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 and Harvey Comics. Moving on to 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 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]
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 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]
Published in 2019, 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 Norwalk, Connecticut.[13]
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
^ abCraft entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Accessed January 22, 2014.
^Herbowy, Greg and Michelle Mackie, "Shelf Liners," Visual Arts Journal: School of Visual Arts Magazine (Fall 2017).
^"Jerry Craft". HarperCollins Speakers Bureau. HarperCollins. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022. Craft inspires audiences of all ages with his interactive and dynamic presentations and drawing demonstrations.
^Emanuele Berry (January 7, 2022). "Talking While Black". This American Life (Podcast). This American Life. Event occurs at 34:50. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
