Nerd by birth, geek by choice. I'm currently a high school math teacher in OKC hoping to birth more black nerds in this nation. Living an interesting life and following the wind and my passions. From advertising to non-profit work, who knows what comes next?!
For as long as I could remember, I was that black nerd. In school, at church, through college, and finally, in the professional world. I find my passions in a lot of things through education and study and generally immersing myself within it.
Alec Hardison from Leverage. He was so cool, sauve, and happy to be the black nerd and geek he was. You don't get to see sexy black nerds on TV often, and Hardison (with his great sense of humor) became my favorite character on an all-around great show.
Friends I've met through work, college, and at conventions. Social Media like facebook and twitter has made the conversation so much easier to have away from each other. In OKC, however, I'm feeling the lack of black nerds so I'm using the internet to find my people again.
During a race and identity conversation I was leading for my work team when I worked for a non-profit, my boss told me that people considered me "alternative" black person. The rest of the team got awkward because they saw on my face that I was not happy about my way of blackness didn't fit some "norm" according to "other people."
Do You
Do find a way to combine all my passions into a workable career and be paid decently for it.
I'm gearing up for the Dear White People movie in October. It's been way too long before we had a movie that talks about black identity and blackness, especially as a black nerd who may be considered "counter-culture"
Love, recruit people to your cause, and be out about it. I will always stop and talk to people on the street who catch my eye because they are showcasing an interest that I also have.
Tumblr is my biggest thing. I also call a few friends to discuss major events and they help me stay connected. I also make sure to read at least 2 nerdy books a month.
Maybe a blocker (black rocker) or into Afro Punk. But then, stereotypes are for the weak...