A new TV series you need to binge. A movie that deserves more attention. A book we can’t stop talking about. A beauty product that actually works for dark skin. The travel essential that saved us during a long convention weekend. The piece of tech that makes working from home a little easier.

Recommendations have always been part of the BGN experience. Now, we’re making it much easier for you to find them.

Say Hello to BGN on ShopMy

We’ve officially joined ShopMy, a shopping platform that allows creators, tastemakers, and publications to curate the products they genuinely recommend in one place. Think of our ShopMy page as the BGN shopping closet, except nobody has to fight over the last pair of shoes.

Instead of digging through an old article or scrolling through social media trying to remember the name of that sunscreen, bag, microphone, lipstick, or travel gadget we mentioned, you’ll be able to browse our recommendations through curated collections. And because this is Black Girl Nerds, you already know we’re putting our own spin on it. We’re focusing on the intersection of geek and Black-owned.

What Will We Be Shopping?

A little bit of everything.

Expect collections centered around beauty, travel, tech, fashion, home, books, creator essentials, convention survival gear, and the things we’re personally loving right now.

Interested in content creation? We might have a collection for that.

Looking for Black-owned beauty products? We’ve got you.

Looking for mineral sunscreen that won’t leave you looking like Casper’s cousin? Say less.

And when we’re traveling to film festivals, conventions, premieres, and events, we’ll share some of the products that actually make those trips easier.

This isn’t about throwing hundreds of random products onto a storefront. We want our ShopMy collections to feel like recommendations from that friend who always seems to know where to find the good stuff.

The BGN Collection

We’re paying close attention to products designed with Black women in mind, especially within beauty, haircare, skincare, travel, and lifestyle. Because on we know our skin, hair and lifestyle needs more than anyone.

We believe in being transparent with our community.

When you purchase something through certain links on our ShopMy page, Black Girl Nerds may earn an affiliate commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you. That means if you were already planning to buy something we recommended, shopping through our links is another small way to support BGN and the work we do.

Those commissions help us continue producing the entertainment journalism, interviews, reviews, festival coverage, podcasts, videos, and community conversations you’ve come to BGN for.

We’re Especially Excited About Supporting Black-Owned Brands

One of the things we’re most excited about is using BGN Shops as another discovery engine for Black-owned and women-owned businesses.

There are incredible founders creating beauty products, accessories, home goods, apparel, books, wellness products, and technology that don’t always receive the visibility of larger companies. And we want to help change that.

As our ShopMy presence grows, we’d love for our community to discover brands through BGN that they might never have encountered otherwise.

And We Want Your Recommendations Too

BGN has never been a one-way conversation. So tell us what you’re shopping for. What products do you want us to test? What Black-owned brands should be on our radar? What kind of shopping guides would actually be useful to you?

Drop your suggestions in the comments because we’re building this with our community in mind.

Happy shopping!

Thanks to Critical Minded, who is an organization that supports journalists and film critics, I was able to cover for BlackStar Film Festival for Black Girl Nerds for the first time and was honored to do so for the festival’s 15th year anniversary.

It was honestly one of the only festivals I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to quite a few) where every movie I screened I enjoyed. While I didn’t watch every movie out of the fest, I did watch a number of them, and here are the highlights of what I caught out of BlackStar 2026.

Kicking off the BlackStar Film Festival on Thursday was the panel Revisioning ‘A Different World‘ presented by Netflix.

Showrunner and executive producer Felicia Pride and director of cinematography Shawn Peters discussed the highly anticipated reboot of A Different World and the enduring influence of the beloved series. First premiering in 1987 as a spinoff of the industry-altering series The Cosby Show, A Different World transformed TV’s portrayal of college life at historically Black campuses, creating space for stories that resonated across generations.

You can catch the panel in its entirety here:

The following day the festival presented Luminiferous Shorts. These are films that illustrate light bearers and revolutionaries. Within this shorts block, the three films featured were the documentary Old Man River, the documentary Free Joan Little and the experimental film A Bundle of Silences.

Among the three, my favorite was Free Joan Little. From Peabody award-winning filmmaker Yoruba Richen, the compelling hard-hitting narrative strikes you at your core. When a white prison guard was found dead in her jail cell, Joan Little fled for her life, escaping custody and going on the run through the small, segregated town of Washington, North Carolina. Meanwhile, local law enforcement was given strict orders: shoot to kill.

