A long time ago in a ghetto far, far away I wanted to be a comic book writer.
I wanted to build on the legacy of Bill Cosby and Robert Townsend and create positive stories and images that created a richer picture of Black life outside of what was presented in mainstream media.
I’m starting to realize that dream was a waste of my time.
I spent 25 years of my life writing positive stories about the Black experience. Wanting to open up the imaginations of Black people with stories about Black Goths, Black Sororities, Black gods and Black goddesses.
The kinds of stories Black people SAY they want but when it comes time to put their money down these same Black folks disappear.
Dealing with the Black nerd and the Black comic fan is like dealing with an insane person with. They complain that there aren’t enough Black characters to represent Black people at mainstream companies like Marvel and DC. Yet When a Black creator like myself spends their money to make books with said Black characters these same black people don’t show up to buy them.
No, instead they make a plethora of excuses. Telling me my characters are not Black enough,
Too light skinned. Too Dark Skinned. Not wearing natural hair. And the ultimate Kicker-Too Black.
And if you create a White character and try to appeal to White audiences, you're a sellout and an Uncle Tom. Even though most of them have White and nonblack girlfriends and White and nonblack boyfriends.
Damn. Just Damn.
There is no pleasing the Black nerd or the Black comic fan If you’re a Black creator. Because most black nerds and Black comic fans don’t want Black characters from Black creators. They want White acceptance.
Look at how FAST the DC Blackout ended when they heard White people disapproved of it. Dudes BITCHED UP once they got a little pushback from White people.
Most Black nerds and Black comic fans are brainwashed slaves who live for White approval. If the White comic fans don't approve of something they don't buy it. If they can't get brownie points from White people they don't support it.
Because they fear reprisal from the White masters in their heads if they have the audacity to have a mind of their own.
If that ain’t a slave I don’t know what is.
For most Black nerds and Black Comic fans, Black characters in comic books, science fiction and fantasy aren’t a way for us to use our imagination to see ourselves outside of the stereotypes of the mainstream media. They're not expression of Black empowerment. They’re not an expression of Black love. They’re not a creation we make to take control of our image. They’re not a way to tell our stories about our culture and our experience.
They’re an attachment they use to get the attention of White Social circles.
Yeah, Black nerds and Black comic fans like Black characters. Only if a they’re in a White space and approved of by White people. If a White person or a White approved Black person doesn’t make it they don’t want it. Because supporting anything made by a Black person threatens their standing or attempt to get standing in those White social circles.
Black nerds don’t want anything made by a Black person who isn’t White approved. They don’t want to create a black space where we imagine who we want to be outside of white people.
There’s no White people to get the attention of there. There’s no White people to seek validation from there. There’s no White people to get approval of there. You can’t way to get brownie points with White people in a Black space.
You have to deal with other Black people. And they don’t want to be among us. Or seek approval from us. That doesn’t give them the power they could take supporting our own.
When we take control of our image it’s us taking power over ourselves. When we seek approval of our own work it’s us taking power over our own mind. But that flies over the head of the Black nerd. Supposed to be book smart but sadly is so filled with self-hatred they can’t pick up the knowledge a Black creator tries to give them.
When I was a kid I thought black superheroes and Black fantasy characters were supposed to be a symbol of Black power. But it seems most of the Black nerds only see Black power from the limited space of a White world.
Sad. Just sad.
God told me I do good work. But people wouldn't appreciate it in 2004. And in 2026, I see his word did not turn back to him void. I want to keep going like God told me, but I'm starting to see it's a fruitless task.
I spent 25 years of my life trying to reach the Black reader. Trying to show them a different picture of Black life. And I’m starting to realize I just wasted my time. After having a heart attack last year, I’m just thinking about walking away from SJS DIRECT. I’ve lost thousands of dollars and years of my life chasing a dream trying to reach Black audiences that don’t want what I’m selling. At 52, I'm starting to realize It might be just time to move on.
With a heart failure diagnosis, I need to manage my stress so I don't exacerbate my condition. And there's nothing more stress inducing than dealing with most Black folks. Many of my viewers and readers are good people. But dealing with folks on social media is a headache.
With my health in decline I realize there’s nothing I can do for Black people. And the only thing I can do is leave them to the Tyler Perry’s The Ice Cubes, The Curtis 50 Cent Jacksons, The Lee Daniels, The Oprah Winfreys and dysfunctional media they’ve imbibed over the last three decades. Most Black folkswill be LOST and remain LOST, still complaining no one makes anything for them, when people have been making them things for years.
Only they refuse to buy them because they aren’t Black enough or Too Black for them because they come from a Black person. It's an endless cycle of insanity that would make The Joker shake his head and walk away.
My advice to all the Black indie creators out there: Just keep your money in your pocket. You won’t be able to get that TIME out of your life back you invest in whatever you want to create. You won't get any money back on what you spend to fund your dream. Yeah, you want to make something to represent your people, but your people will not represent and support your work. Go enjoy the rest of your life and leave the insane people to their insanity.
