by John Reid

BlerdCon, which has been a staple in the DMV for the past several years, made its annual appearance at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City this weekend. As always, it is a celebration of the governing structure, with creative costumes and a bevy of opportunities for people to showcase their designs. From lively music from DJ G-Mills around the arcade center, to fans living out their superhero fantasies, every year is an extraordinary time.

Of course, what is a BlerdCon without celebrities? This year, many favorites made their return, along with some new ones. Phil LaMarr, Ahmed Best, Atandwa Kani, as well as Power Rangers Karan Ashley and Walter Jones among others were in attendance. They spoke on the main stage and could be seen meeting with longtime admirers of their craft.

During Saturday’s festivities, there was a discussion on “Black Heroes Matter.” Hosted by Dr. Sunyatta Gaines, it was about the intersection of Black heroes in how they have carved a path into the social conscience. Dr. Gaines spoke with Howard University professor Dr. Greg Carr and David Crownson, creator of “Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer.” After the panel, the PW Perspective’s John Reid spoke with Dr. Carr on the role of media in the wake of last month’s report by Onyx Impact stating how Black audiences are being targeted with misinformation.

“I do think that with the attention spans being what they are now it has to be precise,” he said. “It has to be has to be collaborative. Journalists can’t do it alone, and young people who consume social media can’t do it alone, there has to be a teamwork.

One highlight of the weekend came when MSNBC’s host of “The ReidOut” Joy Reid, was on the main stage with political analyst Dr. Jason Johnson. She talked about her life as a blerd and how it was important to share these elements in the media space. When it came time to take questions, a notable one came from someone asking for reparations. Reid explained how all federal funding must come from the House of Representatives, and is not something the President can act on alone. In addition, she explained how it would take 60 votes in the Senate for it to pass, and that the last time they had a majority control, the Affordable Health Care Act passed.

In what has become a viral moment on the social media platform X, Reid addressed the ongoing cries for President Joe Biden to step down after his debate gaffe two weeks ago:

The weekend, however, was not without its share of controversy. Although there has been an expected expansion of vendors as BlerdCon continues to grow, it encompassed several rooms. As one vendor who wished to remain anonymous said to the PW Perspective, “I don’t feel they did right by us this year. It’s become more of a marketplace and less of a convention.” It will be interesting to see how the organizers address this in future years.

Despite the issues with overcrowded vendors, there were several special moments which made BlerdCon special. One of them was the final ‘Docta D’s Pro Wrestling Showcase.’ Hosted by longtime wrestling aficionado Daryl Johnson, who was featured on WJLA-7’s report this past Friday, it was a gathering of fans, wrestlers, and media as they talked about the important issues of the squared circle. Whether it was conversations about the GOAT, WWE, AEW, Japanese wrestling, and the rise of the women’s divisions in the industry, it was a true celebration. Next year, Johnson plans an alternative way to bring wrestling to BlerdCon.

At the end of the closing ceremonies, they announced the theme for next year, which will be in March: