Maurice Pennington was a photographer and cartoonist for The Atlanta Inquirer during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. A talented multimedia artist, Pennington documented the boycotts, sit-ins, and the arrests of students, commenting critically on the political and social climate in Atlanta through cartoons - skewering local politicians, admonishing Black leaders for their accommodationist views, and reminding his audience of the incompatibility of segregation and democracy.

All works in this collection either are protected by copyright or are the property of the Robert W. Woodruff Library, and/or the copyright holder as appropriate. To order a reproduction or to inquire about permission to publish, please contact the Archives Research Center at: archives@auctr.edu with the web URL or handle identification number.
Mar 23, 2020

Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection

Maurice Pennington was a photographer and cartoonist for The Atlanta Inquirer during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. A talented multimedia artist, Pennington documented the boycotts, sit-ins, and the arrests of students, commenting critically on the political and social climate in Atlanta through cartoons - skewering local politicians, admonishing Black leaders for their accommodationist views, and reminding his audience of the incompatibility of segregation and democracy.

All works in this collection either are protected by copyright or are the property of the Robert W. Woodruff Library, and/or the copyright holder as appropriate. To order a reproduction or to inquire about permission to publish, please contact the Archives Research Center at: archives@auctr.edu with the web URL or handle identification number.

For:
  • Decade = 1960-1969
Title Date Created Description Subject Collection
"You're Fired!", circa 1962 1961/1963 View of a white man firing an African American porter at a downtown store where other African Americans protest outside holding signs that read "No Jim Crow". Written on recto: "You're Fired!". Demonstrations, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Race discrimination, African Americans--Employment Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Community Effort", circa 1962 1961/1963 A diverse group of men including a businessman, pastor, and construction worker, hold signs that read: "United For Freedom". Written on recto: Community Effort. African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Beautiful Atlanta", circa 1962 1960/1964 View of a newer house facade with a deteriorating home behind it. Written on recto: "Slums...Beautiful Atlanta" Art, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Pogo Stick Allen", circa 1961 1960/1962 Ivan Allen Jr. jumps on a pogo stick across a checkered floor marked with various political decisions: "For County Unit System", "Quit That", "Quit This", "Change of Heart", "Relocate All Negroes". "For Police State", "Running For Mayor", "Social Conscienceless or Consciousness??", "Not for Governor", and "For Governor". Race relations, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Mayors Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Negro Voters", circa 1961 1960/1962 A white man symbolizing Atlanta Negro Voters' League with an "I'm for Ivan [Allen Jr.]" button force-feeds an African American man symbolizing "Negro Voters" medicine from a bottle marked "Political Decision". Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Voting Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Hospital Overload", circa 1961 1960/1962 A nurse carries a large package labeled "Hospital Overload" while a man labeled "Hospital Officials" sits on top with a whip. African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Health and hygiene Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Lines of Communication Open", circa 1960 1959/1961 A man symbolizing the Student-Adult Committee [Atlanta Student Movement] sits at a switchboard labeled "Ever-Ready". The labels on the switchboard read: "Equal Rights", "Employment", "School Desegregation", "Sit-Ins", "Lunch Counters", and "Boycott". Written on recto: "Lines of Communication Open". African Americans--Segregation, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Employment, African American student movements Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Some People Never Learn", circa 1960 1959/1961 A wealthy Black man knocks on a back side alley door marked "Downtown Luxury Store - Colored Customers", while the man's chauffeur looks on in disgrace. Written on recto: "Some People Never Learn". African Americans--Social conditions, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Segregation, Race discrimination, African Americans--Economic conditions Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Held Back", circa 1960 1959/1961 A young man labeled "Negro Pupils" stands freezing in the snow in tattered clothes chained to a ball marked "Segregation". Just out of reach is a fire burning with fuel logs labeled as "Transportation", "Trade and Industrial Training", "Libraries", "County Funds", and Maintenance". Written on recto: "Held Back". African Americans--Segregation, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Education, African American students Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Git!", circa 1960 1959/1961 A white farmer representing "Union County" and Uncle Sam holding papers reading "Sinking U.S. Prestige Report" turn an African American military worker and a maid away from an area marked federal land. Written on recto: "Git!". African Americans--Housing, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Armed Forces, Race discrimination Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"The Man or the Party?", circa 1960 1959/1961 A man symbolizing "You" stands in between campaign posters for John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Written on recto: "The Man or the Party?". Voting, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Political participation Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection