multi fandom sideblog

1: You’re a criminal running from the police, you invaded my home and tied me up, but I see you’re badly wounded and in pain, seriously, if you just untied me, I could help you.

2: You came up with a plan of seducing rich women and stealing their money, and I thought it was an excellent idea, until I realized that I was getting really jealous.

3: We’re on the run and you stole the worst car ever, like, are you serious?

4: I accidentally destroyed about 200K worth of cocaine and you lost your shit, like, bro, I didn’t even know you were a drug dealer, shouldn’t YOU be the one explaining stuff right now?

5: The police came to my house and asked for you, and I’m trying to convince them you are not here, while you’re literally hiding in my closet.

6: I thought you were cheating on me and I hacked your phone and e-mail, and accidentally found out you were an undercover detective, first, are you even… you? Second… is it normal that the black car is parking in front of our house for the third consecutive night, or should I be worried?

7: I “accidentally” saved you from some bad guys who were about to kill you, and now we’re on the run together, hi, maybe I should introduce myself?

8: You’re a thief, you stole some things from my neighbor and while you were running away, I trapped you in my garden shed. Let you go? I don’t know, offer me a good deal.

9: Look, I’m okay with you kidnapping me. You tied me up, fine. But I can’t stand being gagged, because I have an irresistible urge to tell you that YOU ARE A HORRIBLE DRIVER YOU’RE GOING TO KILL US OH MY GOD

10: You rescued me from a villain and offered me water and I drank it, but it tasted strange and… what have you given me, what have you done, what do you want and if you’re even worse than them, then I swear I’ll… why am I so stupid?

11: You’re a thief, you broke into my house and accidentally saved me from a serial killer… thank you, you can have the TV and laptop, I guess.

12: You’re in prison and I wrote a letter to you through that “Write To A Prisoner” thing, and I think I might be falling for you, this is not good.

13: You’re my boss who fired me, I went to collect my things and while I was at it, robbers came into the shop and now we’re held hostage together… I swear, if we survive this, I’m going to kill you.

14: I’ve been receiving death threats and I’ve been scared shitless, then you, the previous owner of this house, came and asked if you didn’t have any post, like thirty death threats approximately, I handed them to you and you just said “Thanks!” and walked away, what the hell?

15: You told me we were going on vacation and now you’ve hijacked a ferry boat, this is the last time I went on vacation with you, I swear.

16: You kidnapped me from my own wedding, but you keep telling me you saved me and I should thank you, you’re either crazy, or you know something that I don’t. Also, do you know how much I paid for all the wedding expenses?

17: I’m driving a car and you were hitchhiking, and I took you in, and now I think you might be a serial killer, but when I think of it, maybe you think I’m a serial killer too…

This began as a guide to describing Afro/curly hair but of course, I got carried away. From look and texture of hair, colors and various styles, this guide serves as a thesaurus of sorts for hair, as well as pointers for use in your writing.

Culturally Significant Hair Coverings:

Know the meaning behind head wear and why it’s worn, when and by whom, such as a Native Nation’s headdress, before bestowing a character with it.

Head Coverings Resources:

More on various head coverings.

See here for more Islamic Veils. 

See here for more on the Nigerian gele.

See here on African American Headwraps. 

View our hijab and headscarves tags for discussion on these topics.

Afro - Curly - Straightened

There are many varieties of braids, twists & Afro hair styles; have some more!

African/Black Hair: Natural, Braids and Locks

African Hair: Braiding Styles 10 African Types

Describing Black (Afro) hair:

Appropriative Hairstyles: Keep in mind that Afro styles should be kept to those in the African Diaspora, such as dreadlocks, cornrows + certain and many braided styles.

Tread carefully describing Afro hair as “wild” “unkempt” “untamed” or any words implying it’s unclean or requires controlling.

“Nappy” and “wooly” are generally words to stay away from, the first having heavy negative connotations for many and the latter, though used in the Holy Bible, is generally not acceptable anymore and comes off as dehumanizing due to Animal connotations.

