This piece by Talynn Kel originally appeared on The Establishment , an independent multimedia site founded and run by women.

On this day of #28DaysOfBlackCosplay , an online celebration of Black people in the cosplay community, I find myself thinking back to the days when I first learned about DragonCon .

Immediately upon hearing about the annual conference featuring people dressing up as characters from movies, TV, and comic books, I knew I wanted to be get involved. I spent a year deciding on my costumes and getting my shit together so I could be a part of the spectacle. I wasnt concerned about my size, my color, or what people would think of me, mainly because I didnt know that going in costume made me an interactive part of the convention. I didnt realize that any of that mattered.

I didnt know that I would be openly rejected because of my brown skin or my size. Or that people wouldnt be able to recognize my character because I wasnt white. I didnt realize that a smaller woman in a bikini would always erase my visibility. I didnt know that my being there was an act of protestbut I learned.

As cosplay has grown in popularity and visibility, Ive heard more stories of people being sidelined for being a POC, fat, or differently abled. To protect myself from that, Ive learned to surround myself with diverse people who love cosplay and geek life as much as, if not more than, I do. Over the years, Ive watched every one of them grow in different ways as they engaged in this passion.

Its a passion weve been told is a waste of time that weve been mocked for doing. But we see, feel, and live the difference its made in our lives.

We create and share our Black joy in this community. We do it and we love it for a plethora of reasons. When we dont find what we need, we construct it ourselves, developing the cosplay scene we want to exist in. Even if its just small pockets of monochromatic space, we bring color, fire, and life as we build the cosplay experience we desire.

Being in Atlanta has helped me connect with a spectacular geek community. From tailors and prop fabricators to stylists, photographers, and fun-loving artists, I am now part of a group of creatives who each bring their distinctive personalities to the hobby. Atlanta is where I learned cosplay existed, where I built my community, and where I continue to enjoy and grow in this hobby.

Heres a look at some of the people who keep my love for this creative and dynamic scene growing.

Cosplay as truth.

AMP Cosplay