You can read the full review of the film here.

In the features category there was Black Zombie. I remember hearing about this film back at SXSW. Afro-Caribbean Canadian director Maya Annik Bedward takes us on a spiritual journey with her latest project Black Zombie. Part documentary, part fictional narrative, part animation the experimental amalgamation of storytelling explores the lore behind zombies through the lens of Haitian and Vodou culture. Black Zombie aims to break stereotypes, debunk myths and reveal the truth of what this religious practice serves to its people and community. You can check out my review of her feature film here.

The Quintessence shorts block during the 15th annual BlackStar Film Festival, showcased a narrative of short films with a theme around inexplicable energy as described in the festival’s program. Each film brought a unique sense of identity that sent the audience on a roller coaster of emotions. From laughter, to fear, to intrigue and mystery.

The following films were featured in the shorts block:

Fist of Mothers by Tchaiko Omawale

Potato Salad by Kyle Drew

Ish Meets a Mermaid by Jonathan Thunder

Angels Pull Your Hair by Gabby Beans

The Keeper by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes

I want to narrow in on the horror film The Keeper by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes. Based on the 2022 graphic novel of the same name, the story is centered on 10-year-old protagonist Aisha, who recovering from the traumatic aftermath of losing both of her parents in a tragic car accident. Her grandmother, now left to look after her, promises that she will do everything in her power to protect her and keep her safe. As she makes this promise, she clutches an amulet she carries as necklace that she keeps close. Sadly, her grandmother is not able to fulfill her promise as one fateful day she passes away, but before she does, she speaks to the powerful amulet that holds supernatural powers and tells it to protect Aisha.

And that is when strange things begins to happen in little Aisha’s life. You can read The Keeper review here.

Here is my video recap as well on my thoughts of the fest.

BlackStar is certainly worth your time if your cinephile. Or even if you want something fun to do while you’re in Philly!

Our team covered many of the biggest Hall H presentations, bringing readers the latest announcements, exclusive reveals, and behind-the-scenes moments from some of the most anticipated films and television series. Beyond the blockbuster presentations, we also made time to spotlight independent comic creators and attend thoughtful, comic-focused panels that celebrate the heart of fandom and the creative voices shaping the industry.

Throughout the weekend, we sat down for press interviews with actors, filmmakers, and creatives, giving our audience exclusive conversations about upcoming projects and the stories behind them. We also explored the convention floor and downtown San Diego, checking out immersive fan experiences and brand activations that transformed the city into a playground for pop culture enthusiasts.

Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of everything our team accomplished in just four days. From breaking news and in-depth interviews to social media coverage and live updates, San Diego Comic-Con once again reminded me why it’s one of the most exciting events of the year, and why covering it is always worth the long days and little sleep.

You can read and watch all of our coverage on blackgirlnerds.com or YouTube respectively.

Here are some highlights:

Covering the Marvel Studios panel in Hall H and seeing the moment when David Jonsson was annouced as the new Prince T’Challa II (Toussaint) for Black Panther 3

On the indie side, featuring The Black Panel, which normally is moderated by Michael Davis, but for the first time in its almost 30 year history he stepped down. He emphasized that this panel was completely all women, each pioneers in their fields and it was only right that a woman moderate. And this panel was all Black women in comics!

I also got the opportunity to become a part of the Green Lantern Corps. It was tough, but I proved that I wasn’t afraid on my journey. The new HBO series Lanterns premieres August 16th. You can check out my video from the SDCC activation for press here.

The Black Girl Nerds Initiative Meetup

We brought it back to The Pool Club over at The Hilton Bayfront at San Diego Comic Con and had a great meetup with fans, friends, and colleagues on a Thursday afternoon to relax for just a bit from our geeky activities.

Free prizes were given away for attendees at the event and parting gifts from our in-kind sponsors. We want to thank Bindery Books , Hotline Tips, ARIH and Kaleidos Creative for sponsoring our giveaway!

We also want to thank our meetup partners Nerd Initiative and Electronic Frontier Foundation or joining us and forming like Voltron the help promote and also sponsor our giveaway!

