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.
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Julian Bond listens to a RCA phonograph with the trademark RCA dog listening along. Bond is gripping newspapers with headlines reading " Rep. Elect Barred From Georgia Legislature. Julian Bond Refused Seat." Written on recto, emitting from the phonograph: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." (a quote from Francois Voltaire). Titled on recto: "His Master's Voice". Artist marked as Holloway.
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"His Master's Voice", circa 1966
Date Created
1965/1967
Description
Julian Bond listens to a RCA phonograph with the trademark RCA dog listening along. Bond is gripping newspapers with headlines reading " Rep. Elect Barred From Georgia Legislature. Julian Bond Refused Seat." Written on recto, emitting from the phonograph: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." (a quote from Francois Voltaire). Titled on recto: "His Master's Voice". Artist marked as Holloway.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
An Atlanta Life calendar featuring a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. and his family.
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
Atlanta Life Calendar, 1964
Date Created
1964
Description
An Atlanta Life calendar featuring a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. and his family.
Subject
African American families, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A man with chains on his wrists stands between Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln (and their famous quotes). Written on recto: "...we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal..." "...a new nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal..."
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln", circa 1963
Date Created
1962/1964
Description
A man with chains on his wrists stands between Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln (and their famous quotes). Written on recto: "...we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal..." "...a new nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal..."
Subject
Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Slavery, Presidents
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
View of two men on marionette strings with money dangling in front of them.
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Puppets", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
View of two men on marionette strings with money dangling in front of them.
Subject
Art, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A drawing depicting an African American man with his hands tied hanging from a tree.
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Strange Fruit", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A drawing depicting an African American man with his hands tied hanging from a tree.
Subject
Art, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Lynching
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
Three characters identified as "Filth," "Crime," and "Disease" stand below in the hands of a house-like figure labeled "Slums". Written on recto: "Meet Some of My Growing Family".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"...Meet Some of My Growing Family", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
Three characters identified as "Filth," "Crime," and "Disease" stand below in the hands of a house-like figure labeled "Slums". Written on recto: "Meet Some of My Growing Family".
Subject
Crime, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Housing, Poverty, Slums
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
An African American man and woman hold signs reading: "We Demand Equal Respect and Justice", and "We are too Proud to Continue Accepting Segregation". Below them is a quote from Abraham Lincoln that reads: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves and under a just God cannot long retain it".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Equal Respect and Justice", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
An African American man and woman hold signs reading: "We Demand Equal Respect and Justice", and "We are too Proud to Continue Accepting Segregation". Below them is a quote from Abraham Lincoln that reads: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves and under a just God cannot long retain it".
Subject
Demonstrations, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, African Americans--Segregation, Art, Race discrimination
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A police officer talks to a judge in a courtroom, while retaining a battered African American man by the shoulder. Written on recto: "He Talked 'Uppity', Your Honor, So Ah Jest Grabbed Mah Club, and Set About Defendin' Myself".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"He Talked 'Uppity'", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A police officer talks to a judge in a courtroom, while retaining a battered African American man by the shoulder. Written on recto: "He Talked 'Uppity', Your Honor, So Ah Jest Grabbed Mah Club, and Set About Defendin' Myself".
Subject
Police brutality, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A man identified as "Negro leadership" sleeps at a switch marked "Racial Progress" which is set to the off position. Meanwhile, in the background, spiderweb-covered gears marked as "employment", "police brutality", "housing", and "school integration" remain stagnate.
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Asleep?", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A man identified as "Negro leadership" sleeps at a switch marked "Racial Progress" which is set to the off position. Meanwhile, in the background, spiderweb-covered gears marked as "employment", "police brutality", "housing", and "school integration" remain stagnate.
Subject
African Americans--Social conditions, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Political participation
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A fireman representing "Some of Us" hoses gasoline from a "Pump of 'Still Buying'" on the fires of a house marked "Equal Opportunities" with flames of "Segregation". Meanwhile, African American students work to put out the fire with water. Written on recto: "Fire Fighters?"
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Fire Fighters?", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A fireman representing "Some of Us" hoses gasoline from a "Pump of 'Still Buying'" on the fires of a house marked "Equal Opportunities" with flames of "Segregation". Meanwhile, African American students work to put out the fire with water. Written on recto: "Fire Fighters?"
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, African Americans--Segregation, Art, African Americans--Social conditions, African American students
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection