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.
14 Objects displayed
AllCollectionsObjects
  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
For:
  • Subjects = Race discrimination
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
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
Two African American women talk in a department store, one with a toddler that holds onto a cup. Written on recto: "When I Asked About a 'Rest Room' for Junior They Stuck That in His Hand".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Restroom for Junior", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
Two African American women talk in a department store, one with a toddler that holds onto a cup. Written on recto: "When I Asked About a 'Rest Room' for Junior They Stuck That in His Hand".
Subject
African American children, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Race discrimination, African American women
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 holds a loose rope in his arms with signs behind him reading: "So Called 'Good' White South", and "Fear Alibis". Written on recto: "I'm Sitting Out All Racial Matters Because My Hands Are Tied Tight".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"So Called 'Good' White South", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A man holds a loose rope in his arms with signs behind him reading: "So Called 'Good' White South", and "Fear Alibis". Written on recto: "I'm Sitting Out All Racial Matters Because My Hands Are Tied Tight".
Subject
Race relations, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Race discrimination
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A man chases a young African American schoolgirl with a bat. Written on recto: "Southern Hospitality".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Southern Hospitality", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A man chases a young African American schoolgirl with a bat. Written on recto: "Southern Hospitality".
Subject
Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Education, African American children
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A boxer symbolizing the "Law of the Land" holds back another smaller white boxer symbolizing the "South's Tradition on Race". Written on recto: "Over-Matched!".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Over Matched!", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A boxer symbolizing the "Law of the Land" holds back another smaller white boxer symbolizing the "South's Tradition on Race". Written on recto: "Over-Matched!".
Subject
Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A crow identified as "Jim Crow Housing" is impaled with a pen labeled "JFK Federal Funds".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Jim Crow Housing", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A crow identified as "Jim Crow Housing" is impaled with a pen labeled "JFK Federal Funds".
Subject
Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, African Americans--Housing
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
A white man with a club holds an African American woman in a chokehold while an African American police officer looks on and calls for backup. Written on recto: "Psst...Hang on Lady, I Just Called a White Policeman".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Psst...Hang on Lady, I Just Called a White Policeman", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
A white man with a club holds an African American woman in a chokehold while an African American police officer looks on and calls for backup. Written on recto: "Psst...Hang on Lady, I Just Called a White Policeman".
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Crime, Race discrimination
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
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!".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"You're Fired!", circa 1962
Date Created
1961/1963
Description
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!".
Subject
Demonstrations, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Race discrimination, African Americans--Employment
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 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!".
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection
"Git!", circa 1960
Date Created
1959/1961
Description
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!".
Subject
African Americans--Housing, African Americans--Politics and government, Political cartoons, Art, Armed Forces, Race discrimination
Collection
Maurice Pennington Political Cartoon Collection