By Alexander Tresniowski/Reported by Wendy Cole

In one of BARBARA BRANDON'S cartoon strips, a woman marvels that she can still become "the first black something." That's how Brandon feels about becoming the first nationally syndicated black female cartoonist. "I'm pleased, but I'm also disturbed that it's taken so long," says Brandon, 32, whose sassy, street-smart Where I'm Coming From explores the lives of seven outspoken women. "Years from now, I'd like people to read these strips and see what we were going through."