There are mixed feelings on calling Black hair “kinky.” I’m personally not opposed to the word in itself and usage depends on the person’s race (I’m more comfortable with a Black person using it vs. a Non-Black person) as well as their tone and context (if it’s used in a neutral or positive tone vs. negatively/with disdain). Get feedback on your usage, or simply forgo it.

See our tags “Black Hair” and “Natural Hair” for more discussion on describing Black hair.

Texture - Look - Styles

Hair Colors and Style

Writing Tips & Things to Keep in Mind:

Combination Words: Try combining words to illustrate look of hair. A character with springy coils that dance across her shoulders with every movement, the man with thick silvery hair slicked back into a ponytail…

Mind Perspective: Depending on POV, a character might not know exactly what cornrows or a coiffure style is, at least in name, and it might make more sense if they described the hairdo instead. More defining terms might come from a more knowing source or the wearer themselves. One book I read described a girl’s afro puff as “thick hair pulled up into a cute, curly, poufy thing on top of her head and tied with a yellow ribbon.”

POC & Hair Colors: People of Color’s hair comes in all shades and textures. There are Black people with naturally blond and loosely-textured to straight hair, East Asian people with red hair, and so on. Keep that in mind when coding characters if you tend to rely on hair color alone to denote a character is white vs. a Person of Color.

Related Tropes: There are tropes and discussion related to People of Color, colored hair, and light-colored hair and features. 

Check out these posts on the topic: The East Asian Women + Colored Hair Trope - Black Characters & “Wild” Hair Colors - POC w/ Supernatural Colorful Features. - ‘Uncommon’ Features & POC Characters

Black Girls & Women: Representation We Want

As a Black woman reader, I definitely want to see more soft Black girls and women in literature. Girls with their own self-interests (caring about oneself isn’t necessarily selfish) and not always someone else’s caregiver is great too.

Here’s my list!

More Black girls…

In love

With close family bonds and healthy relationships and support systems (that don’t require enduring abuse, fixing their partner, or overall emotional labor to earn domestic happiness)

Being protected

As main characters, heroines and anti-heroes

On adventures

In fantasy and magical settings

In historical settings as peasants, upper-class society, and royalty

Descriptions of Black Afro hair, skin, features as a normal thing in books (see this compilation) and not in an Othering way

On the other hand, vibrant, sometimes hyped up descriptions that allude to their beauty (see this ask. Or this one). Not Othering, just appreciating! 

Put us in fancy dresses and give us a sword and let us dance at the balls and have admirers!

Experiencing complex emotions not necessarily in reaction to racism or racist violence

On the book cover! And with an accurate, not light or white-washed model

~Mod Colette

Responses:

@madamef-er

Soft black girls and nerd girls who like cute things. 

Shy black girls not just in situations with boys. 

More lgbtqia+ black girls. Studs! Femmes! 

Gender fluid and non conforming constantly changing their style because they like it!

Spies and not just as the ‘sexy bait’ or ‘weapons master’ let us sit behind the computer for once and be hackers and stuff

@tanlefan

Black girls who are just…people.

I want a fantasy escapism adventure that isn’t a thinly veiled discussion on slavery or racism or any other aspect of The Struggle. I am tired. 

Can I just have a happy Black girl who believes in fairies or something?

@esmeraldanacho-1776More autistic Black women/girls! I don’t care what genre really; just have them in there!

@briarsthicketAnd enby black people!

@mattiekins

Def soft black girls. 

Energetic and playful. 

Or shy and quiet.

I want to see more black girls who are nerds and not just mommy mommying or nanny nannying everyone. 

I want black girls who want to be a ballerina, or a talk show host, or a game designer etc. 

I want a black girl who gets to be happy. 

Who doesn’t have to act older than she is and be the shoulder for everyone, always.

@xiiishadesofgrey

I want more black lady nerds, if we’re talking modern settings!  

