152
1
280 x 220
27/08/2021
A graphic novel inspired by the real-life story of Stephanie Saint-Clair, a plantation maid in Martinique, who rose up to become the ruthless queen of Harlem’s mafia and a fierce advocate for the black community.
Harlem, 1933. A black woman, dressed to the nines, is released from prison. Her name: Stephanie Saint-Clair. Her trademarks: a conspicuous French accent and a knack for numbers.
Born dirt-poor in the French colony of Martinique, the notorious Saint-Clair, also known as Queenie, now runs one of the largest illegal lottery businesses in Harlem. Now that Prohibition is ending, she’s under threat by Italian mobsters seeking to take control of her operation. She launches into a merciless war to save her territory… and her skin.
In an America still swollen by the Depression and segregation, Saint-Clair understands that she must brand her image to establish her power and use it as a weapon against her opponents. Her visionary media skills shape her into a fierce advocate for black rights, a community activist who draws crowds of Harlem families to her side.
The new graphic novel Queenie traces the life of a woman who played several intertwining roles. A pitiless mob boss, polyglot immigrant, fashion icon, and pioneer figure of African-American feminism, Saint-Clair redefined the expression “larger than life.” She broke barriers, glass ceilings, and was one of the few Prohibition-era mobsters to die of old age. This arresting biographical work of cinematographic action reinstates a fascinating female character back into the narrative of written history.
