A Few Memes From When I Was Gone

Jackie Ormes, the first Black American woman cartoonist

When the 14-year-old Black American boy Emmett Till was lynched in 1955, one cartoonist responded in a single-panel comic. It showed one Black girl telling another: “I don’t want to seem touchy on the subject… but that new little white tea-kettle just whistled at me!”

It may not seem radical today, but penning such a political cartoon was a bold and brave statement for its time — especially for the artist who was behind it. This cartoon was drawn by Jackie Ormes, the first syndicated Black American woman cartoonist to be published in a newspaper. Ormes, who grew up in Pittsburgh, got her first break as cartoonist as a teenager. She started working for the Pittsburgh Courier as a sports reporter, then editor, then cartoonist who penned her first comic, Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem, in 1937. It followed a Mississippi teen who becomes a famous singer at the famed Harlem jazz club, The Cotton Club.

In 1942, Ormes moved to Chicago, where she drew her most popular cartoon, Patty-Jo ‘n’ Ginger, which followed two sisters who made sharp political commentary on Black American life. 

In 1947, Ormes created the Patty-Jo doll, the first Black doll that wasn’t a mammy doll or a Topsy-Turvy doll. In production for a decade, it was a role model for young black girls. "The doll was a fashionable, beautiful character,“ says Daniel Schulman, who curated one of the dolls into a recent Chicago exhibition. “It had an extraordinary presence and power — they’re collected today and have important place in American doll-making in the U.S.”

In 1950, Ormes drew her final strip, Torchy in Heartbeats, which followed an independent, stylish black woman on the quest for love — who commented on racism in the South. “Torchy was adventurous, we never saw that with an Black American female figure,” says Beauchamp-Byrd. “And remember, this is the 1950s.“ Ormes was the first to portray black women as intellectual and socially-aware in a time when they were depicted in a derogatory way.

One common mistake that erased Ormes from history is mis-crediting Barbara Brandon-Croft as the first nationally syndicated Black American female cartoonist. “I’m just the first mainstream cartoonist, I’m not the first at all,” says Brandon-Croft, who published her cartoons in the Detroit Free Press in the 1990s. “So much of Black history has been ignored, it’s a reminder that Black history shouldn’t just be celebrated in February.”

Source

as the eurovision final takes place this year, please take this time to instead please reblog, and donate (if you can) instead of watching:

fundraiser for selma cheurfi

help evacuate nisreen shaheen's family from gaza

bring najlaa's family to safety in canada

help evacuate dr ahmad's family from gaza

donate an e-sim to gaza here (several options available) (holafly tutorial)

donate to provide feminine hygiene kits for women in gaza

urgent evacuation for rafah's family from gaza

donate to careforgaza here (twitter) (paypal)

rescue lulu and baby adam from the siege on rafah

help firas and his family escape to egypt

an entire google doc of gofundme's for palestine

help this family evacuate from gaza

donate to the palestinian civil relief

donate to the children of gaza

please read through and support operation olive branch, a cohesive and detailed spreadsheet of fundraisers and links

donate to the palestine children's relief fund

please also reblog other aid posts (especially recent ones), or flood the tag with posts about palestine. this doesn't have to be just donation posts, but also information and updates on rafah/gaza. anything helps and make sure not to give eurovision your view or your vote! do not take your eyes off rafah.

please boost, and add other resources and links to this post.

🌱✨ "A New Dawn Amid the Ashes" ✨🌱

Hello, my name is Jaber, a 13-year-old from Gaza. My family and I once lived in peace, surrounded by laughter and dreams. But in an instant, everything changed 💔. Our home, the school I loved, and even some of the dearest members of my family were taken from us by war.

Now, all I have left is my mother, Maysaa, who suffers from a heart condition, and my siblings, who are my only remaining comfort. Every day, we struggle to rebuild what we’ve lost, searching for even a glimpse of hope amid the ruins 🕯️🌄.

I am sharing my story because I believe in the kindness of others. With your support, we could take the first steps toward a new beginning 🕊️. Any help, however small, could be the light that guides us out of this darkness. Thank you from the depths of my heart for any compassion you can offer ❤️🙏.

