Black Cosplayers Matter Forever

Black Cosplayers I see that are breaking the barriers.

Cosplay, the art of dressing up as a fictional character, has become increasingly popular in the United States in over two decades. However, the cosplay community has traditionally been dominated by white people. This is starting to change, as more and more black cosplayers are taking to the stage and online to share their love of cosplay. Although I am not a cosplayer, I have friends that do partake in cosplay and I support them wholeheartedly.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of black cosplayers. These cosplayers are breaking down barriers and inspiring others to embrace their creativity and individuality. However, we must discuss the elephant in the room. While the representation for them is huge, black people really have been underrepresented in cosplay. The reason for that is there is criticism for cosplaying a character that is not black or any Afrocentric backgrounds. This can make it difficult for black cosplayers to find characters that they can relate to and want to dress up as. As a result, it leads to black cosplayers facing discrimination and harassment at conventions and other events. This can make it difficult for them to feel comfortable and safe participating in cosplay.

Despite these challenges, black cosplayers have made significant contributions to the hobby. They have helped to break down barriers and inspire others to embrace their nerdiness. They have also helped to create a more inclusive and welcoming community for all cosplayers.

Here are a few black cosplayers who I see are breaking barriers and inspiring others:

“A Real Dorkie Hero” is a cosplayer, Twitch streamer, who is known for his love for heroes such as All Might, Power Rangers, and Ogun from Fire Force.

@arealdorkiehero as All Might from My Hero Academia.

Lux Steez is a professional cosplayer who has won numerous awards for her costumes and her self-made custom builds. She is known for cosplaying characters from League of legends which she is big fan of!

@luxsteezcosplay as Vayne from League of Legends

Haute Cosplay is also an award winning professional costume designer and make-up artist. She also also into athleticism and wellness training that she now utilizes in her craftsmanship.

@haute_cosplay as Giovanna from Guilty Gear.

SilverBackSenpai is a former cosplayer turned tournament organizer and hosts a podcast called the South Florida Gamers Podcast. He has established a huge brand for himself in the FGC community now being a part of an e-sports team Regiment.

@SilverBackSenpai as Kaname Tousen from Bleach!

I ran into Jada Aprill at OtakuFest this past January, and her Isabelle cosplay was *chef’s kiss*. The simplicity and subtlety for the costume tells me that she has knows alot about fashion. For those that don’t know, I am a huge Animal Crossing Fan.

@jadaaprill as Isabelle from Animal Crossing.

Being an ally for black cosplayers is vital for me because obviously I am a black man, artist, photographer, nerd. Taking photos of these cosplayers have brought some nostalgia to my childhood in a way where I was looking up to these fictional characters. Cosplay isn’t just a hobby; it’s a way of living for some. When you see these images of black people in costumes, it opens up a whole new world. What happening today is the tendency of racist and colorist people who are hurting, feeling inadequate, and insecure about hurting others to make themselves feel better. Black cosplayers should never discourage themselves from creating what they love by letting the caustic behaviors and phrases of people manifest in the realm of their imagination.

All photos are courtesy of the Author.