We also had special celebrity guest Diarra Kilpatrick who is the star of the Paramount+ series Diarra From Detroit stop by to hang out with us. You can catch her interview with us here.

So what’s next? We’re heading to BlackStar Film Festival this week. So be on the lookout for movie reviews and panel coverage coming soon. The festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

And yes, we're headed to D23! So, for all the Disney nerds out there, if you're eager to find out what's next for your favorite Disney+ series, upcoming films, theme parks, animation, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more, we've got you covered. Black Girl Nerds will be on the ground in Anaheim bringing you the latest news, exclusive interviews, panel coverage, and all the biggest announcements from Disney's annual fan event.

We got you!

That’s it for now. More to come soon and as always, thank you for supporting our Substack!

From intimate indie panels spotlighting comic creators to blockbuster Hall H presentations from Marvel Studios, plus immersive activations for DC's Lanterns, Black Girl Nerds will be there to cover it all. Expect exclusive interviews, breaking news, cosplay highlights, and plenty of surprises from the convention floor.

And that’s not all—we’re bringing back the Black Girl Nerds Meetup!

In partnership with Nerds Initiative and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, we’re inviting our community to join us on Thursday, July 23, at The Pool Club inside the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Whether you’re attending Comic-Con for the first time or you’re a seasoned convention veteran, come connect with fellow nerds, celebrate fandom, and hang out with the BGN team. We can’t wait to see you there! You can RSVP here

And we want to give a special thanks to NPR affiliate KPBS in San Diego for doing coverage about our upcoming event. You can read more about here.

Be sure to follow us on all of our socials and on blackgirlnerds.com for our coverage.

Thanks for being a supporter of our Substack that allows us to put together events like this. We hope to have many more in the future!

Black Girl Nerds is hosting another meetup during San Diego Comic-Con 2026, and it’s going to be a cataclysmic comic crossover!

This year, we’re teaming up with pop culture outlet Nerd Initiative and welcoming our special guests from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for the 2026 Black Girl Nerds Initiative Meetup.

If you’ve attended one of our meetups before, then you already know the vibes, it’s the perfect place to mix, mingle, network, and geek out with fellow fans across pop culture, gaming, comics, TV, film, and fandom.

Location: The Pool Club at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

Date: Thursday, July 23rd 5-8pm PT

The best part? You do not need a San Diego Comic-Con badge to attend! The meetup is open to everyone, but you must RSVP to reserve your spot.

We’ll also have giveaways for attendees, and you never know who might stop by — expect a few special guests throughout the event. Trust us, this is one meetup you won’t want to miss!

Are you ready to join us?
Fill out the RSVP form below, and we’ll see you in San Diego!

https://forms.gle/Zqwx1XQX2fnwj4K76

I’m sampling a chapter of what I’ve written so far. If you’d like, feel free to share your comments on what you think of the copy. And it’s okay to be honest. Your feedback is helpful here. I’m still getting my footing here, so not sure how committed I am to even working on the idea of writing or even finishing this book.

Which is likely why I’m doing this “taste test” of your thoughts so to speak.

I’m not ready to disclose what the book is about just yet. I’m still piecing together story as I go along here…

Everything They Didn’t See

A Novel

By Jamie Broadnax

CHAPTER 1 - THE FIRST INVITATION

Working at a day spa for the last 18 months has had its pros and cons. The benefits of course getting free massages once a month and discounted rates on facials. On your birthday, our boss offers one of their higher price spa packages which includes a facial, hot stone massage and acupuncture free of charge. But for me, the biggest downside has been the reality of working a traditional 9-to-5 schedule. While it provides stability, it also takes away valuable time and energy from the work I truly care about, which is running my entertainment news website. The hours spent at the spa are hours I could be investing into growing my platform, creating content, building relationships, and expanding the vision I have for my own business.

I started my website about five years ago. Back then, they were still called blogs—a digital version of a personal diary where people shared their thoughts with the world. Mine began as a place for my own musings on celebrity relationships, movies and television, and everything happening within the ever-changing world of Hollywood. However, it slowly evolved into something much bigger than I ever imagined. What started as a personal outlet became a trusted destination within the entertainment space. Celebrities themselves began visiting the website for news, industry conversations, and the latest buzz. Some even shared it with their friends, colleagues, and fans—turning something I created from my own curiosity into a platform that had influence far beyond me. It was at that point I started to take what I was doing seriously and invest more time into my publication. In the morning before I clocked into work I would write a post. On my lunch break I would edit and publish a post. During coffee breaks I would sneak in a social post here and there.

