These two pictures of Thunder from Black Lightning, signed by Nafessa Williams, are up for a giveaways from me and my girlfriend! But first, story time.
So here at ClexaCon, everything has been amazing. I’ve met writers and creators and artists, watched awesome, enriching panels, and was lucky enough to be on a panel with some amazing people. The crowds here are immense: the thousands of passionate fans are a testament to the strength of f/f fandoms.
And yet…fandom is not without issues. First came the modest attendance for the Queer Women of Color panel because it was followed by an actress panel; second, was what happened today:
My girlfriend and I got back to our hotel room Saturday afternoon after we finished watching our last planned panel, only to open up Twitter to several stories about how the lovely and amazing Nafessa Williams, who plays Anissa Pierce on Black Lightning, had an empty autograph line. She was being totally sweet, chatting and taking selfies with people, but she wasn’t getting too many fans coming through.
Meanwhile, at the table next to her, Emily Andras had an autograph line overflowing with people. A straight white woman with a history of questionable comments about rep and BYG had a massive line.
Nafessa is playing the first ever black lesbian lead character on television. Anissa is an out and proud lesbian; she’s a strong, complex woman of color; she’s a young activist; and she’s one half of an interracial relationship.
And she’s bulletproof! And badass! She is the rep people have been crying out for, and yet when it actually came down to it, people would rather pay to meet a straight, white, historically problematic woman.
Come on. Do better.
So as soon as my girlfriend and I found this out, we left our hotel and headed back to the con, agreeing to split the cost of an autograph. My girlfriend and I are both white women. The only time in my life I’ve ever bought an autograph was from Eliza Taylor; my girlfriend never has. But we realized that we’re part of the problem in not supporting actresses like Nafessa and shows like Black Lightning—especially when everyone is so eager to support other people at the con.
Anyway, along the ten minute walk from our hotel back to ClexaCon, one autograph turned into four. We each got one for ourselves, and we have two left over for a giveaway!
My girlfriend will be hosting the giveaway on her twitter in the next few days. Her twitter is @ABCs_of_theLoo. Please reblog this to spread the word!
Question of Smoke 