Back in the day being a nerd was considered uncool. Today, however, Black nerdom is THRIVING! It isn’t all comic books and superheroes anymore - to be a nerd is to be engaged, excited, and passionate.
But this is about much more than being a nerd.
Black nerds, a.k.a. “Blerds” like Donald Glover, Issa Rae, and Jordan Peele, have made nerdom mainstream. Now more than ever our people are drawn to and create trends based on what they see and love.
And what we love, we buy!
Each year, the Black community spends $1.6 TRILLION on goods and services. This includes everything from streaming services to hefty investments into cosplay. For decades, white gatekeepers helped make the value of the Black dollar undervalued.
Then came T’Challa, the Black Panther.
Black Panther made its entire $200 million budget back in its opening weekend, primarily driven by Black people FINALLY getting to see themselves reflected in the media.
Its success increased demand for more Black merchandise and representation. It even spawned WakandaCon - a convention meant to educate and celebrate the entire diaspora.
We have the spending power to push for more. Our presence and our money are needed for nerd culture and fandom to continue to thrive. So keep demanding to see ourselves and our work represented!