(H)afrocentric

(H)afrocentric #1

by Juliana “Jewels” Smith, Ronald Nelson (Illustrator), Mike Hampton (Colorist/Letterer)

The first volume introduces us to the characters of (H)afrocentric. Each character represents a political archetype. Naima Pepper, the main protagonist is an outspoken radical Black feminist. Miles Pepper, her brother, is an apolitical musician, showing hints of apathy and indifference. El Ramirez, Miles’ best friend, is closely aligned with Chicano nationalism and Renee Aanjay Brown has a political pulse around gender and sexuality but lacks much in the way of racial politics. Follow this posse of disgruntled undergrads of color as they traverse the conservative Ronald Reagan University.

Genres: Graphic Novels

Unknown Binding

About the author

Juliana “Jewels” Smith is a cultural worker, educator, writer and organizer. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from UC Riverside and M.A. in Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego. As an educator in community colleges Smith decided she could reach more of her students through an unorthodox medium, a comic book. She created (H)afrocentric as a way to challenge students and readers alike about the presumptions around race, class, gender and sexuality through character dialogue. Her practice focuses on the links between racial justice, gender equity, and political literacy; using creativity to facilitate dialogue.

In 2009, she helped co-found the first chapter of Red Bike and Green in Oakland, CA, a grassroots Black urban cycling organization that focuses on the key elements of environment, economics, and health in the Black community. Her experience organizing around cycling led Smith to found the first ever Clitoral Mass, a mass women's (and women identified) bike ride, in Oakland, CA in 2013.