Link here

My family and I may die tonight. Any donation, even a small one, could make a difference in my life and my family's.

gofundme.com

Donate to Aid Abdullah's Family: From Tents to Home, organized by Abdullah Amasse

Hello, I am Abdullah, a young Palestinian man from the Gaza Strip. I am 25 y… Abdullah Amasse needs your support for Aid Abdullah's Family:

@sar-soor @appsappsapps @akajustmerry @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka @el-secreto-que-guardo @sayruq @tortiefrancis @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides @7bittersweet @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @vivisectionmoth @belleandsaintsebastian @ear-motif @ibtisam @animentality @kordeliiius @brutalia @raelyn-dreams @troythecatfish @ot3 @the-bastard-king @tamar @pcktaces @4ft10tvlandfangirl @queerstudiesnatural @northgazaupdates2 @90-ghost @skatehan @awetistic-things @baby-girl-aaliyah @turian @commissions4aid-international @transmutationsquare @heliopixels

@quartztwst @skrimpyskimpy @kidmograph @butler-michaelis

Hello, please stop for less than a minute and do not ignore and help if you can, I am Abdullah Musa, I am still a young man, I am 20 years old. I had studied my first year at university, but the war came and my dreams were destroyed with it, and my university and my city were destroyed. I want to travel abroad and study medicine. It is true that it is embarrassing to ask for money in this way, but it is life and I am still a young man who does not have any work. Please share or donate if you can❤️🇵🇸🍉😍🥹

.

Emergency: Help Evacuate My Family From GAZA WAR

Dear Humanity,

I'm Haya from Gaza , from a family of 8 people: my parents, two sons, and four daughters (two of them suffer from allergies).

gofundme.com

Donate to Emergency: Help Evacuate My Family From GAZA WAR, organized by Ahmed Alshawish

Dear Humanity, I'm Haya from Gaza , from a family of 8 people: my… Ahmed Alshawish needs your support for Emergency: Help Evacuate My Fa

I've witnessed the evidence of the tragedy that has struck our lives in Gaza, where my family and I have survived amidst numerous previous wars. But today, we face the most dangerous and fierce battle in the current war. The urgent need intensifies for us, as we have nothing left and are unable to secure our basic needs such as food, water, and safe shelter.

Here is our story - On October 7th, our lives changed forever, my family and I evacuated from northern Gaza to southern Gaza, hoping to return soon, but it wasn't meant to be. Our home was surrounded, burned, and then completely destroyed, Our home, once a fortress of hope, now lay in ruins, a stark reminder of our shattered dreams.

The night before we left from the north to the south was terrifying. Shelling sounds were everywhere, making a loud noise that felt like it went through our souls. Every explosions shook the ground like earthquakes, sending shockwaves of fear through our trembling bodies. filling us with fear. The air smelled of destruction and blood, making it hard to breathe. When dawn came, we saw the devastation around us, realizing our home was now a symbol of loss and despair.

We ran into the streets and with each step we took into the unknown streets, we felt as if we were plunging deeper into the abyss of our shattered existence, leaving behind everything we own in our home: Clothes, important official documents, the car, and literally it's almost everything - the enormity of our loss weighed heavily upon us.

Our home it was where we found hope, safety, and made precious memories. Losing it felt like losing years of our lives, leaving us adrift amidst the wreckage of our shattered existence.

A brief video depicting the devastation that struck our home and our entire neighborhood in Gaza.

Desperate Plea: Escaping Gaza's Allergy Nightmare

I, Haya, suffer from severe allergy to penicillin-derived medications, and my sister, Amal, also suffers from severe allergies to medications from my family such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.

These allergies create a deep sense of fear and anxiety for us, as we live in a constant state of tension and fear of anything that may require a visit to the hospital. We fear being given inappropriate medications due to the unavailability of suitable treatments in Gaza because of war or lack of awareness and not informing the doctor of our allergies, which could lead to serious consequences threatening our lives.

