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Matt Bors is a cartoonist and editor based in Portland, Oregon. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Foreign Policy, and other respected publications all over the world and the Internet. Bors also is a two-time Pulitzer Prize Finalist for his political cartoons (2012 and 2020).

He's one of those rare creators that have successfully intertwined their work and politics. In a time when many artists try to stay as neutral as possible so they won't alienate any of their audience and can appeal to as many people as they can (generate clicks), Bors continues to make bold statements, tackling some of the most difficult American social issues.

More info: mattbors.comthenib.com | Instagram

Bors always wanted to be a comic artist, but it wasn't until after 9/11 (he was 17 at the time) that he became political and alarmed at the direction the US was headed in. "I started drawing political cartoons for my college newspaper in the run up to the Iraq War and never stopped," he told Bored Panda.

The artist loves the medium — he has a thought balloon and a pen tattooed on his inner forearms — and believes it's a good medium to talk about anything. "I think with comics you have the ability to expose the way political arguments don't hold up and reveal how situations are absurd in a way that you just can't accomplish in a column."

But Bors doesn't just create comics. He also produces them. In 2013, he founded The Nib, an online magazine that shares strips on what is going down in the world. What's really interesting is The Nib is kind of owned by its readers — the independent project runs entirely on member subscriptions and donations.

"There was a hole in the publishing world that The Nib filled that is supportive of political and non-fiction cartoons and people want to support that," Bors said. "Editorial cartoons, in particular, used to be in most papers and provide hundreds of people with jobs, and now it's just a handful. So we're an outlet that makes sure this work has a home from established professionals to up-and-comers. We're fully independent, which means we can focus on comics and not the whims of a larger media company trying to grow infinitely or flip IP into movies—we just want to publish comics."

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Thomas Robb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd love to see some data about party affiliation and covid rates. I suspect there might be a pattern.

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After all these years and accomplishments, however, Matt hasn't lost his passion for the craft. It's what keeps him going. "Awards are a nice boost sometimes, especially the ones that represent a blessing from colleagues, but they are ultimately meaningless if you're not happy doing the work without them."

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Jaded Queen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If ur not rich or important nobody gives jack s**t. And why should they u r just another cog in the wheel. U r nothing a nobody

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, a 22 year old white guy with an assaut rifle is a poor troubled boy. A 14 year old boy with a disassembled clock is a murdering terrorist. Just search Ahmed Mohamed Clock incident.

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Jaded Queen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish before we reach the 2nd panel we will be wiped out. Earth used to be so beautiful. Clean water flowing everywhere. Fruits from trees ripe for picking. Chirping birds and fluttering butterflies. I will always hate humans on a existencial level

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jk nbt
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

protesters pulled down the statue of Frederick Douglass, prominent black anti-slavery activist and lobbyist from NY state... they pulled it down on the 168th anniversary of his most famous speech denouncing slavery... hmm... this is what sort of education you get when you pull down historical statues and erase history...

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Sasha Kuleshov
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have encountered more than 20 people with guns in stores in the US, who are they afraid of?

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest: This is the exact impression that Europeans have about Americans and their healthcare insurance.

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He lives in the Trumplovers reality, where libtards and antifa are pushing a socialist agenda which will lead to corruption, abuse of powers and a total disrespect of the constitution.

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Kanrry Kang
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For the love of God, teach the truth and stop teaching White-washed European s**t.

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deanna woods
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many people don't want to know the truth about our history. They want to know the cleaned up version of history.

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Bumble
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Parents are fine with sending their kids to school with a deadly virus still very much out of control but want to 'protect' their kids from learning about the real issues such as racism.

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Aj Grimes (them/they)
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teach about the real history of LGBTQ+ rights and the people in them. Also, teach about what the different colored skins did to make a difference and not just white people.

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CharliAnn Olney
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose Washington, was not our first President. Lincoln did not sign the Emancipation Proclamation. LBJ did not sign the Civil Rights Act. Chief Pushmataha did not lead 5 Native Nations at the Battle of New Orleans. Nope, only Black people contributed to the success of this country!

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Leah Helbig
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3 years ago

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How about teach with no bias. Like the African slave trade has been around since forever and has been perpetuated by all races and cultures including other africans. Also there were black slave owners in America etc... Schools should only teach straight facts period no agendas

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Janoel Murrey
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you're right slave trade has been perpetrated by all races that have white skin

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jk nbt
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3 years ago (edited)

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how about a cartoon showing 75 years of progress aimed at ending racial discrimination? This started with Prez Truman ending segregation in the armed forces in 1945. What about Johnson & the equal housing/ equal employment legislation of 1968? Can't do that you say? perhaps because that would be an unpopular opinion not voiced by your employers in the hyper-liberal, borderline psychotic MSM? Hard to sell biased nonsense you are producing to the MSM if it has truth in it like I am suggesting, huh?

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Scyth
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3 years ago

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You know what's funny? That people from ravaged places like the middle east and eastern europe are becoming more succesful than black americans. Stop using an event that happened more than 150 years ago as an excuse to justify your lazyness and failures.

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Janoel Murrey
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hi there you also know what's funny that you are still clinging on to the whitewashed poop from fox news, and mr donald j trump (NOT THE PRESIDENT) you are still angry that what happened 150 years ago because you can't handle seeing a black person in a high place well please leave bored panda and reflect on your state of mind

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blugeagua
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if all of that did happen. Nope! There's still a LOT of work to do in the fight for equality.

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