And yes, sometimes I would work on my website while I was on the clock at work. My boss Claire found it quite charming. She was a fan of my work. She’s actually a Swiftie and when she found out Taylor Swift shared an Instagram post of one of my articles she nearly had a heart attack that day.

“NIA BROOKS, ARE YOU SERIOUS?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice noticeably calmer than hers. I didn’t match her urgency or disbelief.

“This is so amazing. She NEVER does stuff like this. It’s so cool how you get these celebrities to share your site like this,” Claire added. And while Claire Donovan, my boss, was impressed by this extraordinary opportunity, the reality was that, in the eyes of the entertainment industry, it meant very little. And honestly, maybe even to Claire herself.

The next day, she would greet me like nothing had happened, casually assigning my daily tasks as if the moment of excitement had never existed. The praise definitely felt performative. Maybe she was genuinely impressed, or maybe, deep down, she still saw what I was building as just a hobby. Something fun and interesting. But not something serious enough to be recognized as the career and empire I was trying to create.

And sadly this would be a recurring theme throughout my journey as an entrepreneur.

The day that put me on the path of that journey happened when I got a phone call shortly after booking a hot stone massage appointment for a customer. I received a call from Jordan Pierce, a studio executive for Sony Pictures. “Jordan Pierce here. Is this Nia Brooks I’m speaking with?”

“Yes,” I responded.

“Nia, I want to start by saying congratulations on your remarkable website. I actually read it every day. It’s where I get most of my entertainment news.”

I paused for a moment, caught off guard. It was one thing for readers and fans to recognize what I had built. It was another thing entirely to hear someone within the industry acknowledge it.

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you. I’m honored,” I replied.

“No need,” Jordan said. “That’s not actually why I’m calling. I wanted to invite you to the premiere of the new film we’re working on, The Cascade, starring Halle Berry and Damson Idris.”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. An invitation like this wasn’t just about attending a movie premiere. It was a sign that maybe, after years of building something from the ground up, the industry was finally starting to see me.

“The premiere is going to be next week here in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre. I’d love for you to come, and if possible, I’d also like to meet with you for lunch,” he said.

It was in that moment that it dawned on me—Jordan had no idea I wasn’t a Los Angeles resident.

I live in Wilmington, North Carolina.

And while Wilmington has its own small connection to Hollywood, with the occasional film or television production passing through, it ain’t LA. It wasn’t the center of the entertainment universe where deals were made, careers were launched, and opportunities like this happened every day.

“I’m so sorry, Jordan, I don’t actually live in Los Angeles. I live in North Carolina. Wilmington, to be exact,” I explained.

“Oh, I see,” Jordan replied.

There was a brief pause.

“Well, then we’ll just have to fly you out,” he said. “Is that okay with you?”

For a moment, I was speechless.

The idea that someone in Hollywood was willing to put me on a plane—not just invite me into the room, but make sure I could actually get there—felt surreal.

For years, I had covered this industry from the outside looking in. I wrote about the premieres, the celebrities, the moments everyone wanted access to. But now, somehow, I was the person receiving the invitation. And yet, a small part of me still wondered if this was really happening.

“This would be next Tuesday. I can have my assistant reach out to you to set up travel. Can you let me know a good email for you?” he asked.

I glanced over at my calendar and felt a familiar kind of tension settle in my chest.

Next Tuesday was our mandatory team meeting at work.

There was no skipping it. Not if I wanted to keep things running smoothly.

We were scheduled to cover the annual review of HR policies like sexual harassment in the workplace, codes of conduct, all the formal reminders that came with working in an office setting.

I hesitated.

“Hello?” he asked.

“Oh sorry. Yes, my email. It’s niab123@gmail.com,” I said.

“Excellent. We’ll reach out to you about travel arrangements shortly. In the meantime, we’re excited to host you for this movie premiere. I think you’re really going to enjoy this film.”

