Finished Baymax dress commission modeled by my wifey Brichibi Cosplays and our hairy baby Puppet
There’s two things I want to address that always come up when things like “Blackout” or “28DaysOfBlackCosplay” happen.
1. Why is this necessary?
For the “why” I’ve included a pic of me in what my partner and I called “the hate shirt.” This shirt shows just a few things that have been said to me in regards of cosplay. As you can see, they range from bashing my weight, to disqualifying my race in that “stop acting white” comment. For those of you who don’t know what that means, it means that I don’t “act black” because I don’t follow the stereotypes that are often seen. I like anime, I like video games, I’m a geek, I speak in complete sentences, so somehow this isn’t “black” to some people. Black, to some people, is ugly, and lacks intelligence, and people don’t realize that such characteristics isn’t exclusive to one race. Anyone can have an ugly soul. And anyone, most certainly, can be beautiful.
For the most part, I’ve found that people do want equality for us all, but some feel that its not necessary to have movements that revolve around the group we’re working to have equality for. "Equality" does mean that all of us should be seen as equal, but the problem is that not everyone sees us as such, and until then, movements like “Blackout” and “28DaysOfBlackCosplay” are necessary. There’s two parts of it, to me. We not only have to make sure everyone is on board, but we have to make sure the group we’re fighting for feels like they’re worth it, and the sad truth is… not all black people feel like they are, because of the hate. That’s what movements like this are for: to show them that they are beautiful.
Here’s a quote from an article I wrote for Twin Cities Geek:
If someone tells me that I’m not worthy of something enough times, I’ll start to believe it. I have believed it. I’ve believed that I wasn’t worth it because of my race. I’ve believed that I was ugly. I’ve been told to “stop acting white” because I like anime, video games, and cosplay. And I know a lot of others have felt the same way because of the color of their skin. Those people need to be shown that they are beautiful, that they’re worth it, that they’re equal. It’s great to think we all should be equal but there are plenty of black people out there who think that they shouldn’t be because of the crap that gets flung at them; who think that they CAN’T be. Equality is great, but you have to WANT it, and if you feel like you’re beneath everyone around you, you’re going to think you don’t deserve it.
2. How do you stay so confident?
The truth about confidence is that it’s not a constant. It’s not one of those things that, once you have it, it’ll be there forever. You will have bad days. I’m 31 years old and I am a confident person, but that doesn’t mean I’m confident all the time. I do have bad days. I do falter. I do have moments where I wonder if I’m wrong, somehow, whether its looks, or the things I’m into. Sometimes I get comments like the ones on the shirt I’m wearing and they hurt, real bad, and I wonder if I should just listen to the hate and stop what I’m doing. And you know what? It’s o.k. to get upset. It’s o.k. to be hurt. I get hurt, I get sad, I curl up under a blanket and don’t want to come out.
The trick is to not STAY like this.
When I do have faltering moments, I take time out to breathe and remember the positives, and the positives are there. I have an amazing partner who loves me and supports me. I have friends. I have family. I have fans. I have people who have come up to me at conventions to say that I was the reason they came. I have people who message me such wonderful, positive things. These are the things you should focus on. Surround yourself with support. If its not in your “real” life, find it online, because it’s there. There’s groups who support our differences, and promote them, and are there for you if someone is giving you a hard time. You’re not alone in this.
Move at your own pace. Don’t look at the person next to you and think you’re doing something wrong if they’re further than you. It’s o.k. if you’re not there yet. It’s taken me years to have the confidence to wear that shirt I’m wearing and say, “You said this shit about me, so what? I’m still here.” It’s taken a long time, and even if I am confident, like I said, some days I’m not. Some days, that shirt cripples me. Some days, I feel ugly, useless, and not worth anyone’s time. And that’s fine. Your feelings are your own and there’s nothing wrong with them. The way confidence works is that, when you do get in that head space, you’re able to take a breath, close your eyes, and slowly dispel the negativity. Then, when you look at it you realize… there’s no reason to let it hold you back.
It can make you stumble, it can even make you fall, but you have the power to get back up and keep going.
2014 © A. Stevens
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.stevens.photo
Cammy White Cosplay Masterpost
Finally getting around to the edits from A.Stevens - the delay is totally, TOTALLY my fault with real life and all. Dude, I can’t tell you how many squats and push-ups went into the prep for this cosplay. And I was so proud of the final results. I worked damn hard on this, and I’m glad it shows. I definitely need to get back into shape. I’d love for this build to be my “default.”
Yeeeeeeeeees <3 I am here for this. This is amazing!
So when my wifey was making my Mario dress we needed a petticoat. We tried finding plus sized ones and… hahahahahahaha… yeah.
So then we decided that we would buy some smaller ones and kinda sew them together or something? And then the wifey was like, “Forget it, I’ll make my own.”
