An Evening with Alfred L. Martin, Jr.

Explore the intersection of Black identity, media representation and fan culture with a leading scholar in the field. An Evening with Alfred L. Martin, Jr. will be held on Monday, April 28 at Books & Books in Coral Gables, where the author will discuss his latest work, Fandom for Us, by Us: The Pleasures and Practices of Black Audiences.

In this groundbreaking book, Martin shifts the focus from predominantly white fandoms to center Black fan experiences through what he terms the "four C's": class, clout, canon and comfort. The work draws from 75 in-depth interviews with Black fans to reveal the complex ways they engage with media representations, highlighting both the similarities with other fan communities and the distinct practices unique to Black fandom.

Martin's analysis covers diverse cultural touchpoints including Misty Copeland's rise in American Ballet Theatre, the cultural phenomenon of Black Panther, nostalgic attachments to The Golden Girls, and the communal significance of The Wiz. Through these examples, he demonstrates how Black fandoms both intersect with and diverge from the politics of representation.

As Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Cinematic Arts at University of Miami, Martin brings considerable expertise to this discussion. His previous works include The Generic Closet: Black Gayness and the Black-Cast Sitcom and Rolling: Blackness and Mediated Comedy.

Admission to this event is free, with copies of the book available for purchase on-site.