“Did you want me to write anything about it? Like a movie review or something?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “Only if you want to. But really, this is just an invitation for you to see our film and enjoy it for yourself. No strings attached.”

“Thank you for this opportunity. I’m so honored and I can’t wait,” I said.

“I’ll have my assistant send you an itinerary, which will include some time carved out for us to meet for lunch. See you in L.A. next week,” he replied, before hanging up.

I just got invited to the Los Angeles premiere of a Halle Berry movie, and the studio was flying me out. I stared at my phone, half expecting it to ring again with someone telling me there had been a mistake.

Then another thought hit me.

Wait a second...

I forgot to ask about the hotel.

Were they paying for that, too? Or was I expected to figure that part out myself?

I shrugged. I supposed I’d get my answer when Jordan’s assistant emailed me the itinerary.

But that wasn’t even the biggest question swirling around in my head.

What was I going to wear?

And more importantly...

What did Jordan Pierce want to talk to me about over lunch?

People in Hollywood didn’t usually invite strangers across the country just to make small talk. Whatever this meeting was about, I had a feeling it was going to change something. I just didn’t know what.

When I left the New York screening of Supergirl a week ago, I have to admit that I really enjoyed the movie. Is it perfect? No. It has flaws, just like most superhero films. But based on my viewing, it certainly doesn’t deserve the level of dogpiling it’s currently receiving from many critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

As a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic myself, I’ve learned to take critic scores with a grain of salt. More often than not, I find audience reactions to be just as valuable — sometimes even more so. But one review in particular stood out to me, and not for the reasons you might expect.

Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman published a scathing review of Supergirl, and something about it felt different. It didn’t read like a critique of a single film. It felt like a critique of an entire system.

Throughout the review, Gleiberman repeatedly invokes DC Studios and James Gunn, even though Supergirl was written by Ana Nogueira, whose name is mentioned parenthetically, as if the screenplay exists only as an extension of Gunn’s creative vision. It left me wondering: are we reviewing a movie, or are we reviewing a studio brand?

Now, what follows is my opinion and my speculation based on years of covering this industry.

Hollywood has changed dramatically over the last several years. Studios, including Warner Bros., increasingly rely on influencers as part of their marketing campaigns. They invite creators to premieres, fly them to junkets, grant them access to talent, send them on set visits, and, in many cases, compensate them for promotional work. When those partnerships are paid, creators are required to disclose them using FTC guidelines, such as #WBPartner.

To be clear, I am not suggesting Warner Bros. is paying influencers to post positive reviews. I have no evidence of that, and the paid partnerships I’ve seen have been properly disclosed.

What I do believe is that access itself has become a form of currency. Future invitations, exclusive opportunities, and ongoing studio relationships can all create incentives — conscious or unconscious — to remain positive.

I know this because I know creators who participate in these campaigns. Many work through influencer agencies that negotiate these opportunities directly with the studios. This is simply how the influencer economy operates.

But here’s the other side of that conversation.

I think there’s growing frustration among some legacy critics about the increasing influence of creators whose opinions can reach millions of followers overnight. Traditional film critics spent decades building careers through newspapers, magazines, podcasts and online publications. Today, a TikTok creator can have more cultural influence than an established critic at a major publication.

Again, I can’t speak for Owen Gleiberman at Variety. I’ve never met him, and I’ve never discussed this subject with him. But when I read his review, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the frustration extended beyond Supergirl itself. It read less like an evaluation of one movie and more like an indictment of the current state of blockbuster filmmaking and perhaps the ecosystem that’s grown around it.

Would this same film have received such a harsh review ten years ago? I’m not so sure.

What I do know is that calling Supergirl‘s screenplay “the worst comic-book script” Gleiberman can remember feels wildly disproportionate. It’s a flawed script, sure, but nowhere near historically bad.

As more critics echoed similar sentiments, I couldn’t help but wonder whether some of the conversation is being shaped by broader frustrations within the profession itself.

Ironically, I think both extremes are damaging film criticism.

An influencer who overpraises every blockbuster because they want continued access isn’t serving their audience.

Likewise, a critic who allows frustration with the industry’s changing media landscape to color their assessment of a film isn’t serving readers either.

Neither approach is genuine criticism.

I’ve been affected by the influencer economy myself. Access isn’t what it used to be, and traditional outlets have absolutely felt that shift. But I’m not going to drag a film — or the people who made it — because the rules of the business have changed. That’s unfair to the filmmakers who spent years creating the work.

Film criticism should evaluate what’s on the screen, not settle scores with the marketing machine surrounding it.

At the end of the day, that’s why I encourage people to see Supergirl for themselves. Read critics. Watch influencers. Listen to friends. Then make up your own mind.

No single review — whether it comes from a legacy publication or a creator with millions of followers — should determine what you choose to watch.

What was missing from that email was the promo code to join that specific tier. If you wish to join and participate please use the code:

BGN3FREE!

This will unlock access to BGN’s Inner Circle. You can see the perks above.

Click here to join as a member.

Click here join our Discord.

Book selections including both the nomination process and voting will take place within our Discord community, so if you are not already in our Discord, please join if you are interested in participating. Next month the first book will be selected. Stay tuned for when that will be announced.

This is not one of those stuffy book clubs where everyone pretends to be normal about books. We want your theories, your live reactions and if your edges were snatched by what you read on in Chapter 4, we need to know about it.

Most importantly, we want a space where readers can genuinely connect. The BGN book club has launched and there are exclusive channels where we can spiral over plot twists together in real time, plus get special community roles and exclusive emojis because obviously we needed fandom flair. We welcome you to join our Discord to be a part of the fun.

As part of the inner circle think behind-the-scenes conversations, voting on curated recommendations, exclusive posts, fandom discussions, and content made specifically for readers who love going all-in on stories.

At the end of the day, we’re creating a space that feels welcoming, fun, and connected. A place where longtime readers, casual readers, audiobook listeners, manga lovers, fantasy addicts, romance readers, and literary fiction truthers can all coexist peacefully... until discourse starts over a fictional love triangle.

Books have always been one of the best ways for communities to connect, and we want the BGN Inner Circle to feel like your favorite group chat mixed with your favorite bookstore mixed with those Comic-Con line conversations.

So if you’ve been looking for a low-pressure, high-vibes nerdy book community?

Come join the BGN Inner Circle. We saved you a seat.

Now playing in theaters this weekend is Is God Is, directed by Aleshea Harris and based on her critically acclaimed play of the same name. And it is FIRE! BGN film critic Cassondra Feltus reviewed the film and you can check out her thoughts about the movie here.

We also sat down with the cast of Is God Is, and they had a lot to say about their roles, the emotional depth of the story, and what it took to fully step into these complex characters.

Speaking of interviews, there’s another film coming soon to theaters that should be on your radar. And that’s the Boots Riley film I Love Boosters. BGN had the opportunity to chat with the filmmakers and cast members: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, and LaKeith Stanfield. Trust me when I say this movie will absolutely blow your mind. And once you get to that LaKeith Stanfield scene, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Come back and drop a comment after you’ve seen it because we’re definitely going to need to talk about it.

If you decided to stay home this weekend and just Netflix and chill, I hope you tuned in to Nemesis. Best known as the creator of Power, Courtney A. Kemp is back with a new cat-and-mouse thriller starring Y’Lan Noel and Matthew Law.

I chatted with the duo about the series and how I originally planned to only watch 2–3 episodes for the interview, but ended up bingeing all eight. That’s how good it is.

You can check out their interview here.

We’re on Bindery! The Black Girl Nerds Book Club is officially here and we’re so excited to have you join us.

Our first selection kicks off in June, so it is not too late to join if you are just finding out about it. You can sign up via Bindery and don’t forget to join our Discord channel too on Discord.

We are also opening up our Discord community for anyone who wants to be part of the broader Black Girl Nerds space. So if you want to join but are not necessarily interested in the book club, that is totally fine too.

Follow us on Yahoo Creators! If you already get some of your news on Yahoo, make sure you’re following BGN so you can catch our latest stories as they drop.

We’ll be sharing select pieces from Black Girl Nerds, along with the occasional fresh, platform-exclusive stories created just for Yahoo readers.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Codes and Discounts

BGN’s Inner Circle - 10% Code: BGNVIP10

BGN Lit Lounge - 15% Code: BGNVIP15

BGN Sanctuary - 30% Code: BGNVIP30

To explore our membership tiers go here.

