Who suggested adding a Black character to the Peanuts comic strip?

A teacher named Harriet Glickman suggested adding a Black character to the Peanuts comic strip.

When did Franklin Armstrong first appear in the Peanuts comic strip?

Franklin Armstrong first appeared in the Peanuts comic strip on July 29, 1968.

What challenges did the inclusion of Franklin face?

Some editors objected to Franklin's inclusion and his interactions with white characters, but Charles M. Schulz insisted on printing the strip as drawn.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Teacher's Letter Sparked Franklin's Peanuts Debut

Teacher's Letter Sparked Franklin's Peanuts Debut

25 Jan

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Summary

A teacher's letter prompted Schulz to add Franklin to Peanuts.
Editors initially opposed some of Franklin's character inclusions.
A new special explores Franklin's background and his friendship.

Teacher's Letter Sparked Franklin's Peanuts Debut

In the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in April 1968, teacher Harriet Glickman felt compelled to act. She wrote to cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, suggesting a Black character be introduced into the "Peanuts" comic strip to foster understanding and acceptance.

Schulz initially expressed concerns about authenticity but, after consulting with Glickman and others, proceeded with the idea. Despite facing pushback from some editors who objected to Franklin interacting with white characters, Schulz remained resolute.

He famously told his publisher, "Either you print it just the way I draw it or I quit." Franklin Armstrong made his first appearance less than four months after MLK's death, on July 29, 1968.