Guess what?
ISSUE NO. 39 // BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
When someone from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum reached out about a possible sponsored collaboration, I was in awe at how tailored phishing schemes have gotten. After realizing it was legit, I was obviously calm and cool because I am exceptionally chill.*
It is with that same chill that I nonchalantly announce I’m collaborating with FDR Library to highlight their forthcoming book, Black Americans, Civil Rights, and the Roosevelts, 1932-1962. I have a sneak peek of their book. This is my first time doodling my way through a book I can’t hold in my hands yet. And also the very first time that a history book hasn’t bonked my head as I tried to read just a few more pages before falling asleep.
Let me tell you, the book is gorgeous. It’s full of colorful artifacts — photos, news clippings, letters, buttons, and more — that bring the story to life. I am delighted to share it with you.
Follow along as I doodle my way through this incredible book.
Let’s get to it…
Presidential Doodler
*Not chill at all.
A sneak peek into my sneak peek
At his library and museum’s dedication in 1941, FDR observed that a nation “must above all, believe in the capacity of its own people so to learn from the past that they can gain judgement in creating their own future.”
This book shares not only the story of the Black Americans who fought tirelessly for civil rights, but also the Roosevelts’ transformation.
In the early 1930s, the Roosevelts didn’t really have much to say about racial injustices. As for the rest of the country, some white allies joined the fight. But the attitudes of most fell within a spectrum ranging from “indifference and inattention” to “deep-seated racism.”
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Meanwhile…
At the start of his presidency, Roosevelt enjoyed a huge Democratic majority in the House and Senate. The majority was misleading, though, as most of the Democrats were of the Southern variety, that is to say “vocal white supremacists” (as highlighted below in orange).
NOTE: To the best of my knowledge; their heads were all roughly the same size in the 1930s, despite what’s shown in this crude depiction.
Southern Democrats dominated the key positions within the House and Senate, but all of these highlighted guys didn’t hold the key positions at the same time.
I thought it would help to add a little motion to this doodle.
It didn’t. It didn’t help at all.
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Let’s try it again, but with static doodles.
In 1933:
311 Democrats and just 116 Republicans in the House.
60 Democrats and 36 Republicans in the Senate.
The orangey circles indicate the Southern Democrats in power in 1933.
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In 1935:
The Democratic majority grew larger and included Arthur Mitchell from Illinois, Congress’ first Black Democrat.
The orangey circles indicate the Southern Democrats in power in 1935. Still loads of ‘em.
Though FDR hated the “feudal” quality of Southern politics (and their economy), he acknowledged “I did not choose the tools with which I must work. Had I been permitted to choose them I would have selected quite different ones.”
Stay tuned for more doodles as I work my way through Black Americans, Civil Rights, and the Roosevelts, 1932-1962.
Can’t wait for the book to come out?
Visit the special exhibition, open through March 2, 2025.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
4079 Albany Post Road / Hyde Park, NY
Museum schedule / Purchase tickets online
Want to be kept in the loop?
Drop me a message or comment below. I’ll be sure to let you know when the book is ready for purchase.
Follow along on Instagram for more doodles and presidential trivia.