And now we’re offering petticoats at our Etsy shop :)
If someone tells me that I’m not worthy of something enough times, I’ll start to believe it. I have believed it. I’ve believed that I wasn’t worth it because of my race. I’ve believed that I was ugly. I’ve been told to “stop acting white” because I like anime, video games, and cosplay. And I know a lot of others have felt the same way because of the color of their skin. Those people need to be shown that they are beautiful, that they’re worth it, that they’re equal. It’s great to think we all should be equal but there are plenty of black people out there who think that they shouldn’t be because of the crap that gets flung at them; who think that they CAN’T be. Equality is great, but you have to WANT it, and if you feel like you’re beneath everyone around you, you’re going to think you don’t deserve it. That’s what #28DaysOfBlackCosplay is about, and it’s so wonderful to see so many people taking part in it. This encouragement is just a start to what we hope to accomplish within the cosplay community, so that everyone can feel comfortable with who they are and truly enjoy cosplay.
My write up for the Twin Cities Geek about the importance of #28DaysOfBlackCosplay :)
So I love the notion that cosplay is for everyone, it really is, and I actually love when people realize the hate that goes on in the community and try and do something about it, that’s really great.
But what I get frustrated at, more so than the hate, is the blindness.
I saw a post that said something along the lines of, “Why is it that when white cosplayers cosplay outside their race, they get bashed, but when people of color do it, they get praised?” And just… h-huh?
Now, I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen, I’ve seen it happen, but from my experience it’s more of a, “Why are you cosplaying a person of color when you have so many choices and we have so few?” From my experience it’s a genuine feeling, because I feel like when we do see people of color in our geekery we get so excited because there’s not that much representation, so there’s this moment of, “FINALLY!” Now I personally don’t mind who cosplays what, but I’m not going to pretend that when I saw Tiana for the first time my thoughts weren’t, “OMG,” and, “FINALLY,” and, “GONNA COSPLAY THE HELL OUT OF THAT,” and even, “A princess for me after all these years!” It’s a thing that happens, because representation is important, I can tell when I see that little black girl staring up at me when I wear Tiana, and her dad is smiling just as brightly because… finally! So I get it, and I hope white cosplayers can see where the “bashing” comes from. It’s not so much “bashing” as it is… disappointment? But ultimately its your cosplay, and my only advice is to be respectful about it, and just understand where those feelings are coming from. And, for the most part, I think white cosplayers do get it, and understand, some have even asked me my opinion on the matter to which I say, “Do what you want, just be respectful, and understand why someone might have an issue.” Cosplay is about showing love for a character you love, and we should respect each other along the way.
Which leads me to the other part of that statement I quoted in the beginning because… since when have people of color NOT been bashed for cosplaying outside their race? I wish, WISH, I could stop seeing ignorant posts in regards to black cosplayers cosplaying outside their race… or cosplaying in general. This is what I consider blindness. In the argument of “one gets bashed more than the other” that is just some serious “I choose not to see the truth” because there can’t even be black fanart without some harsh comments. And, in my experience, the hateful comments I see are bashing, straight up bashing. Where a person of color may be like, “Why cosplay that one character when there’s a million others,” the comments I see on the flip side are all about “ghetto” versions of characters, or “nigga” versions of characters, or terrible fried chicken jokes, or watermelon jokes, or just a wide variety of racist statements. There’s no, “Why cosplay Belle when you can cosplay Tiana,” it’s a flat out “har har ghetto princess” with no purpose other than to hurt the cosplayer.
So yeah, if you think that people of color don’t get hated on for, well, being people of color… I’m here to tell you that that’s not the case. Sadly, it happens, a lot, it happens too much, and it needs to stop. It’s nice to think that everything is right with the world but… it’s not the truth. The truth is that we are working on it, and are always aiming to make things better, and to highlight why such comments are uncalled for and to promote the fact that cosplay is for everyone, key word being everyone. And I genuinely think that people do want this, they do want cosplay to be this thing that everyone does, but in order to do that you have to take the blinders off.
The hate is real, and it needs to stop.
Featured Fallout Cosplayers and Propmakers: Kris & Carlos
Costumes (and party hat) by: fatandnerdy
Props by: arenastaAte out the whole vault.
I love the idea that we “ate out” the whole vault. Like the two of us went on a pussy rampage and ate everyone out. Sounds like the fucking best vault experience ever. Meanwhile, you can eat shit.
Reblogging for the amazing cosplay and that sick burn of a response to the attempted hate.
Hey everyone! We’re really excited about Anime Milwaukee! Here’s my cosplay line up, my table location, and some of the stuff that my wifey and I will have available over the weekend. Hug Me Heroes, woodburned work, books, and new cosplay! This is our first con in our convention line up for the year <3
Also, I’m going to be taking pictures and sharing them on the #28DaysOfBlackCosplay hashtag everywhere I can!
Hope to see you there!
