Well….another year of total nerdiness with my fellow geeks has come to an end.
New York Comic Con has always been a pastime I get most excited about. As a collector and pop culture enthusiast, it’s one reason I attend, but not the main one. For me, cosplay is everything, especially for black cosplayers, some of the community’s most creative and talented.
Their ability to create costumes accurately representing the characters we love and portray always amazes me. It’s an inspiring and stunning sight to behold since I don’t have the patience to sew.
Historically, black cosplayers weren’t recognized for their contributions because of gatekeeping. I remember Reddit having a picture of a black girl doing some beautiful cosplay of Demon Slayer. Though many comments were encouraging, there was still a lot of abuse. While some of it was pushed back, it was an awful aspect of the community in general.
I find it so disappointing to see how ignorant and disrespectful some people can still be. The importance of representation in cosplay should be recognized by all. This is why supporting black cosplayers and their creations is imperative, and New York Comic Con is the most appropriate place to do that. It’s one of the largest events in the cosplay community, and it celebrates and promotes black cosplay. It’s for that reason that I adore NYCC.
This is a selection of my favorite photos from the four-day nerd-out, and I hope you like them as well. Thanks again, New York Comic Con! I hope to see you next year!
Shamika Sanders-Sykes
