Morrie Turner

Turner was raised in Oakland, California, the youngest child of a Pullman porter father and a homemaker and nurse mother.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/comics/morrie-turner-dies-at-90-pioneering-wee-pals-cartoonist/2014/01/28/181143ea-883b-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html| title=Morrie Turner dies at 90; pioneering 'Wee Pals' cartoonist| newspaper=The Washington Post| first=Adam| last=Bernstein| date=January 28, 2014| access-date=May 1, 2014| archive-date=May 6, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506171022/http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/comics/morrie-turner-dies-at-90-pioneering-wee-pals-cartoonist/2014/01/28/181143ea-883b-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html| url-status=live}} He attended Cole Elementary School and McClymonds High School in Oakland and Berkeley High School.{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Morrie-Turner-pioneering-Wee-Pals-cartoonist-5183290.php| title=Morrie Turner – pioneering Wee Pals cartoonist – dies| newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle| first=Peter| last=Hartlaub| date=January 28, 2014| access-date=February 15, 2022}}{{cite web |url= http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/morrie-turner-38 |title=Morrie Turner |website=The HistoryMakers |date=April 6, 2004 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171214005149/http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/morrie-turner-38 |url-status=live}}

Turner first started drawing at age 10, drawing what he heard while listening to radio shows. He later moved onto cartoons during high school, ultimately deciding at the age of 14 that he wanted to become a professional cartoonist.{{Cite web |title=Celebrating the Life of Morrie Turner on the Anniversary of Wee Pals |url=https://oaklandlibrary.org/blogs/post/celebrating-the-life-of-morrie-turner-on-the-anniversary-of-wee-pals |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=oaklandlibrary.org |date=February 22, 2019 |language=en-US}} During this time, he also worked on the school newspaper, and was elected to the student council, though widespread racism greatly hindered any benefits he gained as a result.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Kate |date=2015-02-02 |title=Morrie Turner: Creator of Wee Pals Comic Strip |url=https://americacomesalive.com/morrie-turner-creator-wee-pals-comic-strip/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=America Comes Alive |language=en-US}} Turner got his first training in cartooning via a correspondence course.{{cite magazine |date=October 1961 |title=California's cartooning cop |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uK_KEF-KT8C&pg=PA75 |magazine=Ebony |volume=16| issue=12 |pages=74–79 |via=Google Books}} During World War II, where he served as a mechanic with Tuskegee Airmen, his illustrations appeared in the newspaper Stars and Stripes. After the war, while working for the Oakland Police Department, he created the comic strip Baker's Helper.{{cite web| url=http://www.lambiek.net/artists/t/turner_morrie.htm| title=Morrie Turner| date=April 3, 2015| website=Lambiek Comiclopedia| access-date=January 27, 2014| archive-url=https://archive.today/20140127165016/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/t/turner_morrie.htm| archive-date=January 27, 2014}}

In 1963, Turner joined the Association of California Cartoonists and Gag Artists, where he befriended fellow cartoonists Charles M. Schulz and Bil Keane, the respective creators of Peanuts and Family Circus. Desiring to contribute to the ongoing Civil Rights Movement, he was encouraged by activists to create work based on his own experiences as a black man.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-15 |title=Morrie Turner |url=https://blacklistedculture.com/morrie-turner/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=BlacklistedCulture.com |language=en-US}}

This thought of a comic based on the experience of a minority would be further solidified during a discussion with Schulz. Turner lamented the lack of minorities in cartoons, and Schulz suggested he create one.{{cite news |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2014/01/27/morrie-turner-pioneering-wee-pals-cartoonist-dies-at-90/ |title=Morrie Turner: Pioneering 'Wee Pals' cartoonist, dies at 90 |newspaper=East Bay Times |location=Walnut Creek, California |date=January 27, 2014 |archive-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121225341/https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2014/01/27/morrie-turner-pioneering-wee-pals-cartoonist-dies-at-90/ |url-status=live}} Morris' first attempt, Dinky Fellas, featured an all-black cast, but found publication in only one newspaper, the Chicago Defender, where it debuted on July 25, 1964.{{cite news |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/11/PKIB19H7KS.DTL&type=art |title=Wee Pals retrospective at S.F. library |first=Jesse |last=Hamlin |date=September 13, 2009}} Turner would later rework the strip and retire the Dinky Fellas name in 1965. The comic was retooled into Wee Pals, and upon its debut, it became the first American syndicated comic strip to have a cast of diverse ethnicity. Although the strip was only originally carried by five newspapers, it was picked-up by more than 100 after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968.{{cite web| url=http://www.creators.com/comics/wee-pals-about.html |title=About Morrie Turner |website=Creators Syndicate |access-date=January 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427110906/http://www.creators.com/comics/wee-pals-about.html |archive-date=April 27, 2015 |url-status=live}}

In 1969, Morris and his wife, Letha, collaborated to add a new segment to accompany Wee Pals. Titled "Soul Corner", the segment highlighted famous ethnic minorities, with Morris illustrating, and Letha researching the subjects.{{Cite web |title=Celebrating the Life of Morrie Turner on the Anniversary of Wee Pals |url=https://oaklandlibrary.org/blogs/post/celebrating-the-life-of-morrie-turner-on-the-anniversary-of-wee-pals |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=oaklandlibrary.org |date=February 22, 2019 |language=en-US}}

In 1970, Turner became a co-chairman of the White House Conference on Children and Youth.

