A comic book about the life of Martin Luther King was given out to all Houston Independent School District elementary and middle school librarians. The comic is by Rice’s Ruchir Shah and published by EZ Comics, a nonprofit company he started while still in high school.
The 19 year old Shah has big plans for EZ Comics. The Web site, ezcomics.com, currently has Flash presentations, games and links to historical background material. Shah hopes to incorporate interactive videos and quizzes soon. Possible future subjects include Mahatma Gandhi, Jimmy Carter and Hu Jintao.
His most recent effort focuses on former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III. Titled “James A. Baker III: Public Servant Through Six Presidents,” it is described as the authorized comic book biography. Shah, an energy studies major, will serve as president of the Baker Institute Student Forum next year.
Below is a video of Rice alumnus Emanuel Jonas Jr. ’09 helped a class of seventh-graders at the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity’s Preparatory Academy learn more about the life of the famed civil rights leader. You will also see Ruchir Shah talk about his comic book.
To view the MLK presentation and learn more about King and all of Rice’s MLK Day observances, visit www.rice.edu/mlk.