Ladies Making Comics

I’m kind of troubled when people say that I’m an artist. I think people think it’s nicer to call someone an artist than an illustrator or a cartoonist. I get that, but to my mind, it’s not quite as accurate, because I think “artist” implies that I’m taking liberties with what I’m doing. I really don’t think that I am. People really do think that anything that’s drawn or looks stylized is so subjective as to possibly be false. I find that disturbing.

People are saying over and over that I’m an editorial cartoonist, and I think that’s kind of the same thing. I usually don’t call myself a cartoonist at all. I usually say graphic journalist. I do journalism, but it’s in the form of drawings. I’m really pushing for that phrase to catch on. There are a lot of other people who do this stuff too. They’re legitimate. They have scruples and ethics, and it’s really important to all of us that what we draw be true. Oftentimes, when people call us an artist, it’s a little patronizing and not quite true. It belies a full understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish with our work.

At a time of such intense public scrutiny, the Oakland Police Department made the mistake of arresting a journalist, and sending her into the heart of an ugly process with which not only demonstrators but many other Oakland residents have long been familiar. They gave me an unmatched, visceral opportunity to understand what makes Oakland residents so angry with the police.