Turner appeared twice as a guest on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, on May 7, 1971 and May 14, 1973. In his 1971 visit, Turner discussed his comic strip and how each of his characters were named, as he drew examples of his characters. On his return 1973 visit, he showed Fred Rogers pictures he had drawn of several of the neighbors in Fred's television neighborhood. Turner also presented a clip from his Kid Power animated series, which aired Saturday mornings on ABC at the time.{{cite web| title=Kid Power Cartoon| website=The Museum Of UnCut Funk| url=https://museumofuncutfunk.com/2011/12/07/kid-power-cartoon/| access-date=June 1, 2021}} As well, during the 1972–73 television season, Wee Pals on the Go was aired by ABC's owned-and-operated station in San Francisco, KGO-TV. This Sunday morning show featured child actors who portrayed the main characters of Turner's comic strip: Nipper, Randy, Sybil, Connie and Oliver. With and through the kids, Turner explored venues, activities and objects.

As the comic strip continued, Turner added characters of more ethnicities, as well as child with physical disabilities.

During the Vietnam War, Turner, Keane, and four other members of the National Cartoonist Society traveled to South Vietnam, where they spent a month drawing more than 3,000 caricatures of service personnel.

For concerts by the Bay Area Little Symphony of Oakland, California, Turner drew pictures to the music and of children in the audience.{{cite web| url=http://www.bamusic.org/Bay_Area_Little_Symphony/Description/Morrie_Turner/morrie_turner.html| title=Morrie Turner| last=Gibson| first=Michael P.| website=Bay Area Little Symphony| access-date=January 27, 2017}}

Turner launched the first in a series of Summer Art exhibitions at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC) on June 10, 1995.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.alamedamagazine.com/Alameda-Magazine/July-August-2009/EOYDC-A-Beacon-for-Oakland-Youth/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221101312/http://www.alamedamagazine.com/Alameda-Magazine/July-August-2009/EOYDC-A-Beacon-for-Oakland-Youth/| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 21, 2018| title=EOYDC: A Beacon for Oakland Youth| magazine=Alameda Magazine| date=July–August 2009| language=en| access-date=February 21, 2018}}

Turner married Letha Mae Harvey on April 6, 1946; they collaborated on "Soul Corner," the weekly supplement to Wee Pals. Morrie and Letha had one son, Morrie Jr;{{cite web| url=http://strippersguide.blogspot.com/2011/10/ink-slinger-profiles-morrie-turner.html| website=Stripper's Guide| title=Ink-Slinger Profiles: Morrie Turner| first=Alex| last=Jay| date=October 25, 2011| access-date=February 15, 2022}} Letha died in 1994. Late in life, Turner's companion was Karol Trachtenburg of Sacramento. Turner died on January 25, 2014, at age 90 from chronic kidney disease in a hospital in Sacramento.{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=George |date=January 27, 2014 |title=Remembering 'Wee Pals' creator Morrie Turner: Social media reaction |newspaper=Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_24997918/remembering-wee-pals-creator-morrie-turner-social-media |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140127120943/http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_24997918/remembering-wee-pals-creator-morrie-turner-social-media |archive-date=January 27, 2014}}{{cite news| last=Kelly| first=George| url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_24997918/remembering-wee-pals-creator-morrie-turner-social-media| title=Remembering 'Wee Pals' creator Morrie Turner: Social media reaction| newspaper=Mercury News| date=January 27, 2014| archive-date=January 27, 2014| archive-url=https://archive.today/20140127120943/http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_24997918/remembering-wee-pals-creator-morrie-turner-social-media| url-status=live}}

In 1967, Keane created the Family Circus character Morrie, a playmate of Billy and the only recurring black character in the strip, based on Turner.{{cite journal| last=Chang| first=Jeff| title=Morrie Turner and the Kids| journal=The Believer| date=November–December 2009| url=http://www.believermag.com/issues/200911/?read=article_chang| access-date=March 18, 2013| archive-date=April 10, 2013| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410132616/http://www.believermag.com/issues/200911/?read=article_chang| url-status=live}}

In 2003, the National Cartoonists Society recognized Turner for his work on Wee Pals and others with the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award.

Throughout his career, Turner was showered with awards and community distinctions. For example, he received the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Inter-Group Relations Award from the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith. In 1971, he received the Alameda County (California) Education Association Layman's Annual Award.[http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=TURNER%2c+MORRIE Turner, Morrie]. Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Retrieved January 27, 2013.

