During the height of the Civil Rights Era, “The Sit-In” was a popular mode of protest among non violent activists. To protest the “Whites Only” policy at Woolworth’s, protesters would sit at the counter quietly until served or arrested at which time another demonstrator would take their place all while Whites waited for a seat which obviously angered then and was bad for business. But could this concept work today to protest a similar injustice?

Next month, a coalition of minority cartoonists will each draw their own rendition of the same story line in protest to the editors who believe that all black comic strips are alike. Branded the “Cartoonists of Color Comics Page Sit-In,” the demonstration is a far cry from Woolthworth’s but hopes to change the thinking among editors that only one minority-themed strip belongs in a paper at a time.

“When one of my cartoons gets added to a page, I dread asking my syndicate what I replaced because it’s too often one of the other 15 ‘black’ strips, even though they have nothing to do with mine thematically.” Darrin Bell, creator of the strip “Candorville,” tells Newsweek. “Many of us have even been told: adding one means cutting another.”

The “Comics Page Sit-In” is scheduled to take place on Feb. 10 with participants Bell, Cory Thomas (Watch Your Head), Lalo Alcaraz (La Cucaracha), Steve Bentley (Herb and Jamaal), Jerry Craft (Mama’s Boyz), Charlos Gary (Working It Out and Café Con Leche), Keith Knight (K Chronicles), and Stephen Watkins (Housebroken).

I’m can’t help but wonder if these comics are even getting the chance because of the controversial success of “The Boondocks.” I think the comic strip era has faded. Its become a very niche business and for an editor to take on a new strip regardless of the theme is probably a risky one. I can see the point being made here and I’m sure racism plays a factor but I think the issue is more layered that just race…just my opinion.