BlerDCon 2025 Recap: Black On Black Blerdery

No ‘Small’ Cons There are no ‘small cons’, only small minds. Wherever two or more Blerds gather, something sacred is birthed. For so long, Black folks who were enthralled by the greater popular culture were isolated and ridiculed for their interests. But fam, it’s 2025, and we no longer have to live like that! There are whole conventions designed with Blerds in mind. One of the most prominent in the country, BlerDCon! The theme for 2025 was “Thrilla” and it was a blast. I was just there this past weekend, and it was a needed breath of fresh air. A parade of Black Usagi’s. A sea of melanated Sailor Scouts. Photo Courtesy of BlerDCon (2025) Intersectionality is the name of the game at BlerDCon. For those that don’t know, intersectionality (coined by Kimberlee Crenshaw) is a method for identifying the layers of oppression you face based on the layers of your identity. It implies that if you are Black, you are also a bunch of other things as well. BlerDCon designs its programming to engage as many intersections as it can. That level of intentional inclusion is not commonplace, much less in nerdy spaces. Mind you, no organized event is perfect and there are some blindspots at BlerDCon too – but dammit, the uplifting and positive atmosphere of the event makes those moments easy to forget. Before this goes full think piece, let’s dive into the experience! Blerdy Atmosphere Until you have walked into a room with fifty plus other Blerds in cosplay to witness an Anime-themed rap battle…