Revenge of the (black) Nerds?

I'm a black woman who likes comic book heroes, Disney movies, cartoons, and music that can't be boxed into one genre or the other. I can't dance, or even stand in one spot without fidgeting. I read graphic novels, and I'm stoked for the FreeState ComicCon this September. In other words, I'm a nerd. You wouldn't think so (or maybe you do haha), but I am. 

We all know that in recent years nerds have emerged as the new cool. People like Seth Rogen and Michael Cera get leading man roles left and right. Then you have Tina Fey, who created the hilarious comedy series 30 Rock (and do I even need to say it's a hit? That show is great!). 

But what about black people? 

It's no secret that the "worst nerd to be" is a black nerd. Black people are supposed to be suave and cool, and absolutely must know how to dance. Reading comic books is unheard of! And the worst part is in our communities, the students who excel at academics are shunned rather than celebrated. Not to air out the dirty laundry but it's the sad truth. I remember in 7th grade I had an 8th grade math book. Someone saw it in my hands, asked me why I had an 8th grade book, and spit at me. Spit at me! For doing what I was supposed to be doing- getting ahead. 

*sigh* Middle School ...those were some bad times man, bad times. 

Anyway, I'm excited that recently there have been some (and by some I mean very few) black nerd pioneers who are finally being embraced and making it cool to be a little different:

Donald Glover// Writer, rapper, actor, comedian

Janelle Monae// Android, artist

B.o.B// Rapper

And of course the O.G.'s of the black nerd revolution (in my eyes)- 

Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams!