Morris Nolton Turner
(December 11, 1923 – January 25, 2014)
He was an American cartoonist renowned for his groundbreaking work. He is best known as the creator of the comic strip “Wee Pals,” which holds the distinction of being the first American syndicated strip with an integrated cast of characters.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Morris Nolton Turner, born and raised in Oakland, California, was the youngest child of a Pullman porter father and a homemaker and nurse mother. His artistic journey began at an early age, with a keen interest in drawing. By age 10, he was sketching what he heard on radio shows, and his passion for art continued to grow.
During high school at McClymonds High School in Oakland and Berkeley High School, Turner honed his skills as a cartoonist. His determination to become a professional cartoonist crystallized when he was just 14 years old. Despite facing widespread racism, he was active in the school newspaper and even served on the student council. Turner’s first formal training in cartooning came through a correspondence course.
Contributions During World War II and Beyond
During World War II, Turner served as a mechanic with the Tuskegee Airmen, and his illustrations appeared in the newspaper Stars and Stripes during his service. After the war, while working for the Oakland Police Department, he created the comic strip “Baker’s Helper.”
Creating “Wee Pals”
In 1963, inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, Turner joined the Association of California Cartoonists and Gag Artists. It was during a discussion with fellow cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, the creator of “Peanuts,” that he expressed his frustration about the lack of racial diversity in cartoons. Schulz encouraged Turner to create his own work based on his experiences as a black man.
Turner’s first attempt resulted in “Dinky Fellas,” a comic strip featuring an all-black cast, which debuted in the Chicago Defender on July 25, 1964. However, it only found publication in this single newspaper. Undeterred, Turner reworked the strip and renamed it “Wee Pals.” When “Wee Pals” made its debut, it achieved a significant milestone as the first American syndicated comic strip to feature a diverse cast of characters.
Expanding and Adding “Soul Corner”
As “Wee Pals” gained popularity, Turner continued to add characters of various ethnicities to the strip. In 1969, he collaborated with his wife, Letha, to introduce a new segment called “Soul Corner.” This segment highlighted the stories of famous ethnic minorities, with Morris providing the illustrations and Letha conducting the research.
Advocacy and Recognition
Morris Turner’s contributions extended beyond his comic strip. In 1970, he became a co-chairman of the White House Conference on Children and Youth, reflecting his commitment to important social issues.
Turner’s impact reached television as well. He appeared as a guest on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” on two occasions, discussing his comic strip and presenting his characters. Additionally, during the 1972–73 television season, “Wee Pals on the Go” aired on ABC’s owned-and-operated station in San Francisco, KGO-TV, featuring child actors portraying the main characters of Turner’s comic strip.
During the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, Turner, along with cartoonists like Charles M. Schulz and Bil Keane, traveled to South Vietnam. During their month-long stay, they created over 3,000 caricatures of service personnel.
Community Engagement
Morris Turner’s engagement with his community extended to music. For concerts by the Bay Area Little Symphony of Oakland, he illustrated pictures that complemented the music and depicted children in the audience.
Summer Art Exhibitions and Legacy
Turner’s commitment to nurturing artistic talent led to the launch of the first in a series of Summer Art exhibitions at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC) in 1995.
Personal Life and Passing
Morris Turner married Letha Mae Harvey on April 6, 1946. Together, they collaborated on “Soul Corner,” the weekly supplement to “Wee Pals.” The couple had one son, Morrie Jr. Sadly, Letha passed away in 1994. Later in life, Morris Turner’s companion was Karol Trachtenburg of Sacramento.
Morris Nolton Turner passed away on January 25, 2014, at the age of 90, due to chronic kidney disease. His remarkable contributions to the world of cartoons and his advocacy for diversity and inclusion continue to inspire generations.
Tributes and Awards
In recognition of his outstanding career, Morris Turner received numerous awards and honors. Notably, the National Cartoonists Society honored him with the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Throughout his career, he received several community distinctions, including 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.
The Cartoon Art Museum presented Turner with the Sparky Award in 2000, named in honor of Charles Schulz. Furthermore, his contributions were acknowledged at the San Diego Comic-Con. In 1981, he received an Inkpot Award, and in 2012, he was honored with the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. Morris Turner’s enduring legacy continues to celebrate diversity, unity, and the power of comics to address important social issues.
Bibliography
Morris Turner’s creative works include a variety of publications, such as:
Wee Pals Collections:
“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)
Willis and his Friends:
“Ser un Hombre” (Lear Siegler/Fearon Publishers, 1972) ISBN 0822474271
“Prejudice” (Fearon, 1972) ASIN B00071EIOG
“The Vandals” (Fearon, 1974) ASIN B0006WJ9JU
Other Books:
“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