Dark Laughter Revisited: Exploring the life and legacy of Ollie Harrington

As a keen observer with a razor-sharp wit and pen, cartoonist Oliver “Ollie” Harrington (1912-1995) chronicled many of the events and issues that defined the 20th century.  He was best known in the U.S. for his long-running series "Dark Laughter" (later known as "Bootsie"), which was published in Black Press newspapers such as the Pittsburgh Courier and the Chicago Defender.  The feature cast a satirical yet affectionate gaze on Black America while exposing the systemic racism the community experienced in all aspects of life.  

Join Dr. Walter Evans, whose collection of Harrington originals is featured in the Dark Laughter Revisited exhibition, and Jenny Robb, co-curator of the exhibition, for a presentation and conversation about Harrington’s life and career in cartooning, which intersected with the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights movement, the Cold War and Red Scare, the post-WWII Black emigre community in Paris, and communist East Germany.

Dr. Evans is a Georgia-based physician, philanthropist and collector of historical and contemporary African American art and literature.  Ms. Robb is the Head Curator of Comics and Cartoon Art at The Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.