Feeling less alone: The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town: Comic Book Review

Hello Loves

It’s been a year or so hasn’t since I written on the blog. Navigating the past year emotionally took its toll at times and to be honest I wasn’t feeling motivated to write. Until I received an email from Jamila Rowser from Black Josie Press. It was a press release/Kickstarter update for their latest launch: The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town.

The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town is an autobiographical comic that’s dedicated to exploring the intersection of Blackness and mental health, created by the award-winning cartoonist Robyn Smith (DC Comics' Nubia: Real One (written by L.L. McKinney) and Black Josei Press' Wash Day (written by Jamila Rowser)

The comic was originally self-published by Robyn in 2016 and was named one of the best short-form comics of 2016 by The Comics Journal. Black Josei Press is  reprinting the 32-page comic which features a gorgeous new watercolor cover and bonus process pages.  

In The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town, Robyn Smith recounts her experience being one of the only Black people in a rural Vermont town and how that affected her mental health. Her delicate graphite illustrations and poetic words take the reader on a journey through three chapters: Sad, Angry, and Black.  Being a Black girl in a majority white space is to be ignored but constantly observed. Robyn examines this experience of being simultaneously invisible and hyper-visible with such honesty and self-awareness.

WOW!

After supporting their Kickstarter (ends tomorrow), I felt inspired and wanted to do something I haven’t done close to a year: A REVIEW.

The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town is split into three sections: ‘Sad’, ‘Angry’, ‘Black”.  I was impressed how the commentary unfortunately was universal for black and brown women. I grew up in the projects but felt so isolated being the only black girl in an honors class, experiencing similar microaggressions from my junior high school classmates that Robyn was experiencing in a small town. I had no clue what a microaggression was until I was in my first semester at FIT experiencing the same isolation, I felt in my jhs.

In the ‘Angry’ section, the word “n*gger’ came up.  Robyn nailed the different scenarios that black people have to deal with, non-black people casually saying using the excuse “it was in a song” “you guys say it” etc. Ummm not true in my house it was and still is “the n word” I’m grateful I was taught that it’s not a word to say casually even when black people say it (that’s a whole over blog post).  I regret when I was around former non-black friend’s that were that said “the n word” using those excuses I would try to brush it off to fit in and not cause a conflict. Shame on me….

The last portion ‘Black’ resonated with me the most especially with my experiences in 2020 but towards the end of it coming to a more acceptance of who I am. I’m happy Robyn talks about this in the last chapter (don’t want to give it away support the Kickstarter).  It’s feelings that a lot of Black and brown women experience.  Our feelings are valid we shouldn’t have to fight for the simplest of things and be seen as angry or demanding.  We struggle, we get sad, we get angry because we are trying to survive, then we accept ourselves and start to thrive.

Reading “The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town” was therapeutic for me!

As we are dealing with many traumatic anniversaries coming up. I think this is a comic that should be on the bedside table for every black and brown girl.  Robyn reminded me that I am not alone in my struggles and heck inspired me to write again. And I’m thankful for that.

The Kickstarter is sending SOON (33 hours to go), please support here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamilarowser/the-saddest-angriest-black-girl-in-town

 Follow Robyn Smith here , Twitter, and Instagram.

Follow Black Josie Press here 

Buy Nubia: Real One: here

Xo

Kos

NYCC 2017 Recap!

An October tradition for my friends and me is attending New York Comic Con (NYCC).  This is a time when I, and my fellow geeks from the metro area, can escape reality for a few days! The merchandise and cosplays at this year’s New York Comic Con didn’t miss a beat.

I dug The Big Lebowski and The Professional cosplays the most! Cosplayers dressing up as 90s movie icons? Oh the 90s nostalgia!