Join our Discord …

Read more

During that time, we selected a book each month and held public discussions on what was then called Twitter, now known as X. We also invited authors to join us in conversations around our monthly selections, ranging from indie voices to well-known names. For example, Issa Rae stopped by to chat about her book The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.

I’d love to create something similar in this space. With the connections and rapport I’ve built over the past decade with the BGN brand, I’ve developed strong relationships with a range of publishers and authors. My goal is to turn this into a space where book lovers can truly connect over what they love most and that’s reading.

We’re excited to build a community with Bindery Books, a platform designed for bookish tastemakers. From exclusive content and book clubs to the collaborative publishing of entirely new voices, Bindery empowers communities to elevate and celebrate stories that deserve to be read.

With the BGN Book Club, our goal is to foster community, build meaningful connections, and amplify authors. Just as important, we are committed to maintaining a high standard when it comes to the stories we select. That’s why our nomination and voting process will be intentional, guided by members who are genuinely invested in supporting and growing this space.

For a limited time, we’re offering our current paid Substack subscribers discounts to access paid tiers of the BGN Book Club. Paid subscribers save up to 30% off their membership. The discount depends on which tier you join. This offer is available through July 31st.

Paid subscribers, keep an eye on your inbox! You'll be receiving an updated email with your discount promo code to upgrade.

Our Discord channel will serve as a central hub, not just for the book club but for the broader BGN community. It’s a space to discuss live events, connect with fellow creators, and engage in conversations beyond the page. We want this to be a fun, supportive environment that encourages genuine connection.

There’s plenty to enjoy at the free level, and the membership tiers simply offer additional perks for those who want to dive deeper into their bookish fandom.

You can join our Discord at the link provided here. Drop in whenever you feel comfortable.

Our Bindery page is now up and you can join here. Be sure to join Bindery if you wish to be a part of the book club!

Our first official book selection will take place in June. We want to give everyone time to get settled and acclimated before we begin.

Until then, let’s bring this community to life.

From our subscribers here on Substack to our members in the Facebook community, the response was loud, enthusiastic, and undeniable. You made one thing clear. This community loves books. Not casually, but deeply, intentionally, and with the same passion we bring to film, television, comics, and all things fandom.

So now, we’re preparing to launch.

The Black Girl Nerds Book Club is coming soon, and we couldn’t be more excited about what this space can become. At its core, this is about connection beyond the reading and it’s also about conversation. It’s about celebrating the voices behind the stories that move us, challenge us, and reflect us.

We’re building something that we want to feel fun, engaging, and layered. A space where discussions go beyond the page. Where pop culture and literature intersect. Where authors and writers are not just highlighted, but truly appreciated for their craft.

We’re not diving into all the details just yet. That’s coming on launch day. But trust that what we’re creating is rooted in everything that makes Black Girl Nerds what it is. Community, curiosity, and a shared love of storytelling in all its forms.

Having a book club centered in fandom, shaped by readers who care about representation, genre, and the stories that deserve more spotlight is what we need right now.

Thank you to everyone who voted, commented, and made your interest known. You helped bring this to life.

Consider this your official heads up and more details soon. We can’t wait to read with you.

I’m excited to share a big announcement: our publication has officially been accepted into the Yahoo Creators program. This initiative gives writers a platform to share their stories with millions of Yahoo readers. For Black Girl Nerds, it means an opportunity to expand the reach of our editorial content, from interviews and film reviews to TV coverage, op-eds, and news updates, and connect with an even wider audience through Yahoo’s massive readership.

Only a select group of creators are chosen for this program, so it’s truly an honor to be included. If you’re a writer or publisher interested in participating, I highly encourage you to check it out and apply:

yahoocreators.com

To be candid, building Black Girl Nerds over the past 14 years has been an uphill climb. Running an independent publication comes with constant challenges. I still find myself having to prove our value to studios for interview opportunities, fighting for ad dollars from brands to sustain the business, and now navigating an evolving digital landscape where artificial intelligence is reshaping visibility on search platforms. This partnership is, hopefully, one meaningful step toward the long-term goals I have for BGN.

