“Rise of the UNICORNS” - Black Cosplay & Uniqueness

Southern Soul - Live Stream

“If there is a feeling, an emotion, expression that you want to get out, that's what you can do with cosplay,” shares Melony Isaac. Today she and Joy Stephens join host D-Rich to discuss Black Unicorns, uniqueness, connection, and cosplay.

Cosplay provides a means for self-expression that can be invaluable to people who otherwise struggle with expressing themselves. By embodying a character, you get an opportunity to step into a whole new role. It can be a great tool for finding your tribe. Because when you dress up as a character, it will attract people with similar interests to come and speak with you. Fantasy has for such a long time been viewed through an overwhelmingly white lens, but Black people can be magical and whimsical too. Too often Black people are cast as the villains in fairy tales and not given the opportunity to embody powerful, good, magical creatures. Cosplay can help change that by empowering Black people to step into the shoes of their favorite fantasy characters.

Showcase your unique personality through cosplay. If you don’t know where to start, just take a look in your closet and put something simple together. Cosplay can be a great means of expressing yourself and making new friends, especially if you typically feel like an outsider.

Quotes

• “I can become a character and embody it by just putting on some face makeup, putting on cat ears, putting on a cape. And I am instantly a new thing, a new person. That's what cosplay is for me.” (10:56-11:12 | Joy)

• “If there is a feeling, an emotion, expression that you want to get out, that's what you can do with cosplay.” (14:33-14:40 | Melony)

• “Everything that we have seen in the United States has white people being all of these different characters and us being relegated to pimps, prostitutes, strumpets, whatever you want to call us and not really being able to be the whimsical, the fairytale, etc.” (17:34-17:50 | Joy)

• “Don't let other people stop you from doing what feels right to you. And once you find your tribe, I feel like you will feel more comfortable doing that.” (21:13-21:23 | Melony)

Links

Connect with Joy Stephens, MBA:

• Website: https://www.newheightsawait.com/team/joy-stephens-mba
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-stephens-newheights/

Connect with Melony Isaac, MBA:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missmelony/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missmelony/

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