EMU Today

This article appears in the inaugural edition of 'Revisited,' a publication dedicated to Eastern Michigan University's alumni

Jermaine Curtis Dickerson (BA14) is a creative, talented and busy person.

Whether he is working on client projects as a freelance graphic design artist, or leading programs and events for his non-profit Hero Nation or engaging with the local art community, Dickerson keeps a hectic schedule.

Such energy was cultivated during his days at Eastern Michigan University having recently graduated in 2014. Since that time, Dickerson has used his EMU education and experience to create very real and positive change with local youth through the power of art, comic books and, as he says, “nerd culture.”

Finding his way

Arriving as a stranger to EMU in 2009 as an art major with a minor in dance, Dickerson got involved with on-campus activities but didn’t learn about Ypsilanti’s growing arts community until after graduation. He has since immersed himself in the community and culture of the area.

“I was drawn to the people of the community, the voice, the drive, the heart,” he says. “I witnessed people trying to rebuild and create new opportunities, form collaborations and to really cultivate a safer and more powerful community especially within the creative fields.”

Dickerson, who is a Detroit native but moved to Mt. Clemens with his family when he was 12, landed a job at the Office of Academic Service-Learning where he stayed throughout college. There he was able to network with other students and administrators. Later on, he would become involved with Engage EMU and has since completed several graphic design projects for both groups.

His commitment to projects has followed him since he was an EMU student where his raw talent was recognized immediately by art faculty. But, despite that ability, Dickerson at times struggled to stay on top of his myriad obligations – such as when he neglected to finish a final project for his painting class. 

“This was during a time when we were having dance rehearsal every night, and I had this big final coming up for my painting class,” says Dickerson. “I didn’t get a chance to do the painting in time, so I tried to finish the painting the day of the final while in class. The teacher saw and she was insulted.”

Dickerson says he apologized to the professor and attempted to squeeze out a grade based on what he did accomplish, but it didn’t work out. Looking back, Dickerson sees that experience and others with EMU faculty as valuable character building blocks.

“Having those voices and instructors to help nurture me and instruct me was sometimes tough but in the end very helpful,” Dickerson says. “I was very grateful to have professors who saw the talent that I had, and they were willing to pour into that.

“There have been times when I may not have met their expectations, I was so overcommitted to different things, but they kept with me.”

Finding the hero within

Dickerson gained notoriety in 2016 when he was commissioned by the city of Ypsilanti to paint a large mural for City Hall. The 11-foot, by 22-foot painting leaps out from the south side of the building and depicts cultural and historic landmarks that help define the city.

It was also around this time when he started the non-profit organization, Hero Nation, which inspires and empowers youth through the power of comic books, video games and creativity. According to the mission statement, Hero Nation helps, “…everyone discover the hero within through events and programs based in nerd culture that foster empowering, creative, and educational experiences for underrepresented and marginalized communities — including people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, women, and people with low socioeconomic status.”

Hero Nation was born from Dickerson’s passion for comic books, which can be seen heavily in his artwork, and “nerd culture.” He sees Hero Nation as a way to battle social inequity on a local level.

“Fiction empowers people, fiction can save lives,” he says. “People clamor to join pop culture and nerd culture, so why not utilize that as a social justice tool or empowering element?”

In September of 2017, Dickerson and Hero Nation hosted their first Comic-Con at the newly renovated Parkridge Community Center on the south side of Ypsilanti. Attendees were treated to video games, free food, a live DJ and a variety of local vendors. They also gave away school supplies, comic books and held a raffle for a new PlayStation. Naturally, with a group founded around comic books, Hero Nation also promotes youth literacy with its Reading Champions program, which offers a free comic book library online and engaging curriculum. 

Dickerson says he has seen the power of comics to help people out of tough situations. Hero Nation encourages youth to discover the hero within and use their own superpowers to navigate toxic situations at home or at school.

“I’ve seen or heard stories of how comic books have impacted lives,” says Dickerson. “Such as someone who went through a violent situation at home, and they sort of projected themselves onto a character and that character helped fight their own internal battles. Or whether they are fighting depression or mental illness, whatever it may be, (comic books) helped them cope with those things to get through those hard times.”

Ultimately, Dickerson hopes to create positive impact by bringing together community voices and empowering people through art and culture. He says that process is taking place now.

“We need to have this collective art organization, where artists can come together and help create change, and that is happening now in different ways,” he says. “Nonprofits from all over are really coming together to figure out what this new creative voice sounds like, and everyone is really asking the same questions: How can we engage youth effectively? How can we ensure that they have a platform? How can we ensure that they are seen, that they are heard?”

As for the unfinished painting? Dickerson says he still has it, and he plans on finishing it some day.

“My goal is to one day finish it and find (the professor), that way I can at least say I did finish it. That could be part of my story.”