MY Father Income

Our dreams are heading towards oblivion in the labyrinth of an uncertain future

My story, along with my siblings, represents a united team of four individuals, three of whom are skilled programmers and one graphic designer. We work as freelancers in the world of freelancing.

As for my younger sister, she is a student studying at the College of Architecture. She has always carried a big dream in her heart, a dream of being part of changing Gaza, of making it more beautiful and better. She looked forward to the day when she would receive her degree and start building this dream. But the beginning of the war changed everything. The destruction of infrastructure and universities cast shadows of despair over her dreams.

When I think of my brother in Belgium, I can't help but feel deep sadness. He has been suffering from unbearable anxiety and insomnia since the outbreak of the war. Sleep eludes him at night, and his physical and mental health collapses under the weight of these heavy burdens, negatively affecting his performance at work. Problems and challenges pile up in front of him without the slightest opportunity for rest.

We all feel psychological pressure and extreme anxiety. The war hasn't been limited to external attacks but has deeply infiltrated our daily lives. We search among the rubble for a little safety and the basic resources for survival. Every day comes with a new challenge that we must overcome.

As we sway amidst the rubble of shattered dreams, our souls wrestle and our hearts beat strongly challenging the ravages of war.

Our parents earnestly seek a way to rescue us from this hell, feeling the heavy responsibility for every moment we spend under the shadows of fear and destruction. They dream of a safe place where they can build for us a better future, filled with security and hope, for we deserve life in all its meanings of comfort and peace.

Perhaps this fundraising campaign represents a light in the midst of darkness, it is indeed the only hope we cling to firmly.

I appeal to the world as a whole to hear my cry and the mournful cry of my family in Gaza. We need the helping hand that reaches out to wipe our tears and build a bridge to safety.

Your donation is not just a donation; it's an opportunity to rebuild life and brighten a better tomorrow. Be part of our hopeful story, for we need your hand to start anew.

The purpose of the fundraising campaign

The goal of this fundraising campaign is to rescue my family - my parents, my siblings, and me - through the Rafah Crossing to Egypt, which currently requires $5000 per person. This campaign is our only chance to stay alive, and I humbly request your assistance at this critical time. I will provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of the expenses, committing to transparency and clarity.

gofundme.com

Donate to Emergency: Help Evacuate My Family From GAZA WAR, organized by Ahmed Alshawish

Dear Humanity, I'm Haya from Gaza , from a family of 8 people: my… Ahmed Alshawish needs your support for Emergency: Help Evacuate My Fa

All of our important links are here https://linktr.ee/hayanahed

Verified by :

⭐️ operation olive branch, number 26 on their spreadsheet. (On Master list)

⭐️ Project watermelon,line 249 on their spreadsheet. Or you could see it as number 212 here is the photo for more clear proof

Thank you for your kindness and support.

.جزاكم الله خيراً

yours sincerely;

Haya Alshawish.

Rafah is being destroyed silently, away from the media😭💔🚨🚨🥺💔

The war is back again and the occupation army has returned to Rafah, destroying what remains of it. They killed the journalists who transmit the news, and Rafah became alone. We fled from death to an area they said was safe, but it was not. Their missiles pursued us, killing and burning a pregnant woman and her two children in her tent. The children wake up terrified. We cannot move at night because of the large number of planes stationed above us, killing everyone who moves without reason. They closed all the crossings. We can barely find food and a drink of clean water. My children, instead of thinking about toys and sweets, have started thinking about death and missiles. We all sleep in one place. Our greatest dream has become to die together so that we do not regret each other, and we wake up every morning hoping that the conscience of the world and humanity will awaken. Help us, do not leave us alone. Donate to us, publish and write about us. Your donation and support demonstrates your humanity and your belief that we deserve life. A small amount gives us new hope.💔💔😭🥺🙏🙏🍉🇵🇸

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Save My Family From Dangers Of War in Gaza, organized by Tahrer Rezq

I was very hesitant to start this fundraising , but for the sake of my chi… Tahrer Rezq needs your support for Help Save My Family From Dang

Vetted by @bilal-salah0

Vetted by @gazavetters

✅ Donate if you can, even a small amount makes a big impact!

