Racine Sun

Chester Commodore was born on August 22, 1914, in Racine, Wisconsin. He spent his early childhood in the city before moving to Chicago in 1923 with his family. Chester stayed in Racine with his maternal grandmother until 1927, when he joined his family in Chicago.

As a child, Commodore developed an interest in drawing. He was encouraged by his uncle, John Prophet, to pursue art. He attended Tilden Technical High School, where he continued practicing his skills. After graduation, he worked various jobs, including as a chauffeur and a mechanic, while continuing to draw. In 1938, a lawyer and comics writer, James Rice, recommended him to the Minneapolis Star. The newspaper offered him a job, but it was rescinded when they learned he was African-American.

In 1948, Commodore found work at The Chicago Defender, where he began creating cartoons. He eventually took over the editorial cartoons after Jay Jackson’s death in 1954. Commodore focused on social issues facing African-Americans, such as poverty and political exclusion. His cartoons earned him many awards, and he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize twelve times.

Commodore retired to Colorado in 1981 but resumed work for The Defender in 1992. He passed away on April 10, 2004. While he spent much of his life in Chicago and Colorado, his birth in Racine remained a defining part of his story.