Presentations

Session Description:

For the past 30 years, BIPOC nerds have existed in the cringe-worthy shadow of Urkel. What if, instead, they’d had portrayals such as Chadwick Bosman’s Black Panther, Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron, and Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi become cultural icons who not only fed their passions but also served as their avatars? Would they feel less like mutants hiding among us? Just as Wakanda was a fiercely guarded safe haven, libraries can create spaces for the BIPOC fandom - an underserved and underrepresented community within our communities. Join us for this discussion in which panelists focus on the need to connect with nerd culture and create a welcoming environment for the BIPOC fandom.

Speakers: 

Jean Darnell, Dessau Middle School; Deimosa Webber-Bey, Scholastic Inc.; and  Christina Taylor, Texas State Library and Archives Commission (moderator)