More black ladies who have a sporty/playful nature! 

Who aren’t afraid to get dirty and make chaos, without being dirty or frowned upon!

Strange as it sounds coming from me, more black princesses! Brandy as Cinderella in the 90s was my first Cinderella, and I LOVE that.

Please, god, more black wlws.

@daintythoughtswritersblock

I want to see tropes exercised 

Black women of all shades and tones

@hazelnut4370

Tbh just fellow black people being happy, like I rarely see that,

Or enjoying hobbies

rivergoddessdream

Happily childless black women

Black women traveling the world

Fat black women in happy, healthy, poly relationships

Black cis and trans women having a true sisterhood

Autistic black women

Black women in period pieces that aren’t about slavery and don’t take place in the US

Black women thespians

Black women painters

Black women revolutionaries

Black women front and center in the narrative

Black women healers and storytellers

Non christian Black women stories

Black women rockers

#complicated black women characters #tell those stories

@missnancywrites

More Black Girls…

With diverse cultural and social backgrounds!

That are nerdy, girly, intelligent, ditzy, all the personality types that white girls in literature get!

That are fragile, shy or anxious. Almost every single black woman I’ve seen in media or otherwise are wise and adult. Let us be an absolute wreck, or an anxious mess!

In science! Characters like Shuri, Moon Girl and Iron Heart in Marvel revitalized me, cuz young black girls only get two types. Both these girls are in intellectual and in science, but have bery different personalities.

In interracial relationships, and not because they hate black men or something along those lines. They just happen to be dating outside their race, black women get hate for that in real life and it’s unfair. Let us have relationships outside our race! That said…

In platonic relationships with black men! I think that’s important, cuz I don’t often seen black solidarity unless it’s for the purpose of showing how diverse the writing is. Let them share interests, daily frustrations that they would only understand, but don’t force a romance.

In solid friendships with other black girls! For some reason, we’re pitted against in each other inside and outside of writing! Write some sweet wholesome friendship!

With different sexualities! Let there be some that are ace, others are gay, bi or pan! Just be sure you don’t sexualize them, or turn em into a robot.

•Who are dark-skinned! This can be seen a lot in tv or movies, but when you want a black girl in your stuff don’t just hire a light-skinned black girl or a biracial black girl. It’s not the same.

Who get to act their age! Black women have a long standing history of being adultified, starting from a very young age, and it’s extremely harmful. Little black girls can wear what they please, the problem is people sexualizing them. Let the teen black girl be a teenager, she can look out for her siblings but she isn’t the keepern the house or their lives. Young adult black girls are not ideal housewives or capable working machines, they mess up and mess around just as much as any young adult.

With mental/physical disabilities or illnesses. Alongside with being forced to be more mature than they are, disabilities/illnesses are never taken seriously and we’re forced to just deal with it. Having black girls who happen to have these issues, but also have a healthy support group is always good!

@ink-and-roses

Seen as beautiful and desirable and NOT in a hypersexualized way

Interracial relationships are wonderful because black girls are beautiful and lbr everybody sees it

Sensitive and allowed to feel something other than righteous anger

Some black girls are skinny! Some are big! Some are slim and some are curvy! There’s no mold!

Dark skinned!

A YA protagonist out to save the world from something other than racism

Superpowers or magic that doesn’t come from generational trauma or slavery

Black characters who support other black characters. None of this token crabs in a barrel business.

Black girl nerds and punks and goths exist. I promise.

And this may be a personal preference but I’m not against the idea of a damsel in distress. We are always being strong. Let her be soft and delicate and cared for. Let her be princess carried and rescued from the tower and the dragon.

[Note from Mod: It’s not just you! I love a Black damsel being saved and protected. What is progressive for one woman varies due to historical and present depictions and is why intersectionality in feminism is so important! -Colette]

@nightlyswordswoman

As a writer, I write a lot of my black female characters like this because I rarely ever see black women being represented in these ways! ESPECIALLY on the covers of books, unless the author themselves is a black woman and even then its rare. 

