State of Comics: Hate Stings

About This Event

Join writer James Curry and artist Tom Nguyen for a conversation about their new comic, Hate Stings, which tells the story of Curry’s family, one of the first Black families to settle in Hastings, Minnesota. In 1907, the church they helped found—Brown’s Chapel AME Church—was burned to the ground in an act of racial violence. Learn how Curry and Nguyen are bringing this difficult part of Minnesota history to a new generation through the medium of comic art.

James Curry is a producer, director, writer, editor, and educator. He is the recipient of multiple Telly awards and the director of the short film Westbound and feature documentary Masterjam. In addition to film and television work, he has curated exhibits and programs for the Dakota County Historical Society, the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, and MNHS.

Tom Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American visual artist who began his 25-year professional career freelancing for comic book publishers such as DC Comics and Marvel Comics as a teenager. He has worked on major titles such as Batman, Green Lantern, JLA, and Superman: The Man of Steel, among others. He is also an accomplished photographer, illustrator for television, and art instructor.