Black Nerd Magic Shines at Langston
The Evergreen Echo
The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute sent up the beacon for Black nerds and we—of course—answered the call.
Being called a nerd has cycled through seasons of disparaging insult and affectionate reclamation all throughout my lifetime. Historically speaking, being a Black nerd is still a modern phenomenon. Consider how long access to the most basic education was gatekept under threat of death, or sabotaged through resource restriction and denial in regards to the Black community. I wear my nerd badge with honor whether it’s in fashion or not, and for three days the Black Nerd Festival created a home and welcoming community for the second year in a row.
Nerdiness comes in all forms and flavors, so I was excited to see the multitudes represented throughout the panels, workshops, game space, vendors, and attendees.
Some notable moments included: A screening of Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part 2; an original animation featuring Black heroes and depicting a Black male lead going through mental health struggles, followed by a Q&A with the Cutting Edge Animations; and Boots Riley with a fashionably and absurdly large hat swooped in for a screening of I Love Boosters. The colorful, bizarre, and thought-provoking film, which features the wonderful KeKe Palmer, tackles class solidarity and workers’ rights gained through organized resistance, informed by Riley’s own experience in a communist club in school. In the Q&A that followed, he elaborated on his beliefs and dedication to creative practice.
The first night closed out with an all-POC cast of Nerdlesque performances. Cultural moments such as Patrick Star in the fishnets and thigh-high boots, Ms. Bellum from The Powerpuff Girls, and even the love of trains (the automobile) allowed each performer to express their nerdy desires for the late night crowd.
My personal favorite was Day 3 where the theme of the year, Black Nerd Magic, took center stage, literally and figuratively. One highlight included a panel discussion on natural world magic, such as tarot, divination, astrology, and Hoodoo, presented by The Black Altar Project, emphasizing the need to spiritually ground oneself and connect with a decolonized version of spirituality.
It wouldn’t be Black Nerd Magic without a full blown magic show performed by Magician Gruff Webb who invited trickster spirits to aid him in dazzling the audience. Afterwards a workshop hosted by Webb offered the opportunity to channel some of the magical energy towards sleight-of-hand card and coin tricks. If fidget toys just aren’t doing it for you, I highly recommend learning a few tricks to practice. (I’ll include the same caveat that he did: If your newly gained dexterous skills lean more towards rogue than magician, I claim no responsibility for items liberated from their owners.)
Cosplayers at Black Nerd Festival
The Evergreen Echo
With so many vendors present, I was happy to see all the local, Black-owned businesses represented. A couple that caught my eye (and wallet) included Vampire Pyramid Scheme who will be in a charity event for Sickle Cell Disease and Wrought and Bound who gave me a bunch of resources for getting into bookbinding myself! There were more events, workshops, panels, and dancing/karaoke, not to mention cosplay than even I could capture or attend.
The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is invaluably providing connection for the greater Seattle area’s thriving Black community. Events such as Black Nerd Festival call in the different expressions and interests of the community it serves and holds sacred space for. I write often of representation and its importance, but for someone like me, whose family has been in the U.S for long enough that the roots connecting me to anything else have been burned and buried long ago… 13% of the population is an ostracizing number. And in places like Seattle where that percentage drops to 6.6%, having institutions by and for your community makes all the difference to those who would otherwise fall through the cracks.
I can’t wait to see what next year’s theme brings!
