

Alfred L. Martin, Jr., "Fandom for Us, by Us: The Pleasures and Practices of Black Audiences" (NYU Press, 2025)
Apr 24, 2025
Alfred L. Martin, Jr., an associate professor and chair of the Department of Cinematic Arts at the University of Miami, explores the vibrant world of Black fandoms in his new work. He discusses the 'four C’s'—class, clout, canon, and comfort—revealing how these elements shape Black audiences' media experiences. The conversation dives into the interplay of joy and pain in cultural consumption, the complexity of representation, and the significance of nostalgia through beloved shows like 'The Golden Girls.' Martin advocates for centering Black narratives in fandom studies.
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Michael Jackson Concert Anecdote
- Alfred L. Martin Jr. recounts attending a Michael Jackson concert as a child without recognizing himself as a fan.
- This moment reveals how fandom narratives often exclude Black fans, prompting reconsideration of who can be a fan.
Centering Blackness in Fandom Studies
- Martin centers Blackness in fandom studies and rejects white-centric universality.
- He selectively cites Black scholars to politicize citation and critique academia's racial biases.
Go Where Black Fans Are
- To study Black fandom effectively, researchers must go beyond traditional sampling and find fans where they gather.
- Engaging fans directly yields critical insights that cannot be gained through spectatorship alone.