How Does Being Black Shape Your Relationship with Being a Nerd?

Project Title

A Narrative of “Blerds”: Nerd Subculture, Black Identity, and Belonging

Faculty Mentor(s)

Project Description

Black nerds, sometimes known colloquially as “Blerds,” lie at the intersection of Nerd identity and Black racial identity. In recent years, Black people who identify as Blerds have rapidly created events and communities whose goal is to celebrate a nerd culture that differs from the dominant idea of a nerd and what is stereotypically thought of as “acting black.” My project aims to study this intersectionality and answer the question, “How does being Black shape your relationship with being a nerd?” Through interviews and reading literature, I hope to show how being a Blerd challenges society’s mindset of what nerd or Black identity looks like.

Why is your research important?

My research is necessary because there is limited literature on subcultures, which are groups that deviate from mainstream values and cultivate their own values, culture, and community, for example, Nerd and Black communities. Blerds are a subculture within a subculture having two identities that differentiate themselves from society and each other. By studying Blerds, I want to contribute to sociological research on racial subcultures and emphasize the importance of subcultures when looking at mainstream society.

What does the process of doing your research look like?

I work on my research with my faculty mentor, Professor Smith-Tran, in the sociology department. We started this summer by finding literature that establishes the history and framework of how people perceive Nerds and why people choose to be nerds. Now I am moving on to interviewing Blerds and finding narrative work talking about the experience of being Blerd. Throughout this process, I look for trends and connections within my data to write on.

What knowledge has your research contributed to your field?

After looking at the literature this summer, I have identified the characteristics and culture that the Nerd community embodies. Nerds reject what is seen as “cool,” choosing to indulge in unstylish or uncool things amongst their peers. In mainstream media, much of what is deemed cool is derived from Black culture or produced by Black musicians, artists, and celebrities. So by choosing to stray away from what is cool. nerds distance themselves from Black culture and identities, creating a strong correlation between Nerds and whiteness. Being a Blerd means placing yourself closer to whiteness, distancing yourself from many Black peers but failing to completely immerse yourself in nerd culture as it fails to fully acknowledge or accept Black peoples identity. This conflict is what I want to explore in interviews with Blerds and analyze how not belonging in either space fully pushed Blerds to create their own community as the middle ground.

In what ways have you showcased your research thus far?

I had the pleasure of presenting at the Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Symposium! Currently, I am working towards presenting at the Mellon Mays undergraduate conference this fall.

How did you get involved in research? What drove you to seek out research experiences in college?

I have always been interested in how Black identity can be represented from person to person. So when I heard about Mellon Mays, I reached out to my faculty mentor Professor Smith-Tran, who has done work on the intersections of ageism and racism at work. Once we met, we instantly clicked and she had me apply to do research this summer.

What is your favorite aspect of the research process?

I love discovering new and exciting things that can relate to my life. As a self-identifying Blerd, much of my research connects to my life experiences and views. I have enjoyed drawing connections to my life through research and gaining a deeper understanding of who I am.

How has working with your mentor impacted the development of your research project? How has it impacted you as a researcher?

Professor Smith-Tran has been amazing to work with, and we have gotten a lot done together. Whenever I have questions or hit a snag in my research, she helps me discuss it and find a solution. She is equally excited about my research, making every conversation productive and fun.

How has the research you’ve conducted contributed to your professional or academic development?

I am a double major in Africana Studies and psychology, and I am also getting a sociology minor. Researching Blerds allows me to tap into all three fields and learn a lot about what being a research entails.

What advice would you give to a younger student wanting to get involved in research in your field?

If you want to get into research, choose a topic you are passionate about. You will be working on this project for years, so start by choosing something you genuinely care about regardless of whether or not it fits in “academia.” The most important thing I’ve learned about research is that it will show in your work when you are passionate and interested in your topic.