28 Days of Black Cosplay 2019 Edition – F*ck the Negativity, Spread the Love!
As the title would suggest, this post is going to be all about “28 Days of Black Cosplay.” If you don’t know what that is, but you’d like to, then allow me to fill you in! If you’re already in the know, then stick around for a list of amazing Black cosplayers you should be following!
First, let me introduce myself. This is me:
I’m DeLa Doll. I’m a cosplayer and writer. As I’m sure you can tell from this photograph of my Winry Rockbell cosplay, I am also Black. This makes me a Black cosplayer, and that’s pretty much what 28 Days of Black Cosplay is all about! Allow me to explain in detail.
What is “28 Days of Black Cosplay?”
28 Days of Black Cosplay is an annual social media event that lasts throughout all 28 days of February, coinciding with Black History Month. It was created in 2015 by Chaka Cumberbatch-Tinsley to highlight and celebrate the existence of Black cosplayers by promoting and showcasing them on social media with the hashtag #28DaysOfBlackCosplay.
Ok, but Why?
Now you know what it is, and you may be wondering why it exists. The simple answer is that Black cosplayers are oftentimes overlooked or ridiculed for simply trying to enjoy the hobby like any other cosplayer. Sometimes, people assume that there aren’t very many Black cosplayers at all. Rather than give in to the bigotry, or have people think we’re the rarest of all mythical creatures (though I would really love to be a unicorn or a mermaid), we want to show that we’re talented, we exist, and we aren’t going anywhere!
Sad Story Time?
Now, I’m sure you’re probably curious about all this alleged bigotry in the cosplay community, and you’re expecting some hard evidence. Well…fuck that. If you’re looking for an article brimming with screenshots depicting the racism, bullying, and bigotry that Black cosplayers experience within the cosplay community, this is not it. I’ve written articles like that many times over, and frankly, I’m exhausted by it all. You are more than welcome to read those articles if you feel so inclined (Cosplay is NOT for Everyone; Black is Ugly (and I’m Being Harassed); however, I don’t want to saturate this article with graphic depictions of the unfortunate negativity that exists within the community. Instead, I’d prefer to highlight the good and spread the love, so if you’re into that sort of thing, then it’s time to see some cosplays!
A List of Really Great Black Cosplayers
Now that we’re all on the same page, please enjoy this list of talented Black cosplayers I’ve compiled via browsing the #28DaysofBlackCosplay tag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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Closing Thoughts
This list could go on forever, but instead of waiting for me to show you more, go brave the wilds of the Internet yourself! Search #28DaysofBlackCosplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. and find new cosplayers to follow and enjoy! Don’t let this be the only time you share, like, support, or otherwise interact with Black cosplayers; continue that support year round. Speak up when you see bigotry and intolerance by shutting it down, but also promote inclusivity and diversity by regularly interacting with cosplayers who are deemed outside of the “norm.” Don’t just highlight the negative by focusing on shitty instances of racism; promote the positive by showing your support for Black cosplayers even when it’s not part of a trending hashtag. Aside from following, liking, and sharing on social media, some other ways you can show your support include:
- Suggesting your faves as potential cosplay guests to conventions
- Subscribing to your faves on Patreon, showing them some love via Ko-fi, or on any other monetary support platforms for freelance artists
- Remembering that talent is talent, and a cosplayer doesn’t have to be a carbon copy of their character in order to cosplay; a good cosplay is much more than that! It’s about the love, the skill, and fun that goes into it!
That’s all I got for now! Thanks for reading, and be sure to share this article with your friends, fam, and followers!
~DeLa Doll
PS – You can subscribe to my blog for email updates on new posts if you haven’t already! You can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and if you’re feeling really generous and want to further support my work in exchange for cool perks like tutorials and photosets, and prints, check me out on Patreon!
DeLa Doll is a culture writer, cosplayer, and artist based in Florida. She has been writing professionally since 2016, with some of her work being featured on sites like HuffPo and /Film. She is an advocate for meaningful diversity and representation in media, a gamer, a mom, and an avid user of DIY hair dye.