In the meantime, experimenting with video content has been a lot of fun. I’ve especially enjoyed creating TV recaps for the Hulu series Paradise. If you haven’t checked them out yet, take a moment when you can. I’d love for you to watch and share your thoughts.

We also have new interviews on the way featuring the casts of You, Me & Tuscany from Universal Pictures and Michael from Lionsgate. Both are exciting projects, and I’m rooting for their success at the box office.

CinemaCon is right around the corner, and while I was originally scheduled to attend in person, a family matter will keep me from being there this year. I’ll still be following along closely and sharing updates across our social platforms, especially on Threads and Facebook, so be sure to stay connected there.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all of our new subscribers on Substack and to everyone who has been recommending Black Girl Nerds to others. Your support truly means everything. There’s so much more to come, and I’m grateful to have you along for the journey. Have an awesome weekend!

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There are countless women who have shaped our culture, and today, we celebrate them all.

Looking Ahead: Oscars Weekend

Next Sunday, March 15, marks the 98th Academy Awards with Conan O’Brien as host. With Sinners racking up a record 16 nominations, this year’s Oscars are poised to be historic. We’ll be live-threading the event on Threads, sharing our takes in real time. Predictions are strong for Michael B. Jordan in the Best Actor category after his win at the Actor Awards; so don’t miss our coverage!

TV Spotlight: Hulu’s Paradise

If you’re a fan of Paradise, check out our episode recaps hosted by Jamie Broadnax. Episode 5 drops tomorrow, so stay tuned! And if you’re catching up, our recaps for the first four episodes are ready to guide you through every detail of this must-watch show.

Press Coverage & Interviews

We’ve been hard at work bringing you exclusive interviews with the casts of One Piece, Hoppers, Slanted, Rooster, and highlights from the ChosenCon red carpet. Catch all of our press coverage under the Interviews on our website.

In Theaters This Weekend

Don’t miss Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feminist take on the Bride of Frankenstein in The Bride. Check out Cassondra Feltus’ review for her full take.

Support Black Girl Nerds

If you’re a newsletter subscriber, consider becoming a paid member to enjoy perks like early access to podcast episodes, Building Your Brand content, exclusive news updates, and more. Your support helps us keep Black Girl Nerds thriving.

Happy Sunday, and here’s to celebrating women everywhere!

Davies Jr. shared how the film draws from personal and…

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One of the biggest honors for me this year was moderating the Bridgerton panel with actors Adjoa Andoh and Golda Rosheuvel. The two were recently recognized with the Outstanding Achievement in a Series Award for their work on the show. During our discussion, we explored season 4, representation in media, how Black women see themselves reflected in the space, and the possibility of a Lady Danbury spinoff. They shared so many gems of wisdom, and it was humbling to be part of the conversation. The new season is currently streaming on Netflix.

Another highlight was speaking with Aldis Hodge about season 2 of Cross. He shared that this season will feature multiple villains that detective Alex Cross will face. I also asked about Aldis in relation to Black Panther. Fans have speculated about him potentially taking on the role of T’Challa as the third Black Panther film prepares for production. While Marvel has not confirmed whether Shuri will continue as Black Panther or if T’Challa will be recast, Aldis offered a thoughtful response. Whoever steps into the role should honor Chadwick Boseman’s legacy, carrying forward the path he forged for fans and the culture. Cross was a massive hit on Prime Video, drawing 40 million viewers in the first 20 days. Season 2 premieres February 11. Let’s break that record.

Comedy fans had a treat with the Scrubs revival coming to ABC. I spoke with Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison. I asked Faison about the term “Blerd,” which he popularized as Dr. Turk in a 2006 episode. While the word may have existed before, that moment brought it into mainstream conversation. Today, “Blerd” inspires online communities, brands, and conventions. The new season of Scrubs airs February 26 on ABC. You can check out our full interview with the cast on our socials.

Thank you for being a subscriber of the Black Girl Nerds substack.

If you’re a premium subscriber, we have some exclusive news for you!

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Today, we celebrate a special milestone, our 14-year anniversary as a publication. In a digital landscape where so many independent outlets have come and gone, it’s because of supporters like you that we’re still here. Thank you for being part of this journey.

We have some exciting exclusives to share with you:

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