Friday Foster’s Impact on Comic Book History
In October 1969, Barcelona cartoonist Jordi Longaron traveled to New York along with Barry Coker to sign a contract with the Chicago Tribune-New York Daily News Syndicate to draw a newspaper strip titled Friday Foster, which would be published in many North American newspapers. with scripts by the famous Jim Lawrence. This milestone marked a before and after in the history of national comics, as Friday Foster became the first African-American protagonist of a mainstream newspaper strip in the United States, coinciding with the height of Black Power.
The Exhibition at the National Art Museum of Catalonia
The National Art Museum of Catalonia has organized an exhibition titled Longaron and Friday Foster, the unexpected heroine, which allows us to rediscover the story of this character who transcended the taboos of his time. The exhibition is an exciting journey through the universe of Friday Foster through original press strips, sketches, reference photographs, correspondence with the scriptwriter and unpublished material rescued from the Barcelona cartoonist’s archive.
The Legacy of Friday Foster
Despite its cancellation in American newspapers, Friday Foster’s impact continues to resonate. Her influence spread through the film version starring Pam Grier, as well as through the compilation of her Sunday strips in the book ‘Friday Foster, a Black Power Icon’. Furthermore, the recovery and international dissemination work carried out by Jordi Longaron’s son has contributed to keeping alive the artistic figure of his father and the legacy of Friday Foster.
The Vindication of Friday Foster
The exhibition ‘Longaron and Friday Foster. The Unexpected Heroine’ at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is a testament to the importance of this transgressive comic book character, who generated admiration and controversy in the 1970s. Her historical relevance is reflected in the social context of the time, marked by the rise of Black Power and feminist demands.
The Lasting Impact of Friday Foster
Half a century later, Friday Foster’s most revolutionary features remain valid, reminding us that society has not changed as much as we think. His legacy lives on through movements like Black Lives Matter, demonstrating this character’s enduring relevance in popular culture and his impact on social consciousness.