Charles

Yeah. So some of the things we heard were pretty familiar, right? There's like this long documentary relationship between Black folks and Kung Fu movies, which likely got Black people interested in East Asian media in general, especially in the 60s and 70s. But then, of course, you have people who just love anime for the fun of it. I mean, that's what it's there for, right?

The fantasy, the escapism, all that good stuff. But some of this change is because of generational shifts, right? Black millennials and Gen Zers grew up with anime shows like One Piece and Naruto. Shout out to Toonami on Cartoon Network. They did a big one. And now as adults, they're defining what's culturally cool.

The fantasy, the escapism, all that good stuff. But some of this change is because of generational shifts, right? Black millennials and Gen Zers grew up with anime shows like One Piece and Naruto. Shout out to Toonami on Cartoon Network. They did a big one. And now as adults, they're defining what's culturally cool.

The fantasy, the escapism, all that good stuff. But some of this change is because of generational shifts, right? Black millennials and Gen Zers grew up with anime shows like One Piece and Naruto. Shout out to Toonami on Cartoon Network. They did a big one. And now as adults, they're defining what's culturally cool.

But I think that one of the bigger themes to all of this is that Black people are seeing parts of themselves reflected in anime.

But I think that one of the bigger themes to all of this is that Black people are seeing parts of themselves reflected in anime.

But I think that one of the bigger themes to all of this is that Black people are seeing parts of themselves reflected in anime.

Brittany, I feel like you had a similar experience when you watched Kiki's Delivery Service for the first time. Oh, my gosh.

Brittany, I feel like you had a similar experience when you watched Kiki's Delivery Service for the first time. Oh, my gosh.

Brittany, I feel like you had a similar experience when you watched Kiki's Delivery Service for the first time. Oh, my gosh.

Now, I don't think Miyazaki had that in mind when he made Kiki's Delivery Service. But what you are speaking to is an experience that a lot of Black anime fans have described. Of course, we heard that a lot at Anime NYC. But after we left, I still had some questions about the way Black anime fans find ways to identify with characters that are just so different from us.

Now, I don't think Miyazaki had that in mind when he made Kiki's Delivery Service. But what you are speaking to is an experience that a lot of Black anime fans have described. Of course, we heard that a lot at Anime NYC. But after we left, I still had some questions about the way Black anime fans find ways to identify with characters that are just so different from us.

Now, I don't think Miyazaki had that in mind when he made Kiki's Delivery Service. But what you are speaking to is an experience that a lot of Black anime fans have described. Of course, we heard that a lot at Anime NYC. But after we left, I still had some questions about the way Black anime fans find ways to identify with characters that are just so different from us.

That's a word. And so I reached out to Professor Alfred Martin. He's an associate professor of media studies at the University of Miami. He's also the author of an upcoming book, Fandom, For Us, By Us, The Pleasures and Practices of Black Audiences. And one of the things Alfred's work really touches on is the nuanced way Black people communicate.

That's a word. And so I reached out to Professor Alfred Martin. He's an associate professor of media studies at the University of Miami. He's also the author of an upcoming book, Fandom, For Us, By Us, The Pleasures and Practices of Black Audiences. And one of the things Alfred's work really touches on is the nuanced way Black people communicate.

That's a word. And so I reached out to Professor Alfred Martin. He's an associate professor of media studies at the University of Miami. He's also the author of an upcoming book, Fandom, For Us, By Us, The Pleasures and Practices of Black Audiences. And one of the things Alfred's work really touches on is the nuanced way Black people communicate.

kind of interpret and interact with media representation. And while he doesn't deal with anime in particular, his theory around Black audiences and comfort really stood out to me.

kind of interpret and interact with media representation. And while he doesn't deal with anime in particular, his theory around Black audiences and comfort really stood out to me.

kind of interpret and interact with media representation. And while he doesn't deal with anime in particular, his theory around Black audiences and comfort really stood out to me.

Right. And this is something we see across a lot of things Black audiences enjoy. It's not just anime, but you can even think of the way Black people sort of corralled around Game of Thrones. And according to Alfred's work, Black audiences are sort of primed to making sense of and asserting themselves in a world that doesn't always include them.