Black Nerd Problems: Essays

Product Description
The creators of the popular website Black Nerd Problems bring their witty and unflinching insight to this engaging collection of pop culture essays—on everything from Mario Kart to issues of representation—that “will fill you with joy and give you hope for the future of geek culture” (Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
When William Evans and Omar Holmon founded
Black Nerd Problems, they had no idea whether anyone beyond their small circle of friends would be interested in their little corner of the internet. But soon after launching, they were surprised to find out that there was a wide community of people who hungered for fresh perspectives on all things nerdy.
In the years since, Evans and Holmon have built a large, dedicated fanbase eager for their brand of cultural critiques, whether in the form of a laugh-out-loud, raucous
Game of Thrones episode recap or an eloquent essay on dealing with grief through stand-up comedy. Now, they are ready to take the next step with this vibrant and hilarious essay collection, which covers everything from X-Men to Breonna Taylor with “alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and passionate” (
School Library Journal) insight and intelligence.
A much needed and fresh pop culture critique from the perspective of people of color, “this hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful—and fun—cultural criticism can be” (
Publishers Weekly, starred review).
From School Library Journal
Identifying as a nerd doesn't necessarily make life easy. And being a Black nerd is its own nuanced experience that Evans and Holmon know well. They've been writing about Black Nerd Problems since 2013 on their website of the same name, which has spawned this eponymous collection of 46 essays. The short pieces (most are six to nine pages each) cover myriad aspects of pop culture: comic books, television dramas like The Wire and Breaking Bad, Disney movies, Hamilton, gaming, and more. The writing is alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and passionate, sometimes all within the same essay. The authors' knowledge of all things nerdy is encyclopedic yet the depth at which they connect their subject matter to real-life issues is what makes the book stand out. Police reform, universal basic income, the white gaze, and social justice are all mentioned alongside heroes and villains. All the essays center Black nerd identity, but readers' nerd knowledge doesn't have to be exhaustive for this book to resonate. The writing is conversational and invites spirited agreement or antagonism from its audience. Although the essays contain strong language, don't let it deter this purchase for older high schoolers. For students of color who love to debate the merits of DC versus Marvel, or even just nerd out to Disney's The Lion King, this book will be their mirror. And with so many essays, there's something for all nerds, regardless of the depth of their fandom. VERDICT Hilarious and thought-provoking essays that read like talking to a friend. Recommended for purchase.­Lindsay Jensen, Nashville P.L.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
*One of Kirkus’s 11 Nonfiction Books to Read This Fall*
“Evans and Holmon examine a broad swath of the popular-culture landscape, from anime and video games to comic books and movies, mixing social commentary and insight with the sheer love of the true fan… [The] authors reach far and wide across fan culture and use a pleasing blend of humor and pathos to connect readers to the material. An exercise in pop culture criticism that is simultaneously funny, thoughtful, and provocative.”
—
Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“This book is a welcome, come-in gesture. You may not get every pop culture reference, but you’ll feel it.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Reading
Black Nerd Problems will fill you with joy and give you