Where were the boys?! I decided to use my Facebook resources and reach out to them via fan pages. I only got 3, count ‘em THREE responses. Don’t get me wrong super excited for those three, but a little disappointed for ONLY 3. I decided to contact my new found friend Tony G. Williams. Tony is directing an awesome documentary about black nerd culture called Carbonerdious, set to debut this summer. I met Tony at C2E2, where he was promoting the film and selling these SWEET t-shirts!
LONG STORY SHORT! (Long version later, stay tuned)
I manage to get in touch with 7 black male cosplayers; including 2 of the 3 initial guys, to give me the scoop. To start, these are some awesome, passionate, creative, and super nice guys that I encountered. So willing to answer my questions; that may very well have been very silly to them, and open to telling me their thoughts and opinions on the topic. Based on their responses the general consensus is that there are quite a few, but not enough male cosplayers of color. Very few are on Facebook promoting or broadcasting themselves for the universe to see, which I can totally understand. There is the negative stigma or double standard even that “playing dress up” (outside of Halloween, I guess) is for girls and isn’t “manly”. Loving comic books, anime, sci-fi and all things geek are ok, but dressing up is taking it too far. There is also the idea that there aren’t enough black characters and some cosplayers of color; for lack of variety, would rather not cosplay at all than deal with the naysayers.
There has been a lot of debate going around about the taboo nature (or lack there of) of cosplaying characters outside of your skin tone. As much as we want it to not be an issue, it apparently is. To some people, I would never be able to cosplay Wonder Woman, ‘cause I’m a lil too tan, but truthfully what I know about cosplay; even technically being a baby to it all, cosplay is about fun. Cosplay is colorblind! (Thank you Eric “The Smoke” Moran) http://youtu.be/n5xdqz8qDu0
Gentleman, I challenge you! Step out of your box. Who cares if you have not conquered the masterful art of costume making. Buy a costume! Borrow a costume! Be a Minecraft character. Who cares if your favorite character is Goku and he’s not black! Get a wig, get a jump suit, get some Dragonballs and have some fun! Take pictures! Don’t be ashamed of your fun! Yes, the internet is vast and frightening at times and people can be cruel, but for those few asshats that have something negative to say there is an entire community of people poised to defend you and stand beside you. These guys have inspired me to inspire you! They want to know you, I want to know you! If you are already out there cosplaying, keep it up! Keep being the inspiration for other guys and newbies like me to not be afraid or self conscience.
Black people DO cosplay and above all else cosplay is colorblind!
Special thanks to:
Michael “Knightmage” Wilson ( www.facebook.com/knightmage1 )
Eric “The Smoke” Moran ( www.facebook.com/pages/The-Smoke/234065396852 )
Taj Carter ( www.facebook.com/DividedByZeroCosplay )
Phillip The Shy Cosplay Guy Seamon ( www.facebook.com/PhillipTheShyCosplayGuy )
Tony Ray ( www.facebook.com/FanBoysLoveTonyRay )
Wendell Smith - Scorpking Costuming ( www.facebook.com/ScorpkingCostuming )
Tony G. Williams ( www.facebook.com/Carbonerdious )
Jonathan Brian Green ( www.facebook.com/pages/J-Dangers-Cosplays/428116070577889?ref=hl )
Marjie Southerland is an actor/singer/mover/shaker from New Jersey, living “The Dream” in Chicago,IL. Check out her website www.marjiesoutherland.com and ‘like’ her on facebook to stay posted on all of her adventures!
