WASHINGTON - Franklin, the first African-American to appear in the classic comic strip "Peanuts" alongside Charlie Brown and Snoopy, turned 50 on Tuesday - a major milestone for a character born in a time of racial tensions in the US after the slaying of Martin Luther King.

The young Franklin joined the iconic line-up on July 31, 1968 during a summer of race riots and civil unrest in the wake of King's assassination on April 4 that year.

At the time, "Peanuts" was carried in hundreds of newspapers - and at the height of its popularity, exposing the foibles of humanity through the shenanigans of a group of children and one crafty beagle.

Franklin's arrival made a major splash - and earned mainly praise. It also might not have happened were it not for a Los Angeles teacher and mother-of-three with an idea.

On April 15, Harriet Glickman wrote to 'Peanuts' creator Charles Schulz and suggested he include a "Negro" character into the comic strip, which had been running since 1950.

"Since the death of Martin Luther King, I've been asking myself what I can do to help change those conditions in our society which led to the assassination and which contribute to the vast sea of misunderstanding, fear, hate and violence," she wrote.

"I'm sure one doesn't make radical changes in so important an institution without a lot of shock waves from syndicates, clients, etc. You have, however, a stature and reputation which can withstand a great deal," she added.

The letter now hangs in the Charles M Schulz Museum in California. - AFP