AnimeNYC '23: The Blerd Meeting
In Nov’ 23, a group of powerful people came together and held a conversation about the advancement of Blerd culture. Although the meeting lasted 45 minutes, the impact they had on the audience was nothing short of memorable. Hilton George, founder of BlerdCon; Demetrius Holt, aka Hellspawned Cosplay, and managing partner of Blerd and Powerful; Tony Weaver Jr., CEO of Weird Enough Productions; and the Professor X of Black Comic Cons, Jason Richardson, founder of J1-Con, the first Black Comic Con, left a message that served as a beacon of hope and a spark of empowerment for the Blerd community.
To paint a picture of this gathering, think about when Adam Warlock met with the Astral Deities of the Universe in the Infinite Gauntlet series (#1-6) to stop Thanos. Yeah, it was like that. Although there were four of them present, this marked in my opinion, the beginning of the networking nexus for the Blerd Universe, with Blerd and Powerful at its core.
Sidenote: Blerd and Powerful is a dynamic hub where Black-owned comic conventions unite to exchange resources, fostering the uplift of the Blerd community. Within this innovative space, each entity is empowered and contributes to the Blerd Diaspora adding to the collective growth of Blerd culture.
At Anime NYC, these individuals, with unwavering conviction, discussed their own business ventures, showcasing, toward the end, the Blerd culture’s fragile ecosystem. Each shared insights into their business acumen and offered guidance, drawing from their personal trials of achieving success within this creative space. Additionally, they also discussed the power of the Black creative community and its fandom.
Hilton George
Hilton George, founder of BlerdCon, discussed conventions and its strength within the Blerd community:
Hilton George
“The mission of the convention is community based.... when you go into a nerd space, the convention, or if you’re building a property based on, your creation of gaming, or cosplay, you have to build community around your brand if you want yourself to be supported, if you want your endeavor to succeed. Every business model around conventions, doesn’t necessarily work that way. If you’re here for New York Comic Con (NYCC) there is a difference in vibe, ....from an AnimeNYC, a multi-fan convention......When you come to an AnimeCon and then, if you go to a BlerdCon, it really is about the community, and the strength of the community is not necessarily what just happens at the convention, like BlerdCon, but when we are in spaces not designated for us. How do we come together, how do we gather? How do we support panels that speak to our issues or support guests and vendors and artists that look like us and come from where we come from? Sharing our experiences and things like that are ways in which we can express community, even when we are in spaces that are not Blerd specific.”
Community-based cons are known to be inclusive and welcoming to all members and provide a safe and supportive environment for its creators. With conventions like AnimeNYC and BlerdCon, love of the culture is essential, for if this is not reciprocated, the love dies as well as the convention and community. With community-based conventions like BlerdCon, the love is strong. Hilton George's visionary approach to gathering the Blerd masses has played a pivotal role in shaping the success and reputation of BlerdCon as the premier destination for Blerd enthusiasts for all generations.
SideNote: BlerdCon is an annual event that highlights and celebrates Blerd culture. Additionally, it’s a creative hub where issues within the Blerd community are discussed, and ideas are celebrated and honored. BlerdCon is considered, by many, to be an amazing experience. It is located in Virgina.
BlerdCon, however, could not have been possible if not for the guidance of, The Professor X of Black Comic Cons, Jason Richardson.
Jason Richardson
Owner of J-1 Con, Jason Richardson is the originator of the Black Comic Con Space. Having one of the “longest running Black-owned comic conventions,” Jason’s insight into the Blerd space extends beyond convention organization; he is also the owner of the animation company, J-1 Studios, and he is the executive producer of the anime Ajaka: Lost in Rome. He continues to work tirelessly in this industry as he has also created the first Black Podcast, The Reset Button, which is dedicated to gaming, and the first Black Nerd radio show called the Black Tripples. A fascinating piece of information about Jason is that he was actively involved in the Black nerd space during times when it wasn't widely accepted or popular among Black individuals:
Jason Richardson
“I’ve had my hands in a lot of this nerd stuff, even when it wasn’t cool, even amongst our own people....everybody would go home and watch DBZ, but they wouldn’t say they loved it. I was that weirdo that would wear the shirts and wear my spiderman stuff and publicly go around and people would say, “You’re trying to be white!” I would go and say, ‘No, I’m Black and I like this nerd stuff. Calm down.’ You’ve heard that right?!”
