7 minute read
MEET THE ARTIST BEHIND THE “EASY STREAK” COMIC
Meet The Artist:
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Douglas Pope Wilson
When did you start doing comics? When I was 12.
What are your comics based on? Real life.
How did you start drawing?
Actually, I’m self-taught. What got me into it was one of my mentors, he, well I never really met the man, his name was Murray Turner. He created the comic strip “Wee Pals” featured in Ebony Magazine, back in the day — and that got me into drawing and what have you. From there I actually bought comic books, I was always checking out the comics, I had comics all over the wall on my side of the room. Even into adulthood I collected his stuff, plus the Sunday comics and daily comics, because I would study them. I got the books on anatomy, comics, and so on, to study them. I used to draw in my homework. The teacher would know it was my homework or my book report because I had drawings along the borders of my papers.
Why did you start drawing and choose the subject matter you do?
I chose drawing because I was bad at playing the trumpet. I listen to jazz, blues, and gospel and wanted to play music when I was younger. I had this love for Louise Armstrong. If I didn’t teach myself how to draw, I would definitely play horn or trumpet in my own jazz group. I draw everything from monsters to science fiction, which is my favorite. I have a variety of things I do or enjoy. The situations in “Easy Streak” [the comic Douglas draws for One Step Away] I’ve been on the edge of homelessness on more than one occasion. Looking for apartments and I was hanging on the thread. So, I know from experience if you’re calling or checking out apartments, people really don’t have apartments for Section 8. Landlords think that the tenants will tear the apartment up. But there are people, including myself, who appreciate a roof over their heads. I’ve been there. The subject matter in “Easy Streak” I take seriously because my family members and classmates have died of drugs. They were wiped out by drugs. There was only a small group that was alive to attend the class reunion. I never really attend class reunions because I don’t want to look at them, it’s just horrible. The homeless issue could’ve been solved ages ago — just all the problems could have — but the politicians don’t want to do anything. You have celebrities trying to solve problems — some putting their lives in danger — to solve problems the politicians should have solved ages ago. I’m speaking about issues that I grew up with, in the 1960s — I know of the problems I speak of — racism and economic issues could’ve been resolved during and after the Civil Rights Movement, and they didn’t. I take my comics seriously. The cat character that works in the diner in the comic says he “eats the scrapes of other people” and lives above his work in a one-room apartment. I know from experience, I lived in a one-room apartment and it’s not really a good place. The landlords don’t care how they keep up the building, they just want their money. The page where the two characters talk about the boss sleeping in the car — I’ve seen people sleeping in their cars with all of their possessions. I’ve lived in Delaware all of my life and I’ve seen it here in Delaware.
Were you involved in the Civil Rights Movement?
I grew up hearing it on the radio and watching it on TV along with the Vietnam conflicts — I had family in Vietnam. All it takes to begin addressing these issues is talk, but people don’t want to talk about it. In terms of Vietnam, nobody really knew where it was [located] at. I knew where it was because my Grandma had a subscription to National Geographic. I used to read the magazines and study different locations and cultures. I can draw people from all different cultures across the world. I saw Planet Apes and saw the Statue of Liberty sticking out of the ground, and I turned to my parents and asked, “what were you people thinking bringing up children in an era where people don’t care if they blow up the world.” “In today’s world, people are polluting the air, waging war on each other, they really don’t care if we blow up the world. This is the only planet we have.”
Do you feel that your comics are more social awareness or advocacy?
Social awareness. You don’t need to be a politician to understand what’s happening. If you have Sean Penn and other celebrities going to different countries to help out there it makes a statement. Shouldn’t the politicians see that and think about how that’s something they should have done. Especially regarding Hurricane Katrina & the fires in California I ask politicians: “don’t you know how to get off your butts in Washington and act on those emergencies?” Instead of just
collecting a check and sitting there [in Washington]. Then you character assassinate Omar, Hillary, and all of the other women. Yet in other countries many women hold [political] positions every year. What’s the difference in this country? Why aren’t we doing the same thing? The difference in this country is [the misconception that] women can only remain barefoot and pregnant. Well I disagree. I may be a bachelor from the 60s and black, but I know it takes two to make a tribe and not just one. It really is insulting to people to see a man always in [those positions], and women think they can’t do it. They shouldn’t have to think that way. During the 70s they had Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, and Angela Davis. They had all of those activists at the head of the train. They were ahead of the train and we should have kept that steam going into now. But you had some women who want to go through the glass ceiling, some who want to get out of the situation but are misinformed, and some who really don’t care. Everybody has a dream, and everybody should have a chance to be President, and that’s how I feel.
What do you want people to learn or realize from your comics?
That something has to be done now. Not when 2020 gets here. Something needs to be done right now about homelessness, people panhandling. When the [One Step Away] headline read 168 people died on the streets I was shocked - that was uncalled for. The politicians should have fixed that. We can vote them in, and we can vote them out. But the problem is that some people don’t vote. Why the hell are you in this country if you don’t vote? My message to politicians: Get off your derrière and get involved. Involved If they can grease someone’s palm to get into a college, they can grease someone’s palm to pay for a homeless shelter or a drug center to help people get clean. Or an education system to help those who are desolate. To the voter: If you can tune into some reality show on cable and assume it’s real life, then you can tune-in and drop a dollar or two to a church or an organization to help someone in need.
What would you like to say about your work?
“Easy Street” is the mirror of what America is, and Easy Street is what some people do to survive. And One Step Away is one of the many programs or magazines that give people a hand-up instead of a hand-out. And that’s what I do believe.
What do you want people to take away from your work?
I want people to see themselves from my work. Pick any character — the duck or the dog who paint on the side and hang out together. Or the cat character who works three jobs and lives in a motel, and who once lived above the diner. But now he lives in a motel. See if you see yourself in a character in Easy Streak, and what character do you see yourself as? And how would you better yourself?
How would you like to be thought about?
What has a reader gotten out of my comics? Please write in and let us know. Sometimes I run into people who were upset with what I’ve drawn. It’s there, if you don’t want to read my comics, then don’t — just move on. But I do appreciate what readers send to me.
