# Jerry Craft

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**Jerry Craft** (born January 22, 1963)[1] is an American [cartoonist](/source/Cartoonist) and children's book illustrator best known for his syndicated [newspaper comic strip](/source/Newspaper_comic_strip) *Mama's Boyz* and his graphic novels *[New Kid](/source/New_Kid)*, *Class Act*, and *School Trip*. Craft is one of only a handful of syndicated African American cartoonists in the US.

## Early life and education

Craft grew up in [Washington Heights](/source/Washington_Heights,_Manhattan) and attended the [Ethical Culture Fieldston School](/source/Ethical_Culture_Fieldston_School). He graduated from the [School of Visual Arts](/source/School_of_Visual_Arts) in 1984 with a [Bachelor of Fine Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Fine_Arts) in Media Arts.[2]

## Career

Craft worked for twelve years as a copywriter for various advertising agencies, during which time he also got his first comics work on projects for [Marvel Comics](/source/Marvel_Comics) and [Harvey Comics](/source/Harvey_Comics). Moving on to [King Features Syndicate](/source/King_Features_Syndicate), Craft spent eight years writing sales brochures. This connection with King Features led to the syndication of Craft's *Mama's Boyz* beginning in 1995.[3]

Craft later worked as editorial director of the *[Sports Illustrated for Kids](/source/Sports_Illustrated_for_Kids)* website where he was nominated for a New Media Award by the National Cartoonists Society for his series of popular Flash cartoons. He left that job in October 2006 to become a full-time cartoonist.[4]

Craft performs regular cartooning workshops at schools, camps, and libraries.[5]

On January 27, 2020, *[New Kid](/source/New_Kid)* was awarded the [Newbery Medal](/source/Newbery_Medal), becoming the first graphic novel to receive this honor.[6] *New Kid* also won the [2020 Coretta Scott King Author Award](/source/Coretta_Scott_King_Author_Award) and the [Kirkus Prize](/source/Kirkus_Prize).[7]

### *Mama's Boyz*

*Mama's Boyz* follows the lives of African American single mother Pauline Porter and her two teenage sons Tyrell and Yusuf. Other characters include Pauline's brother Greg and their parents.

*Mama's Boyz* is the outgrowth of a prior strip called *The Outside View,* which Craft first self-syndicated in 1987. In 1990, he adapted some elements of *The Outside View* to create *Mama's Boyz*, which he self-syndicated to New York's *[The City Sun](/source/The_City_Sun)* and eventually a number of other weekly papers across the country. In 1995, *Mama's Boyz* was picked up for weekly syndication by King Features.[1]

*Mama's Boyz* has been praised in *Great Books for African American Children*, and featured in *[Chicken Soup for the African American Soul](/source/Chicken_Soup_for_the_Soul)*, *Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul*, and *[The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy Writing](/source/Complete_Idiot's_Guides)*. The Mama's Boyz characters also act as official "spokescharacters" of the [American Diabetes Association](/source/American_Diabetes_Association)'s African-American Program.

### *New Kid*

Published in 2019, *[New Kid](/source/New_Kid)* tells the story of Jordan Banks, an African-American seventh grader who begins attending a predominantly white, affluent, private school.[8] The book is a partially autobiographical coming of age novel.[9] As one of the few African-American students at his school, Jordan has to face daily microagressions.[10]

## Personal life

Craft had two sons, Jaylen and Aren. Aren died on February 8, 2024; he was 24 years old.[11] Before his death, he and his brother co-wrote the book *The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention!* with their father.[12][13] Craft lives in [Orlando,Florida](/source/Orlando,Florida).[13]

## Awards

- 2020 [Newbery Medal](/source/Newbery_Medal) for *[New Kid](/source/New_Kid)*
- 2013 [Glyph Awards](/source/Glyph_Awards) — Best Comic Strip or Webcomic for *Mama's Boyz*[14]
- 2009 African American Literary Awards Show Open Book Awards
- 2007 Conversation Starter award — DC Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy
- 2004 African American Literary Awards Show Open Book Awards
- [American Diabetes Association](/source/American_Diabetes_Association) Outstanding Supporter Award (2x)
- [National Cartoonists Society](/source/National_Cartoonists_Society) — nominated[15]

## Bibliography

- (written with Jaylen Craft & Aren Craft) *The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention!* (Mama's Boyz, Inc., 2014)
- *[New Kid](/source/New_Kid)* (Quill Tree Books, 2019)
- *[Class Act](/source/Class_Act_(graphic_novel))* (Quill Tree Books, 2020)
- *School Trip* (Quill Tree Books, 2023)