✅ Leave a comment to boost engagement and encourage others to contribute.

✅ Encourage your friends to get involved—every share and donation brings us closer to the goal!

✅ Reshare this post to help spread the word.

Hello 👋,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Aziz, and I’m reaching out with a heartfelt plea to help my family find safety and reunite with our mother. 😞

The ongoing war in Gaza has torn my family apart. My mother and newborn sister are stranded in Egypt, while I, along with the rest of my sex family members, am trapped in the midst of the genocide in Gaza. We have not only been separated but have also lost our home and are enduring unimaginable hardships. 💔

Your support can make a difference. Whether by reading our story, donating, or sharing our campaign with others, you can help us reunite, find safety, and start anew. 🙏🕊

Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for your kindness, compassion, and solidarity during this difficult time. ❤🍉

https://gofund.me/58268669 🔗

Boost!

Help my family🩸

I am nedaa from the Gaza Strip. In the beginning, we lived for a short time in our house in temporary stability because our country was not a country of stability in the first place due to the ongoing wars on the Strip. My husband had a job and he had a source of income sufficient for us initially. On the seventh day of October, and on this morning, we woke up to... The beginning of this bloody war, shortly after the bombs fell on us and the disappearance of our basic needs of food, water, the necessities of life, pampers and milk, and after the bombing that hit the homes next to us, and after that we were forced to leave the house due to a ground operation and an order to evacuate the homes and the advance of tanks and shooting at us. We went out and my children and I could not. My husband and I wanted to take the most basic needs of blankets, mattresses, clothes, and food due to the lack of transportation during those difficult days. This was in the month of January, when it was winter and bitter cold. We walked long distances and were stranded until after that we were able to reach and flee to the city of Rafah, which was sparsely populated and almost Deprived of life, we were displaced to a place made up of tin, where deadly insects and germs were eating the bodies of our children. There was no water, no food, and nothing of the necessities of life. We struggled to get some food and water, and after a while, due to the severe bombing next to us, we were forced to flee again to the Khan Yunis suburbs. We were displaced inside the Khan Yunis suburbs for more than Once, due to violent bombing and shooting over our heads, we lived in tents made of cloth and wood, and my children lived through difficult days of fear and anxiety due to the intensity of the bombing. We learned during those days that our small house, which we had originally carved out of my father’s house, had been largely destroyed due to the violent bombing, and after several months. Living in tents, high heat, and the bitter cold of winter led to the withdrawal of vehicles from the areas in which we live, and we were able to reach our homes, which we were shocked by at the scene we saw of the horror of destruction caused by that war. We were forced to return to our destroyed home and set up shields to protect us from the elements of nature, and there was nothing there. Among the necessities of life, there is no food or water. The infrastructure was and still is completely destroyed, with sewage in the streets and we cannot bring water except with great difficulty. Now we are exposed to the cold and harsh winter and we need scarves and nylon to cover ourselves from the winter water. Even now we are exposed to shelling, bombs and gunfire. What is the fault of my children, Aysel? And Nidal, they live in this disastrous situation that does not provide them with the simplest basics of life, such as Pampers, milk, and all the necessities of life, and now we are living in a war of exorbitant prices in which we cannot provide the money to buy these needs, and now I am speaking to you, I and my small family are forced to ask for help from you so that we can secure a future. For my children, as we travel outside this country because of the constant wars, do not let us down and do not deprive us of your kindness and generosity.

Nedaa of Abd al-Rahman Nidal Aysel from the Gaza Strip

Thank you all

Chuffed

Donate to Help Abed Family survive Gaza Genocide

My name is Abd al-Rahman Mohisn, and l live in Gaza with my small family, including my two children, aged 5 and 3. Due to the ongoing confli

To all Palestine supporters 🙏

🫂🫂

We still need less than 770€ to reach our short term goal of 24k€ ‼️

Your donations are important for our survival

Please help me reach our goal as soon as possible 🙏

We appreciate your help ❤️🙏

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸❤🤍💚🖤

https://gofund.me/e7c7528a

Boost!! @quartztwst @skibidibabygirl @chizramue

Pls go donate if you can!!