Cartoonist Morrie Turner draws characters from his "Wee Pals" comic strip during his presentation at the Lodi Library on Saturday. (Matthew Landi/News-Sentinel)

Cartooning icon delights, unites crowd at Lodi Library

The Rev. David Hill gave him a glowing introduction. Councilwoman Susan Hitchcock issued a proclamation in his honor, and in return received a hug and a kiss on the cheek. A throng of spectators warmly applauded and welcomed a smiling elderly gentleman with a marker in his hand.

"I'm happy to be here today," Morrie Turner told a crowd of more than 100 people at the Lodi Public Library on Saturday. "But, at my age, I'm happy to be anywhere."

The Breakthrough Project along with the Friends of the Library brought Turner to the library's Bud Sullivan room to talk about his life, his 41-year cartooning career and the goal of his work: Racial harmony. In front of a multitude of faces as diverse as the characters in his comic strip "Wee Pals," Turner did just that.

Sitting next to a large white drawing tablet propped on an easel, Turner began to introduce his characters and talk about his life.

He knew at the age of 10 years old that he wanted to draw. "Everything I saw, I wanted to reproduce," Turner said. Whether he was copying or tracing, he had to put it on paper, he said. It wasn't until 1965 that Turner put all his effort into pursuing a career in cartooning.

Charles Schulz, the creator of the comic strip "Peanuts," inspired Turner with his gentle and timeless humor. After meeting and befriending Schulz, Turner began to think about what kind of strip he would draw. "It would be hilarious if Charlie Brown was black," Turner mused.

At first the entire cast of characters for "Wee Pals" was comprised completely of black characters. Turner knew such a comic strip in an era struggling with civil rights wouldn't be widely accepted. So he began to create characters from all walks of life.

During his talk, Turner drew all the characters and told of how each was inspired. The first in a long line of personalities was Nipper, a black boy wearing a Confederate hat. Turner received letters of outrage. One in particular stated that no self-respecting black person would wear such a hat, and that he should get to know some black people.

"I wrote back and told the person that I happen to know two black people; my mother and my father," Turner said, "I never heard from him again."

His comic strip thrived as more papers began to run the feature. Throughout the years — and after many published books and an animated TV show — Turner continues to draw the strip himself and spread his message: Togetherness, harmony and respecting one another.

This message continues to inspire young and old alike. It inspires other cartoonists as well.

The young and the young-at-heart laugh as cartoonist Morrie Turner tells one of many jokes while sharing his message at the Lodi Library in Lodi on Saturday. (Matthew Landi/News-Sentinel)

"Morrie has been instrumental in inspiring my work," said cartoonist Stephen Bentley, who came to see his friend of 10 years in action.

Bentley, the creator of the syndicated comic strip "Herb and Jamaal," went on to say Turner was one of only two black cartoonists on the scene when he was a boy.

Thanks to pioneering cartoonists such as Turner, a diverse mix of new artists now flavor the comics with ethnicity and culture as varied as the characters of "Wee Pals."

And how does Turner view today's emerging talents such as "Boondocks" creator Aaron MacGruder? "Look, he's Hip Hop. I'm Cool Jazz."

Contact Marc Lutz at marcl@lodinews.com