illustration/comics/concept art etc are not prepared for what's going on

"diversity" in these spaces is never centered around the diversity of blackness itself

so when we seek retribution and tell our stories they have nothing to say other than "amplify"

there is space for alt-black in comics because white cartoonists are alt

there is space for anime black in animation because white animators like anime

the extra qualifier is relatable. your blackness is a feature

me and my friends almost have to remind people Where We Come From

because of shared talent, they presume we come from similar backgrounds when me and my people grew up poor in Virginia

black people like us draw to make it up out of that meat grinder

one year i was a judge for an illustration annual and we debated about a top prize for this legendary black artist

a fellow judge couldn't tell the black people in the piece wereblack people

and said dismisisvely about the content "yea but this is his thing"

the same judge and others gave a prize to a white artist for "doing his thing"

i was full of fury and never wanted to judge again at that point

i convinced the room to give that black artist his prize too. without me in the room it wouldn't have happened

this is what i mean