(Audience Nods in Agreement)
Jason has experienced it all. Yet it is through his experiences that he developed the strength, insight, and ability to promote the Blerd culture. His resilience and unwavering dedication have not only shaped the landscape of Blerd events but have also inspired countless individuals to embrace their interests publicly and proudly. Jason's journey exemplifies the transformative power of perseverance and passion in building communities and fostering inclusivity within the Blerd space:
“I like to try to pave the way, even if I go unknown for this stuff...I want to help and promote as much of Black and Brown faces on spaces that just normally overlooked us, unless they wanted to use stuff from our culture. So, I pulled strings, left and right, had fools (people) drive all the way up to Philly just to hang out with me, now everybody knows BlerdCon. I wanted to put as many of y’all in spaces and in industries.”
SideNote: J1-Con is a diverse convention celebrating animation, gaming, comics, art, music, education, and content creation. As the longest-running 100% Black-owned anime convention in the United States, it attracts cosplayers, artists, vendors, musicians, families, and students who share a passion for geek pop culture.
Jason’s determination to promote diversity in the nerd space is his personal crusade, one that I admire. Whether by pulling strings, hosting gatherings, or driving initiatives, Jason’s journey serves as a testament to the power of creating a more inclusive environment for the Black Nerd community. His mark within this space is legendary and he will be forever known as the Professor X of Black Comic Cons.
Tony Weaver Jr.
Tony Weaver Jr. (TWJ) is an entrepreneur, the founder of Weird Enough Productions, recognized in Forbes' 30 under 30 list, a talented voice actor, creator of the hit manga, The Uncommons and the up-and-coming series, Weirdo, advocate for Black Nerdom, and a motivating force in the Blerd universe. TWJ is a force to be reckoned with.
Tony Weaver Jr.
Just recently, his isekai fantasy manga, The Dream Frontier, has been picked up by Macmillan's graphic novel imprint, First Second Books. Not only is he placing the book with First Second, he’s also building a studio within the imprint to bring it’s book to execution. Additionally, his flagship publication, The Uncommons is slated for a soon to be anime release.
TWJ’s passion for pop culture is evident and plays a significant role in shaping his creative endeavors. He’s on every platform, shaping the digital universe, molding it to ensure that diverse creators are able to navigate its digital landscape in a positive light. He’s in the classrooms, speaking with students and Teachers, reshaping Blerd perceptions, abolishing stereotypes, demonstrating to the world, that it’s okay to be Black, Brown, weird and love superheroes. TWJ’s love of pop culture is both a challenge and joy as he expressed his love as one of its contributors:
“......To me, Fandom is love, like when you watch a character and you see a show, and you empathize with that character, like, I’ve seen people cosplaying as Miles [Earth-42] from the end of the Spider-Verse, Y’all call him Dominican Miles from the end of Spider-Verse, and I was like, ‘that guy was in the movie for like 15 secs, and you loved him so much, that like, in that moment, you were like, I got to find that character design’, and I know you had to look it up because he wasn’t on screen long enough for you to remember.....or the Black woman (Drolta Tzuentes) that was in the new Castlevania series. Same lot. The show has been on for a few months right, but you can immediately go and say, ‘I really like this character, I want to dress up as this character, I want to be this character.’...that kind of support is transformational, its literally love.
You, as a community member have demonstrated how much something means to you and for me as a Black creator, there’s a desire that I have for the stuff that I make that resonates with my community and for people that are creating these spaces, that are attempting, to kind of solve a need, to create where there is a lack, there’s a desire for the things that we are creating, putting out to the world, to be loved in the same way, to be appreciated in the same way...I’m like, I’ve been working on this story for the last 3 years, I would love it if they showed me that same love as they did with that character that was on the screen for 15 seconds...That would feel great to me.”
