Jamila aka Black Bettie Cosplay Brings Attention to the Lack of Representation in Vampire Stories While Raising Money for Sickle Cell Awareness Month
There’s an alluring pull to vampires that draws us to them despite their more monstrous characteristics. We are fascinated by the mystery, enchanted by the glamour, and captivated by the fear they drum up inside us as they play with the concept of mortality. Powerful. Seductive. Immortal. “What’s not to love?” Jamila, the creator of BIPOCVampDay, asks.
It’s why we love seeing stories of these complex creatures with representation that look like us and are culturally in tune. Said best in the recent season of Interview with the Vampire, “there are stories that need to be told.” Over the years, the media has given us movies like Ganja & Hess (1973), Thirst (2009), and Blade (1998) to name a few, and more recently, characters like Olrox from Castlevania: Nocturne and Louis, Claudia, and Armand from Interview with the Vampire. However, even with the introduction of these characters, media featuring vampires has been and remains overly white.
This is part of the reason why Jamila, also known as Black Bettie Cosplay, started BIPOCVampDay, an online weekend event to showcase Black, Indigenous, and POC vampires and raise funds for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. Jamila says, “Despite vampire lore existing in numerous countries, the media is always lily white, and we wanted to change that by showing people that diverse vampires are just as amazing and wonderful.” At the same time, the event also allows the community to rally together and give back during September, which is Sickle Cell Awareness month. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a rare blood disorder that disproportionately affects people of color, primarily Black people, due to disparities in healthcare, prejudice, and stigma.
Keep reading for our Q&A with BIPOCVampDay creator Jamila as we gear up for the big event!
2GN&C: When was the first BIPOCVampDay event, and what motivated you to create it?
Jamila: The first event was back in 2021. I was inspired by Black Fae Day, created by Jasmine La Fleur, and the positive impact it had. I’ve always wanted to create an event for the vampire and horror-loving crowd, so it felt like a sign to make it happen that year.
2GN&C: How can folks participate, and where can they find local meetups?
Jamila: The easiest ways to participate are to post BIPOC vampire content using the hashtag #BIPOCVampDay, to donate to our “virtual blood drive” and raffle fundraiser, pre-order our Vampires of Color zine, or check out some of the awesome streaming content we have lined up this year. They can also check our website and social media platforms to see what else is going on. We try to post local meetups as we find out about them – but they vary every year – from full-blown balls to casual meetups – and people are welcome to host their own.
2GN&C: Are there any notable events or participants you’d like us to highlight?
Jamila: We have 8 epic vampire TTRPG games that will be streaming live or premiering on YouTube this year. So if you’re into gaming or creative storytelling – it’s worth checking out.
2GN&C: Why did you choose the Sickle Cell Disease Association to fundraise for, and how can people participate in the fundraiser aspect of this day?
Jamila: When I was planning the event I wanted to do a blood drive element because vampires hosting a blood drive is such a hilarious idea. Then I learned that September was Sickle Cell Awareness month, which was such a perfect fit because it’s a blood disorder that particularly affects the BIPOC community. There are many ways to join the drive – you can donate, get raffle tickets, watch and participate in our live-streaming events (donations affect the gameplay!), host a local fundraiser, offer a fundraiser item in your shop, and donate the proceeds or join our streaming team via Tiltify. So many ways to get involved!
2GN&C: We also read that you’re launching the third volume of the charity anthology zine, Vampires of Color! Can you tell us a little bit more about that?
Jamila: Yes! The charity zine was my other baby as an illustrator and writer. We saw so many talented artists and writers sharing their work in the first year – and I thought it would be nice to showcase that in book form. Plus that way readers can enjoy them year-round.
2GN&C: Can you speak on the importance of creating spaces and community for people of color who are into the more gothic creatures of the night as well as horror, fantasy, and the supernatural?
Jamila: I’ve always been into horror and gothic culture – but often I found myself shut out for not looking a certain way. We need these spaces so we don’t feel so alone. I appreciate the hard work of those who paved the way to create some of these spaces for our community – like Afropunk, 28 Days of Black Cosplay, Blerd events, and BIPOC alternative communities. I decided on BIPOC Vamp Day because vampire folklore has roots in many non-European communities that rarely get to be seen or heard about until more recently. I want people to see that vampire mythology comes from more sources than just Transylvania. There are far older writings and folklore about Desi vampires, Filipino vampires, Caribbean vampires, Mestizo vampires…the list goes on. I want diverse vampires and horror.
What do you hope to see more of in the future for both vampires of colors as characters and the fans?
I want us to move away from telling the same old stories (cough Dracula) because they’re safe but ultimately done to death. Vampirism was always so heavily tied to just one perspective – usually based in whiteness – but it leaves so much unexplored. How does a vampire deal with being a Black person over centuries? Does a Muslim vampire still celebrate the holy days? We already saw how it can shake up a known franchise like Interview with the Vampire – so imagine if we put a spotlight on more stories that already began centered around BIPOC vampires.
If you were to recommend one book, show, or movie for new vampire fans, what would you name?
There are two books that just came out that have been on my radar to read: Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma and This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings. As for shows, AMC’s Interview with the Vampire has been killing it as a tightly written drama, acted by an amazing cast of BIPOC leads. For movies, choosing is so very hard, but Vampire in Brooklyn is a fun spin on the classic tale, and I love, love Niyatu Jusu’s short film “Suicide by Daylight”. I also hear Ryan Coogler has a new BIPOC vampire movie on the way…which I am curious about.
Last Question. Who’s your all-time favorite vampire of color?
Akasha, although this new interpretation of Claudia has my whole heart.
For those of you enticed and looking to join in on the fun, BIPOCVampDay starts on Friday, September 20th, and goes on until the 22nd, spanning the entire weekend! If you’re looking for a place to meet up and hang out with other BIPOC bats, Jamila has provided a list of known meetups at the following link.
https://vampirepyramidscheme.com/bipocvampday/events/
If there’s not one near you, feel free to host your own. Jamila says, “Consider asking your local cosplay, art, or creative group. Or if you’re already hosting a September event, reach out to us so we can collaborate and help spread the word.” If not this year, join the online events this time and start thinking about next year!
Most importantly, Jamila reminds us that while this weekend is about celebrating BIPOC vampires, the main goal is to fundraise for charity! Donate if you can, or share and boost the posts across your socials! For more updates, follow Jamila and BIPOCVampDay using the links below.
https://www.instagram.com/bipocvampires/
https://twitter.com/bbettie_cosplay
https://www.tumblr.com/bipocvampires
Two Goths and a Coffin 