Has Obama becoming President had an effect on your workload, or on the perception/reception of Mama’s Boyz?

JC: Well up til now, the only way I would've gotten on Fox News is if I went on another killing spree. Ooops, did I say "another"?So I would have to say yes. I also have work (paintings) at two galleries in CT that are part of Black History exhibits. Although they would have happened anyway, the amount of people who showed up I think was effected by our new president. I think there is a curiosity that mainstream America is finally thinking it's safe to explore. It's like "wow, a Black man is smart enough to lead our country, let's see if there are any others out there who don't make a living rapping or gang-banging." It's been interesting.

CXF: You have done so much with Mama’s Boyz over the years – perhaps more than you would have achieved critically and socially than if you had drawn superheroes. What more do you plan to do with your comic?


JC: My sons Jaylen (11) and Aren (9) are hooked on books that seem to add a new chapter ever year. Bone, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Lightning Thief... so recently kids have been asking about a third Mama's Boyz book. I would love to be able to put out a new book every year. That's my first goal. Another goal is to expand my audience. The customers for the first one "Mama's Boyz: As American as Sweet Potato Pie!" were probably 99.9% Black. The customers for my current one "Mama's Boyz: Home Schoolin'" are about 75% Black. It's amazing how many more kids from different races and social backgrounds are starting to look for the book. And I also have a lot more girls buying the book. Which is GREAT! I'd love for America to embrace our stories the way that they embrace Manga. It's not like they say "Well, I'm not Asian so I won't get it." They buy it because they like it and are entertained by it.

My other goal is to make it to TV. Not Saturday morning or cable, but more like the classic Charlie Brown specials. "A Mama's Boyz Kwanzaa." "It's the Great Kwanzaa, Yusuf Porter!" That type of thing.

CXF: Mama’s Boyz serves an educative function, but what is the greatest thing that you have learned over the years from working on the comic?

JC: Stay true to what you believe in. I think that the term "selling out" in the Black community is completely backwards. It's always the educated ones that get that rap. It's never the drug dealers or the ones who shake their butts on BET. But to me, if I did something that I didn't think was positive for my community, I'd consider myself having sold out.
In fact, I just illustrated a children's book called "Looking to the Clouds for Daddy." It was written by a woman named Margo Candelario after the death of her husband. It follows a day in the life of her three daughters as they reminisce about their dad and cope with their loss. I LOVE this story and think it is the best thing that I've ever done. And the response has already been great. I think it will help a lot of people. These are the projects that I will continue to connect myself with. These are the experiences that will help me to stay true. Of course, I may have to dust off some of my old breakdance routines to make ends meet, but at least my conscience will be happy.