New Pittsburgh Courier, 29 April 1950.
Here’s the Dark Laughter panel that so incensed Henry Barnes that he took up pen and paper to complain. Ollie Harrington was a renowned mid-century African-American cartoonist, widely lauded for using his cartoons to combat racism and advocate for civil rights. This panel, however, is decidedly low-brow, and even vulgar, with its hint at sexual violence.
“Look, sis, you got a lead weight or small hammer of somethin’ I can put in my purse? I got a date with Bootsie and seein’ as it’s spring an’ stuff, he kind’a starts feelin’ like he’s a commando!”