Single-handedly making a difference

Usually finishing on a positive note of people making a difference, CBS ended last night’s newscast with an interview of Harriet Glickman, a name I had not previously heard. She’s the impetus behind the integration of the “Peanuts” comic strip 50 years ago.

In 1968, Glickman was a 42-year-old former teacher and mother of three children. Her entire family was a fan of “Peanuts” and had paraphernalia throughout their home.

When riots and protests broke out across the country following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4 that year, she became deeply disturbed. As a white woman, she worried about the state of race relations her children would be growing up in and didn’t like it.

Wanting to make a difference, she felt helpless. Then she had the idea to appeal to Charles Schulz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. At the time, it was seen by nearly 100 million people. Only white characters appeared in the strip.

She wrote Schulz a letter suggesting he introduce a black child to the mix to help foster a “kind of open friendship, trust and mobility” for future generations. She went on to suggest Schulz eventually include more than one black child and “let them be as adorable as the others.”

Schulz at first declined her request, saying he feared the gesture would be seen as condescending and patronizing.

Not giving up, she talked to some of her black friends about what they thought. Several wrote to Schulz encouraging him to follow Glickman’s suggestions.

Schulz wrote Glickman on July 1 to check the paper during the week of July 29. He had drawn an episode he thought would please her.

On July 31, 1968, Franklin was introduced and appeared for three days in a row. He became a regular character in the strip and other black kids were eventually added.

Making a difference for other cartoonists

Many of today’s cartoonists credit the introduction of Franklin with propelling their success in the world of comic strips.

Robb Armstrong was 6 when Franklin came on the scene. He had already decided he wanted to be a cartoonist when he grew up. Discovering Franklin, a boy who looked like him, was extraordinary. While some thought Franklin was too perfect, too bland as a character, Armstrong thought Schulz was smart in how he portrayed him.

When Armstrong started his own comic strip, “Jump Start,” he sent Schulz one of the strips. Knowing he had inspired Armstrong, Schulz later asked if he could give Franklin the surname Armstrong.

Barbara Brandon-Croft was 10 when she discovered Franklin in 1968. She said she was affirmed that black kids do matter as soon as she saw it. In 1991, she became the first black woman to have a nationally syndicated comic strip with “Where I’m coming from.”

It only takes one

We could all learn from Harriet Glickman, now in her early 90s. From being deeply unsettled about what was going on all over the country, she came up with an idea and stuck with it. She just wanted to make the world a better place.

Some of you “Peanuts” aficionados likely already knew this story. But l’m just learning about it and so glad I did. It’s good for the soul.