Fan fiction can be a very white space. However, with the debut of Black Panther, black, female fan fiction writers have developed their own safe space to write the stories they want to read. From glorifying every shade of brown skin to bonnets before bed, fics after Black Panther have become wholly reflections of the women who oft times felt left out or ignored by other fandoms. This panel brings together a group of women who have developed original characters, alternative universes, and canon works celebrating this groundbreaking film.
We will discuss the challenges faced in creating a fandom for, and by, women who rarely see themselves positively portrayed (if at all). We’ll look into why this can be seen as a threat and how we hope to see the fandom develop.