Too often black women are stereotyped as strong protector types that are always rough, tough, and don’t need anybody in books (and real life), when that’s honestly just dumb and inaccurate–black women are as vulnerable as anyone else (in some cases, even more vulnerable, but that’s another topic). 

So yeah, this list is 100% accurate and I encourage those who are interested in writing black female characters (whether you’re a black woman or not) to consider writing them like this, because the stereotype needs to die lol.

But wait, there’s more!

@just-a-swsh-fangirl As an anime fan I kinda want to see a white male protagonist be paired up (romantically) with a black female at the end of the series. It would make my black self happy to see a girl like me in an important role like that.

@tgingwe

Black girls in STEM, pleaaase

Black girls with ADHD, depression, and other mental health conditions! 

Black girls with supportive families! 

Pan black girls! 

African black girls, with cultures that impact their lives and with complex relationships between their specific identities/cultures and the idea of being perceived as just black outside of Africa! 

Happy Trans Black girls!

@starcrossedrose

Love triangles where a black character gets to be with the guy or girl in the end.

Love triangles revolving around a black character.

Black retellings of fairy tales

Black characters in royal positions (King, Queen, Princes, Princesses, etc.)

@superviza

soft,reserved,emotional,shy, spirited, spunky, bubbly, corny, weird black women

a black woman in a healthy relationship with a black man who has a healthy obsession with her

little black girls

modest black women

black women without a criminal to success backstory

black women they were raised in a healthy family with both black parents who are still living

black women in interracial relationships that aren’t necessarily white

no tokens, several black women together with no beef

black women in fantasy

black women in friendship with ppl of other races and ethnicities

black women who get to feel and express emotion with it being a threat

@sappho-of-etheria

Black girls who don’t live in the US

black girls who are daughters of immigrants and have complex relationships with both their homeland and the land their family is from

Black girls with healthy relationships with their parents

black girls who are indecisive about their lives and struggling to find their place in the world and the reason not being racism

LGBTQ+ black girls with families that accept them and celebrate them

More black witches/magic users who don’t fall in the magical negro type.

Quirky black girls who have endearing and unusual interests

Black girls who both love sterotypical and non-stereotypical black things

Black girls having supportive friendship groups and not being the one who constantly needs to support the others

Black girls saving the world

Black girls having a love interest who loves them and cherishes them not because they think they are weak but because they want them to be safe and happy

Black girls being the cherished love interest

Black girls being thought of the most gorgeous girl and not being overly sexualized

Black girls and their siblings/friends going to another world a la Chronicles of Narnia

Black girls being the chosen ones and saving the world

Black girls in medieval fantasy stories and not just being a slave or the handmaiden of the white princess

Black girs with different and complex relationships with their womanhood and how they express it

Black girls with different hair textures

But above all else I just want black girls to be able to have the same range in character as their white counterparts. I am tired of never being able to relate to characters that look like me

This story has been won and prompted by the wonderfully amazing @imagine-mystrade​. I am so sorry, hon, that it took me forever to write this. Thank you so much for your patience and of course for your bidding and donation and your prompt. It kind of crashed into my imagination, took it hostage and ran away with it (meaning: I changed a few things. Sorry!) - So I really hope you like it ! *fingers crossed*

Prompt: So I’m thinking as a prompt Nick Savage as a young lawyer. He gets involved with the opposing counsel and they have a hot fling, both of them knowing that it can’t last. Then they meet each other in court?

The clicking sound of your heels against the marble floor echoing off these long hallways still manages to make your heart race. Even after all this time… After walking them for over twenty years now. It’s still exciting to be here, walking along these floors that so many people walked on before you. Crying, laughing, experiencing one of the best or worst days of their lives. Or just being stressed out of their minds which mostly seems to happen to yourself and your colleagues or anyone else being here for work and not for any other reason.

