Posted in: Comics | Tagged: chew, image comics, image expo, Jimmie Robinson, john layman, rob guillory

Rob Guillory Talks About The Bigger Issue In The Diversity In Comics Debate

Rob Guillory works with John Layman on the Eisner and Harvey award winning Image Comic Chew. He got pulled into the diversity in comics discussion that stemmed from the Image Expo today when he was mentioned by another Image artist, Jimmie Robinson (Bomb Queen). Guillory gave a good and unique insight into the discussion… plus I love how he responded to Robinson's mention.

@Jimmie_Robinson @marclombardi I think I might be black as well! Maybe!

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

Alright, let me air something out here. Re: the comics diversity thing. Then I'll shut up about it.

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

I've been black a long time. And I've been doing comic cons for 10+ years. And I've noticed something. There ain't a lotta blacks in comics.

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

Then I realized something else. In over 10+ years of doing portfolio reviews, I can count on 1 hand the number I've done for minorities.

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

So what's the problem? Why do there seem to be more white fans AND creators than black? Is it some secret conspiracy to hold us down?

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

Then I started teaching comic classes in poor black neighborhoods all around Louisiana.

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

And what was the #1 reaction I had from those black kids I taught? "We can DO this? I thought comics were for white people."

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

I'm just saying. I think that the diversity issue in comics is bigger than "Whitey's not letting blacks make comics obviously!"

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

Clearly, I don't have all the answers. I'm just saying what I've seen in my time in the industry.

— Rob Guillory (@Rob_guillory) January 9, 2014

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