In 2000, the Cartoon Art Museum presented Turner with the Sparky Award, named in honor of Charles Schulz.

Turner was honored a number of times at San Diego Comic-Con: in 1981, he was given an Inkpot Award; and in 2012 he was given the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award.

• Wee Pals That "Kid Power" Gang in Rainbow Power (Signet Books, 1968)
• Wee Pals (Signet Books, 1969) — introduction by Charles M. Schulz
• Kid Power (Signet Books, 1970)
• Nipper (Westminster Press, 1971)
• Nipper's Secret Power (Westminster Press, 1971) {{ISBN|978-0-664-32498-8}}
• Wee Pals: Rainbow Power (Signet Books, 1973)
• Wee Pals: Doing Their Thing (Signet Books, 1973)
• Wee Pals' Nipper and Nipper's Secret Power (Signet Books, 1974)
• Wee Pals: Book of Knowledge (Signet Books, 1974) {{ISBN|0451058003}}
• Wee Pals: Staying Cool (Signet Books, 1974) {{ISBN|0451060768}}
• Wee Pals: Funky Tales (New American Library, 1975)
• Wee Pals: Welcome to the Club (Rainbow Power Club Books, 1978)
• Choosing a Health Career: Featuring Wee Pals, the Kid Power Gang (Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Health Resources Administration, 1979)
• Wee Pals: A Full-Length Musical Comedy for Children or Young Teenagers (The Dramatic Publishing Company, 1981)
• Wee Pals Make Friends with Music and Musical Instruments: Coloring Book (Stockton Symphony Association, 1982)
• Wee Pals, the Kid Power Gang: Thinking Well (Ingham County Health Department, 1983)
• Wee Pals Doing the Right Thing Coloring Book (Oakland Police Department, 1991)
• Explore Black History with Wee Pals (Just us Books, 1998) {{ISBN|0940975793}}
• The Kid Power Gang Salutes African-Americans in the Military Past and Present (Conway B. Jones Jr., 2000)

• Ser un Hombre (Lear Siegler/Fearon Publishers, 1972) {{ISBN|0822474271}}
• Prejudice (Fearon, 1972) ASIN B00071EIOG
• The Vandals (Fearon, 1974) ASIN B0006WJ9JU

• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Freedom (Ross Simmons, 1967)
• Black and White Coloring Book (Troubadour Press, 1969) — written with Letha Turner
• Right On (Signet Books, 1969)
• Getting It All Together (Signet Books, 1972)
• Where's Herbie? A Sickle Cell Anemia Story and Coloring Book (Sickle Cell Anemia Workshop, 1972)
• Famous Black Americans (Judson Press, 1973) {{ISBN|0817005919}}
• Happy Birthday America (Signet Book, 1975)
• All God's Chillun Got Soul (Judson Press, 1980) {{ISBN|0817008926}}
• Thinking Well (Wisconsin Clearing House, 1983)
• Black History Trivia: Quiz and Game Book (News America Syndicate, 1986)
• What About Gangs? Just Say No! (Oakland Police Department, 1994)
• Babcock (Scholastic, 1996) — by John Cottonwood and Morrie Turner, {{ISBN|059022221X}}
• Mom Come Quick (Wright Pub Co., 1997) — by Joy Crawford and Morrie Turner, {{ISBN|0965236838}}
• Super Sistahs: Featuring the Accomplishments of African-American Women Past and Present (Bye Publishing Services, 2005), {{ISBN|0965673952}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|1905495}}
• {{cite web | url=http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/t/turner_m.htm |title=Morrie Turner Collection: A description of the collection at Syracuse University |publisher=Syracuse University |location=Syracuse, New York |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321035728/http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/t/turner_m.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2014 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite news |title=Morrie Turner: To Say the Name Is Both Eulogy and Tribute |first=R.C. |last=Harvey |author-link=R. C. Harvey |date=February 10, 2014 |work=The Comics Journal |publisher=Fantagraphics |access-date=August 10, 2015 | url=http://www.tcj.com/morrie-turner-to-say-the-name-is-both-eulogy-and-tribute/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014012723/http://www.tcj.com/morrie-turner-to-say-the-name-is-both-eulogy-and-tribute/ |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}
• Oral History Interview with Morrie Turner. Via Internet Archive, from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.
• [http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c83n24mg/ Finding Aid for the Morrie Turner Papers], African American Museum and Library at Oakland.

{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Morrie}}

Category:1923 births

Category:2014 deaths

Category:Artists from Oakland, California

Category:African-American comics artists

Category:African-American comics writers

Category:American comics artists

Category:American comics writers

Category:American comic strip cartoonists

Category:African-American history in Oakland, California

Category:Deaths from kidney disease

Category:21st-century African-American artists