The transformative power of fan support. In an ecosystem, where attention is everything, the path of the Black creator is a demanding one. For some, the digital landscape is also unforgiving.
For example, on Tik-Tok, where dance challenges are common, Jalaiah Harmon, a 14 year-old created a dance moved called the Renegade. Inspired by these moves, creators, Addison Rae and Charlie D’Amelio claimed these moves for their own, and were awarded millions of dollars, as well as movie deals, television offers and brand deals. “What is to happen, when bigger companies that specialize in pop culture, come along and take from us?” stated Hilton.
In many creative environments, there can be a tendency to gravitate towards the familiar or the mainstream, inadvertently marginalizing creators who may offer fresh perspectives or represent new diverse voices in pop culture. This dynamic not only limits the creative landscape for new creators but also perpetuates discriminations within the community. “The fandom market is vast and broad,” Hilton states, “the fandom market is inexhaustible.... we will spend our last dollar to attend a con. I’ve never seen someone say, ‘that’s too much anime.’.... however, if we don’t support it (Black Creators, Content, Conventions, etc.), it won’t be there.”
Recognizing and celebrating the work of diverse creators is essential for fostering a more inclusive and vibrant digital ecosystem and creative community. It requires actively seeking out and amplifying voices, a ‘muscle that requires flexing’, stated by Hilton. Non-mainstream creators may not receive the same level of attention and acknowledging the unique perspectives they bring to the table, so for the Blerd demographic, it's critical for fans and fellow creators alike to show genuine appreciation for the work of new creatives. This can involve sharing their work on social media, engaging it with family and friends, and giving a #shoutout every now and then as well. One like and share is all it takes, a muscle that apparently requires flexing for some.
Demetrius Holt
Demetrius Holt
Demetrius Holt (DH), aka Hellspawned Cosplay has been cosplaying since 2017. His mission is to advocate for the increased representation of Black creators within mainstream media. Through his company, Blerd and Powerful, and various social platforms, his efforts to foster a more inclusive environment for Black creators are both legendary and admirable. DH is no stranger to conflict within the Blerd Space. For example, one of his signature cosplays, He-Man, received some backlash, and he expressed his reasons for defending his iconic appearance and explained the nature of the trolls who try to attack him online:
“I started seeing more and more Black Nerds having problems just existing online and having a good time without having white counterparts try to diminish their presence. Trying to just remind us, that, yes, we’re Black, yes, we enjoy anime, and these characters don’t necessarily look like us. That means what? We shouldn’t cosplay as them? We shouldn’t have fun with them. Well, you know what? They’re not white neither my guy, so why are you even on my case? That’s when I realize that there are a lot of people that don’t move forward with just having fun because...they’re depressed....
I’m not He-Bro, I am not He-Mayne...All I’m saying is that I am the character that I’m trying to cosplay as, and I don’t want to be identified by the color of my skin.”
Despite the conflict over his He-Man cosplay, Holt continues to stand firm, defending his iconic cosplay(s) (They’re amazing by the way) and addressing critics' concerns, no matter the location or platform, showcasing his resilience and commitment to inclusivity within the cosplay, creative, and online community. Respect.
Blerd and Powerful
ANIMENYC, allowed Blerd and Powerful to host this powerful collective. As each one reflected and discussed their contributions to the Blerd culture and discussed its evolving landscape, each one expressed their love and the challenges that come with their dream. They each emphasized the need to support and celebrate diverse voices and described what “fan love” really is and how it relates to Black fandom.
The evolving landscape of Blerd culture has come into focus, illustrating its profound impact on the pop culture timeline. Originating from a single seed planted by events like J-1 Con, Blerd culture has flourished into a vibrant, yet fragile, ecosystem, with each branch representing a unique aspect of its growing community. From comic books to gaming, conventions and beyond, Blerd culture continues to grow, attracting a diverse array of enthusiasts and creators. And as we continue to grow, we need to make sure its roots remain firm, with “rules and regulations” in place before “others” come in, and as Hilton states, “Takes it all away, because everybody likes Black culture.”
Respect.