### *Mama's Boyz* collections

- *As American as Sweet Potato Pie!* (American Publishing Company, 1997)
- *Home Schoolin' – Because Learning Shouldn't Stop at 3 O'Clock* (Mama's Boyz, Inc., 2007) — endorsed by both Teachers Against Prejudice and Comics in the Classroom
- *The Big Picture: What you Need to Succeed!* (Mama's Boyz, Inc., 2010)[16]

### As illustrator

- (with writer Lori Nelson) *Hillary's Big Business Adventure* (Nelson Publishing, 2008)
- (with writer Margo Candelario) *Looking to the Clouds for Daddy* (Karen Hunter Media, 2009)
- (with writer David Miller) *Khalil's Way* (Urban Leadership Institute, 2012)

## References

1. [Craft entry](http://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/craft-jerry.htm), *Lambiek's Comiclopedia*. Accessed January 22, 2014.

1. Herbowy, Greg and Michelle Mackie, "Shelf Liners," *Visual Arts Journal: School of Visual Arts Magazine* (Fall 2017).

1. ["Mama's Boyz" (interview)](http://www.wtnh.com/ct-style/book-lovers/mamas-boyz) [Archived](https://archive.today/20140123154905/http://www.wtnh.com/ct-style/book-lovers/mamas-boyz) January 23, 2014 at archive.today, *News 8 WTNH* website (February 15, 2010).

1. ["Children Chatting with Jerry Craft"](https://www.lapl.org/books-emedia/podcasts/children-chatting/children-chatting-jerry-craft). *www.lapl.org*. Retrieved October 22, 2021.

1. ["Jerry Craft"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220119170920/https://www.harpercollinsspeakersbureau.com/speaker/jerry-craft/). *HarperCollins Speakers Bureau*. HarperCollins. Archived from [the original](https://www.harpercollinsspeakersbureau.com/speaker/jerry-craft/) on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022. Craft inspires audiences of all ages with his interactive and dynamic presentations and drawing demonstrations.

1. de León, Concepción (January 27, 2020). ["Graphic Novel Wins Newbery Medal for the First Time"](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/books/newbery-new-kid-jerry-craft-caldecott-undefeated-kwame-alexander.html). *The New York Times*. The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2020.

1. Reviews, Kirkus (November 7, 2017). ["The Winners Of The 2017 Kirkus Prize"](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-winners-of-the-2017-kirkus-prize_us_5a020eb3e4b0230facb840c7). *Huffington Post*. Retrieved September 26, 2018.

1. Jamieson, Victoria (March 8, 2019). ["Graphic Novels That Will Keep Kids Reading"](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/books/review/new-kid-jerry-craft-max-midknights-lincoln-peirce.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

1. Emanuele Berry (January 7, 2022). ["Talking While Black"](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/758/talking-while-black). *This American Life*. This American Life. pp. 34:50. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

1. Drew, Emma (March 13, 2020). ["'New Kid,' By SVA alumnus Jerry Craft, Is The First Graphic Novel To Win The Newbery Medal"](https://sva.edu/features/new-kid-by-sva-alumnus-jerry-craft-is-the-first-graphic-novel-to-win-the-newbery-medal). *School of Visual Arts (SVA)*. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

1. ["Police: Person found dead in submerged car in Norwalk River"](https://www.courant.com/2024/02/08/police-person-found-dead-in-submerged-car-in-norwalk-river/). *Hartford Courant*. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-10-26.

1. ["Book Lovers Corner: "The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention!"](https://archive.today/20140123160233/http://www.wtnh.com/ct-style/book-lovers-corner-the-offenders-saving-the-world-while-serving-detention%23.Unw3MREcen0.facebook) *News 8 WNTH* website (November 7, 2013).

1. Edwards, Gwen. ["Our Lives 9/28,"](http://connecticut.news12.com/multimedia/our-lives-9-28-1.6154336) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160817135219/http://connecticut.news12.com/multimedia/our-lives-9-28-1.6154336) August 17, 2016 at the Wayback Machine *News 12 Connecticut* website (September 27, 2013).

1. MacDonald, Heidi. ["2013 Glyph Comics Awards Winners announced,"](https://www.comicsbeat.com/2013-glyph-comics-awards-winners-announced/) *The Beat* (May 22, 2013).

1. ["Children Chatting with Jerry Craft"](https://www.lapl.org/books-emedia/podcasts/children-chatting/children-chatting-jerry-craft). *www.lapl.org*. Retrieved October 22, 2021.

1. ["Cartoonist Jerry Craft Publishes New Book,"](http://kingfeatures.com/2010/02/mamas-boyz-the-big-picture-–-what-you-need-to-succeed/) King Features website (February 24, 2010).

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.jerrycraft.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jerry Craft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Craft) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Craft?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.