Lack of Black Women in Comic Writing

       
          I'm an African American women, seeing people like me in fields that I wish to go into is important. It means that I'm not alone, I have people I can look up to. I'm not saying that I can't look up to people not of my race, but with those of my race we have a shared experience.

          Ever since I was a young child around age 10 or 11 I had a huge interest in writing. I loved it, I would write stories in notebooks and create story-lines in my head. During my senior year of High School I took a creative writing class that helped me decide that writing was the career path I wanted to take, I loved writing and story creation that much.

        So I went to college for creative writing, I learned a few things but there is something I did notice during my time in my BA program where I think the problem begins. I was studying creative fiction writing. I was 1 of up to 7 black people (all women no men at the time) in my program, and they were studying poetry except for 1 other women.

I know there weren't that many black women as fiction writers to start with. But where are the black women writers and creators in the comic industry?!? But I know over time collectively the number of black women wanting to write comics has to have gone up? But through all my research I haven't found any information on any black women working in the comic industry. I've asked around, my tweet has gone around to "big" comic people, and no one has anyone's name to give me, or any answer for me.

           As a young writer I can't even find any way to break into the comic industry to help change the statistic that there are no black women working in comics.

The "Diverse" Gender in Comic Book Panel @ SDCC

           At SDCC this year there was a The Gender in Comic Books Panel which really upset me. I know there is quite the unbalance in men to women ratio in the industry, and it needs to be talked about. But on the other hand we have the lack of other dynamics in the field being totally ignored!!!! Not one person of color sat on that panel! NOT ONE! And they called the panel diverse! I mean the issue race in comics isn't even being talked about! It's really upsetting.

         
It shouldn't just focus of black women, it should focus on all under represented demographics in the comic industry, and allowing new blood to break in.

              -Quiana

Welcome back to the world

Hello everyone, I know I haven't blogged in a while. Excuses, excuses, been having a wild few months going on here. Some awesome heights and some deep lows. Now I'm still on the mend but time heals all right? Now that I have sometime before I go back to school I'd like to do some blogging that enters into the fandom realm.

Why?

Where am *I*?

Because as an African American Woman I am apart of the minority in all the circles I run in. The mainstream will never truly honor my viewpoint, I'm almost invisible. Also because in this day and age people claim to be so tolerant but are closeted pig minded a*sholes. Oh the twisted world we live in, but that's a rant for another time...

Anyways I want to offer my unique viewpoint on what I see happening in the fandoms where I play. I want to be hear and valued!

People are ranting about the lack of women involved in the DC reboot, the lack of women is insane but I'm guessing at this point they are so far removed from their fans they could care less; also where are the creators, and artists of different race? I haven't heard too much on this but it might be too taboo. Although the racist howling over the new Spider-man seems to show the massive close-mindedness of a lot of fans out there, and that shit hurts.

Already I don't have much too look up to in figures that look like me, and whenever someone tries to break down these insane walls people shit allover it. There is a gaping hole where the people of different races have superheros or idols to look up to and aspire to be like. It's a SICK injustice and I want to speak out on it!

Actress Janet Fielding and I!!! Me as Tegan with the real Tegan!!!

Hell even in one of my all time favorite fandoms (Doctor Who) lacks anyone for those of different backgrounds to admirer. Yes I'm the one cosplaying as white characters who I like! Don't get me wrong I LOVED Martha Jones, even though RTD wrote her shitty just because she wasn't his mary-sue Rose Tyler, but I don't want to be limited to just her few costumes when I want to cosplay. Some people have said somethings but to hell with them I just wanna have fun like EVERYONE ELSE!

I want to be a writer. The creator who is making characters that more people can find common ground with. I want to have more options in the geek world! Everyone one should want that!

I'm gonna change pace with this blog. Nothing is gonna be off limits, comics, T.V., manga, music, cosplay, I'm gonna explore more in this geek world that I live in and I hope your gonna go along for the ride!

Later,

-Quiana (She Geek)

Intro.

Who is the geeky girl?

The girl in the high heels who plays ‘World of Warcraft’. The girl with the purple mascara who loves ‘Star Trek’.

That’s me.

I’m the chick who’s not afraid to play video games with the boys. The young woman who plays dress up while watching ‘Doctor Who’.

I’m a BIG geek.

My geek rivals any the geek of guy. I wear my ‘geek’ badge proudly and want to share it with everyone. This blog will be about the melding of my worlds. Both sides of my coin. My likes, dislikes, and daily adventures.   

Welcome to my blog.