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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  • Subjects = African Americans--Segregation
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 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
Lester Maddox behind the wheel of a car gestures to an African American man standing on the sidewalk to get in the back of his car marked "Colored Only". The African American man is identified as Senator Johnson and Friends. Written on recto: Get in Boy!
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Get In Boy!", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
Lester Maddox behind the wheel of a car gestures to an African American man standing on the sidewalk to get in the back of his car marked "Colored Only". The African American man is identified as Senator Johnson and Friends. Written on recto: Get in Boy!
Subject
Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Segregation
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A man representing a Confederate stabs Lady Liberty with a sword labeled "Segregation". Written on recto: "Take That Y'u Foreigner".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Take That Y'u Foreigner", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A man representing a Confederate stabs Lady Liberty with a sword labeled "Segregation". Written on recto: "Take That Y'u Foreigner".
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, African Americans--Segregation, Art, Race discrimination
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
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".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Lines of Communication Open", circa 1960
Date Created
1959/1961
Description
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".
Subject
African Americans--Segregation, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Employment, African American student movements
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
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".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Some People Never Learn", circa 1960
Date Created
1959/1961
Description
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".
Subject
African Americans--Social conditions, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Segregation, Race discrimination, African Americans--Economic conditions
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
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".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Held Back", circa 1960
Date Created
1959/1961
Description
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".
Subject
African Americans--Segregation, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Education, African American students
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection