Birth of The Black Age

When the Wall of Respect and the Wall of Truth were presented to the world, a serious statement was made. They declared that the Bronzeville area was the flashpoint and center of Black creative thought being supported by Black money to celebrate the Black Nationalist movement. At this time, I was fifteen years old. I had already dedicated myself to a life in the creative arts, primarily as a visual artist. So I went over to the “Walls” to see if I could add anything to them. Well, the brothers at the “Walls” let me know it was not that kind of party. First, they insisted I was too young and needed to pay by dues and went on to explain how aspects of the “Walls” were too precious to allow for ongoing embellishments. I got the message too well. “Do for self”, as the Honorable Elijah Muhammad used to say.

My grandfather, the late Rev. Samuel David Phillips, not only raised me but owned a few buildings in the Bronzeville area. His Pentecostal Mission church was at 43rd and State Street across the street from the old MOOG Coal yard. He created visionary Biblical charts for use in his sermons. As a child I used to watch him create them and I would go into my area of the crib and create my work. Point being - he was self made and in control of his life and resources. I saw the “Walls” as a sample of that. Power. Simple and sure.

A few years later, I was cooking steaks at Stouffer’s in the Prudential Building on the day of Dr. King’s murder. The city went up in flames. We were put on lock down due to the curfew placed on the city. WGN had a TV feed in the building and I was able to watch the madness. The burning. The riots. That night I decided to dedicate a portion of my creative gifts to the advancement of the Black Cultural movement. Keep in mind I am from an early childhood, life-long fine artist, illustrator, educator, and creator of graphic novels combination kinda brother.

Purists like to low-ball or under value those that work in comic books or such as low art or even non-art. I am here to tell you that a graphic novel requires the skill and talent than most so-called fine artists and their purists have or can appreciate. It is the ultimate story telling medium that is the direct descendent from the walls of the ancient Eygptians and the Sistine Chapel. We are civilized through our use of pictures and words.

Later I was introduced to the DuSable Museum and The South Side Community Art Center in my senior year of high school. I volunteered at both. ZOOOM! In 1993 I produced the world’s first Black Age of Comics Convention at the South Side Community Art Center.

This innovative ground breaking convention celebrated artists, writers, and products in the graphic novel, comic book, gaming, and such industries that were derived from the Black or African experience. I had published my first Black Age title, “NOG: The Protector of the Pyramides” in 1979 and it ran in the Defender during that time as a strip. That early effort launched the Black Age. I coined the term in high school and its time had come. Now the Black Age movement boasts four conventions. The one in Chicago, along with others in Detroit, Atlanta, and Philadelphia on an annual basis.

To the cry for positive recreational reading material and the question as to where are the positive and productive Black men……..we are doing it in the Black Age. Our reach even has drawn non-Blacks, all of whom are welcome, as we are not exclusionary, sexist, or ageist. Our products are entertaining, positive, rare, and very collectable.

In 2006 The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention flew me out to Temple University and honored me with a Life Time Achievement Award along with the title, “The Father of the Black Age”. I was overwhelmed. This was up there with getting my Master’s Degree from the School of the Art Institute. It gives me chills to just write about it. Indie today: Black Age forever!!!

We celebrated “BLACK AGE XII” on Oct. 10th at Kenwood High School featuring Black Age greats like Eric Battle, N. Steven Harris, Ashley A. Woods, Juan Arvevalo, and Andre’ Batts.

See www.dablakcage.blogspot.com

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Roberta: THANK YOU FOR FEATURING artist Turtel Onli. I met this brother in the early 70's at Olive-Harvey College. Cutting edge, Afro-Centric, Veggan "to the BONE", had a bike named Strawberry. I came to the first convention at the South Side Community Art Center. It was all I could do, to support Turtel and his group, by attending this event. Not much money available that day, but I purchased a number of Books for my godson. Turtel is an artist with a day job and his creativity, he has kept my interest in Black Visiual Artisit alive over the past 38 years. An artisit raised in the "hood", centered, and knows his venue. Thanks again for featuring him.