The courthouse is hundreds of years old now and you can’t help but feel it’s a privilege to work here. Even though it is stressful, even though some days are just shitty (and sometimes even worse) or even if you are haunted by ghosts from the past…

You nearly stumble over your feet and have to take a deep breath.

Is that…? It can’t be…

Guy recorded all the arm flops his cat made over the span of a year 

Annoymous asked: I need a hairstyle that I can wear to my nan’s birthday dinner. It’s going to be quite fancy, so I need it to look nice, but I’m sick of only being able to do girly hairstyles. I have long hair, and I want to keep it that way, but I can’t find anything to do with it other than plaits, that don’t suit me at all, or buns, that don’t stay in my hair (it’s thick and wavy). I can’t find anything that isn’t too girly. Any ideas?

Our guest long hair guru, Bing of I Dream of Dapper, says:

Let me introduce “the queer pomp.” It’s simple, looks like it took hours, and is a classy sight.

Bing modeling one of her many pompadours. (source: i-dream-of-dapper.tumblr.com)

1. Imagine having a wide mohawk and isolate all the hair that it would consist of.

2. Pull that hair back as if you’re going to put it into a small pony tail but twist it a few times (depending on how your hair parts, this could be either clockwise or counterclockwise. If done correctly you’ll notice a slight cresting wave effect and not just an awkward poof).

3. Push forward for height and pin it like crazy. Thick hair is hard to tame so don’t be shy with the bobby pins. The secret to getting buns to stay (I prefer messy buns) is to pull your hair into a secure pony tail first and use plenty of hair ties when styling your bun. If your pomp starts to deflate, simply grab your pomp and pull forward. Properly pinned pomps will perk right up!

View More queer pomps at i-dream-of-dapper.tumblr.com and fuckyeahqueerpomps.tumblr.com

Harmony Boucher, English model (source: stopstealingmylook.com)

(source: but-im-a-tomboy.tumblr.com)

Erin Majestic Legay of glitterpolitic.tumblr.com (source: fuckyeahqueerpomps.tumblr.com)

Janelle Monae (source: stylebistro.com)

Nguyễn Thị Trà My, Vietnamese model (source: femmboy.tumblr.com)

Kellis Rogers (source: fuckyeahqueerpomps.tumblr.com)

(source: ramsesfromtherock.tumblr.com)

Thanks Bing!

Common Micro aggressions: African Americans and/or Black People

Anonymous asked: What are some common micro-aggressions that a black american will regularly have to deal with?

Behold! This masterpost of common micro-aggressions towards African Americans and/or people in the African Diaspora.

A Few Facts:

Micro-aggressions are the “little” incidents of racism that may not be so obviously racist, but come from a place of ignorance or stereotyped views

Micro-aggressions can be perpetuated by White people as well as fellow Black people and People of Color.

Several of these may be applicable to other People of Color.

We (Black mods writing this) live in different Westernized countries & have personally experienced every one of these or know someone who has.

For a fuller understanding of micro aggressions and the affects it has on individuals overtime, please see this: “These incidents may appear small…”

Use of microaggressions in writing

This is just to give a thorough understanding of some of the things a Black person (often in America or other western countries) deals with.

Unless writing about racism, we would not recommend overpacking your Black character with every one of these experiences, or at least not within the narrative.  

Sprinkling in a few here and there is acceptable and adds realism.

Do not forget to include reactions to these micro-aggressions and when they occur, show they’re not okay somehow in the text.

The micro aggressions tag has plenty of applicable advice.

General Micro-aggressions

People excusing blackface.

Having our grammar and annunciation corrected.

“I don’t see you as a Black person/ I don’t see colour.”

Calling Black people ghetto, thugs, rachet, sassy, urban…

People debating why they should be allowed to say the n-word.

Then saying the n-word anyway.

Whispering, spitting, or stumbling over the word “Black” as if it’s a curse.

