Black Nerd Problems:
Essays
by William Evans & Omar Holmon
DETAILS:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: September 14, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs., 53 min.
Read Date: May 24-26, 2022
What’s Black Nerd Problems About?
Let’s just go with what’s on the Publisher’s website to make things easier:
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).
The Fun
This looked like a promising and enjoyable collection (otherwise, why would I have bought it?), and the first few essays indicated that it would be. Then came the fifth essay, “Into the Spider-Verse Got Three Moments Better Than the Best Moment of Your Favorite Comic Book Movie Not Named Into the Spider-Verse. Wow. I listened to it twice (and would probably play it again right now if I had the time). It was more than I could’ve hoped for—funny and insightful, full of joy and intelligence. My expectations had been exceeded and the bar for the rest of the book was raised—thankfully, the essays were up to it.
I’m not going to go on and on about all the essays I wanted to rave about but “Jordan Peele Should Get His Flowers While He’s Here” and “Top Five Dead or Alive: Red Hood in the DC Animated Universe” were almost as good. Words cannot express how much fun I had with “Mario Kart Reveals Who You Truly Are.”
The Serious
After Tamir Rice was killed in Cleveland, I called my father and we had some very sparse conversation before he began theorizing on the role of fiction in our non-fiction lives. Every once in a while, I get these notions that I can outwit my father into pulling some emotional tether to him. I asked him if we love fantasy in fiction as a way to escape every day life, but I think I meant, does he use fiction in this way. He answered, “It’s not an escape, it’s hope. The good guys win and life has value in a fantasy story. It’s not about getting away from something, it’s about inserting hope into what you can’t outrun.”
They’re not as fun, but the essays where they address serious topics through the prism of nerd culture/nerd cultural artifacts are even better.
I couldn’t relate—at all—to “My Theory on How Black Folks’ Black Card Actually Works,” but I loved that essay. I thought the approach of “Green Lantern COmics Have Low-Key Been Tackling Police Accountability for a Minute” was inspired. I loved “Chadwick Boseman’s Wakanda Salute Is Canon in the History of Black Language.” “The Sobering Reality of Actual Black Nerd Problems” was powerful and (as it promised) sobering.
I was surprised by “Go On: An Evergreen Comedic Series That Helped Me Navigate Loss”—it seemed so far out of the bailiwick of the rest of this book that it took me a minute to remember what show they were talking about. I was one of the 7 other people in the U.S. that watched it all, but I didn’t relate to it the same way as Holmon did. After that essay, I wanted to go find it online and rewatch the entirety of the series (alas, no streamer carries it).
How Was the Narration?
It was fantastic. Holmon and Evans begin the book by talking about meeting at poetry slams—they know what they’re doing behind a microphone. They deliver these essays (mostly separately, but occasionally together) with passion and panache.
I kept the speed on this audiobook low because I enjoyed the narration enough that I didn’t want it to pass by. I’d have easily listened to another 7+ hours and enjoyed it all.
So, what did I think about Black Nerd Problems?
I wanted to make all of the previous sections about two times as long—but I’m entering into that dreaded Chris Farley “Remember when….? That was cool” territory. So I made myself stop.
I’ve never been a manga or anime guy—despite a few attempts at it. So I have no opinion on the content of the essays addressing them. The essays themselves made me wish I was a manga or anime guy so I could really connect with them. As for the rest of the essays? They all worked. I could appreciate them when I didn’t agree with them, and when I agreed with them, I pretty much loved what I heard. I disagree with a lot of the politics discussed, but the way they described them won me over every time—I was always entertained, too. That’s all I want in a book like this coming from a different perspective—you don’t need to convince me that you’re right, just bring a good argument I can appreciate, and, hopefully, entertain/engage me in the manner of the rest of the book.
This mix of thoughtful cultural and social observation with pop culture freak out is exactly what I want to read/listen to. It’s what I want to write, honestly, if I weren’t held back by a lack of both talent and insight combined with the laziness too great to overcome that lack. But when it’s done as well as Evans and Holmon? I’ll just sit back, take it in, and enjoy it. Even when (especially when?) I think they might be wrong about something.
If there’s a volume 2 of this, I will jump on it faster than the Falcon can do the Kessel run. If either writer puts out a book that’s not poetry? I’ll hop on board, too. They’ve made this white nerd a fan.
This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.
3 Pingbacks