A few of my fellow geek gals participated in a ClulessXHarryPotter mashup (shouts to Chavon of Geeky & Creepy for the idea). It was awesome! Yes, that is me being the only Slytherin (a lovable Slytherin) in the group.  The blazer is killah, snagging it on Esty along with the Harry Potter Patch bag from Hot Topic.  I predict there will be more group cosplays in the future for me, including a repeat of this one :) 

ROLLCALL! Che: Ravenclaw, Kos: Slytherin, Arkieda: Ravenclaw, Robyn: Gryffindor, Isake: Ravenclaw, Christina: Gryffindor, Akua: Ravenclaw

AS IF!

Since I’ve been attending regional comic cons recently, I have become stoked about the panels!  Connecting with fellow geeks on topics that matter: mental health, diversity, and geek journalism, this year at NYCC they didn’t disappoint. A highlight for many was “Fashioning Fiction: The Aesthetics of Fantasy Worlds” panel, which included Geek Girl Brunch co-founder Yissel Ayala. Yissel along with 6 panelists broke down what makes fashion fantastical and how they find inspiration in the real world to clothe the denizens of their imaginary realms.

Yissel is a visual merchandiser and has a BFA in Women’s Sportswear from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT Alum Woot Woot), she’s has been mentored by Carolina Herrera and studied knitwear at Politecnico Di Milano in Milan, Italy   

I had the opportunity to speak with YIssel after the panel, check it out:
O.C.O: What led you submit for the panel

Y.A: My friend and cheerleader Erica Shultz encouraged me. We'd gotten to know each other through me moderating her panels at New Jersey Comic Expo, so she knew I was beyond capable.  Actually, "encouraged," is an understatement.  She'd regularly e-mail and text me reminders to brainstorm ideas and the panel submission deadline. Ha! She really pushed for me to do this, and for that, I am forever grateful.  

Soon after, I visited my friend Melissa Grey to get her take and bounce ideas off of her over wine (like you do). I knew I had to do something around fashion. Around design  - A subject I'm passionate about, knowledgeable, have credibility in. But, what else? Well, I love books.... It was Melissa that suggested the aesthetics of fantasy worlds. It was pretty perfect. Here I was talking to my published author best friend, so I knew I'd at least have one guaranteed panelist onboard. 

I went home and drafted out some copy, came up with the name, "Fashioning Fiction", had Melissa reply to my e-mail with even better copy, sought out potential panelists with her help, and the panel was born. 

O.C.O: What did you want to teach/accomplish with the panel?

Y.A:  I wanted to talk about fashion for an hour without it becoming as superficial as red carpet coverage before a major awards show.  

When people think of literature, what words spring to mind? Smart. Profound. Classic. How does the average person view fashion? Is it fun? Well, you and I know that. But then there are people who think: "superficial," who don't realize that, "smart," "profound," and, "classic," are all terms that apply to fashion too. 

It was important for me to be able to celebrate fashion as a crucial world-building tool. So, I put a lot of thought and care into my questions and presentation as a whole. Through PowerPoint I created a visual narrative. I told an easy to follow story, first on Literature’s contributions to fashion, citing prominent literary works and designer achievements, which allowed me to dive into the heart of my panel, fashion's very necessary contribution to storytelling. My approach worked. It really fucking worked. 

O.C.O: How'd you come to know your panel mates?

Y.A: They're my friends, and friends of friends. I find already knowing someone makes asking them to be on your panel way easier!

O.C.O: If you could have a follow up panel to this one, what would it focus on?

Y.A: I think I may just do a round 2 of this panel, as I already have some interested parties. It's more than I could've hoped for.

I do like the idea of discussing the great style icons of literature and their influence on modern fashion. Maybe I'll attempt that at BookCon? We'll see!

Follow Yissel on Instagram and Twitter @Thedesignergeek

As I left New York Comic Con, I could not help but notice the increased attendance from last year!  I learned later that attendance rose to over  200,000 to be exact!!  How awesome is that?!  New York Comic Con continues to get better and better.  I started going in 2013.  Each year I leave the con more confident, inspired, and creative. Until next year!

xo

Kos