Refusing to pronounce your name right, or just calling you by a different name that’s easier.

Alternatively, “jokingly” calling you a “ghetto” name.

Constantly mixing up unrelated and not even resembling Black people, because you know.. ‘Black people all look the same.’

Dismissing our experiences as “just overreacting,” defending the wronging party, or using our plight to talk about one’s own experience (e.g. “well as a gay man i’ve got it rough…”).

Telling racist jokes and calling you sensitive when you don’t find it funny.

“______  is the new civil rights movement!” Black folks are still fighting for their rights, so…

Media

Fox news (xD)

Caricatured depictions of Black people on TV.

Casting calls for Black people only tailored for “race roles.”

Media treating white criminals and killers better than Black victims (see these headlines).

Stereotypes

Assuming you only listen to rap/hip-hop/r&b.

Assuming you love chicken, Kool-aid, and/or smoke weed.

Assuming you’re good at sports.

Assuming there’s no father in the picture in Black families.

Assuming all Black people (see: young girls) have children.

Calling Black people who don’t conform to preconceived images of Blackness “less black,” acting white or an “oreo.”

AAVE

Non-Black People mimicking/imitating AAVE.

People falling into AAVE when talking to Black People.

“Why don’t Black people speak real English instead of ‘ebonics’?”

Insults/doubting intelligence:

You’re so articulate!”

“You take advanced classes?!”

“How did she get into that [prestigious school and/or program]?”

“They only got x because they’re Black/Affirmative action.”

Assuming a Black person (usually male) attends college because of a sports scholarship.

Counselors discouraging Black students to take prestigious coursework, assuming it’s too difficult for them.

Respectability politics:

“You’re a credit to your race.”

“I’m glad you’re not like those other Black people. You’re not ghetto or listen to that rap stuff..”

Tone policing: dismissing someone’s reaction/argument/etc. because they are too “emotional.” Thinking that we need to be calm in order to be taken seriously.

Pitting African immigrants against African Americans, especially those coming to America for education, aka “Good Blacks.”

Beauty Standards and Dating

“You’re pretty for a Black girl.”

“You’re pretty! Are you mixed?”

“I don’t usually date/aren’t attracted to Black people.”

Calling attraction to Black people “jungle fever.”

Fetishization/Othering

People asking you what you are or where you’re really from.

Referring to Black people or our features as “exotic.”

Referring to Black people’s skin as chocolate or other foods.

Assuming dark skin doesn’t need sunscreen. Like other humans, we do!

Black Women/Misogynoir

Saying Black women are ”strong, independent and don’t need no man.“

Calling Black women ”sassy“ or angry if she shows passion/emotion.

Overreactions/exaggerating our actions. This often involves assigning aggression where there is none. (Black person speaking firmly is yelling. A Black woman disagrees with someone: “why are you attacking me?”)  

Referring to white and non-black women as “girls” and “women” while calling Black women “Females.”

Men who apply courtesy to white women (holding doors, giving up seat) but don’t apply the same to Black women.

Referring to Black women on government assistance as “welfare queens” (While ignoring that white people, white women especially, get more government assistance than Black people in the USA).

“Black women All woman are beautiful.” (Stop. That. Please.)

Hair

People touching/petting your hair without consent.

“So is that your real hair? Are those extensions?”

Calling natural black hair unprofessional.

White people appropriating Black hair styles (dreads, twists, etc) and being praised as edgy, while it’s “ghetto, unprofessional, and unclean” on our own heads.

Poverty Assumptions:

“Do you live in the ghetto?”

“Can you afford that?”

“Here are the value prices of this product…”

Racial Profiling + Criminalization:

Crossing the street to avoid passing Black men/people.

Following in stores, assuming Black people are stealing.

Moving aside when we pass, clutching purse, locking doors.

Asking Black people for I.D. when paying with card (while white people are not asked).

Being pulled over + arrested at astonishingly higher rates than white people.