Blerd Definitions

A blerd can be defined as:

• A nerd who is of African American decent. A BLack-nERD.
• A combination of the words 'Black' and 'Nerd'. In essence a black nerd.
•  A nerd that expresses blackness in their nerd activities

What are the implications of these definitions?

 The first one makes heritage the major gateway into this identity.It implies that the behaviors of black nerds are closely linked to their heritage. It reminds me of the theories of a radical Black psychologist named Kambon. He theorized that people of African decent share an African worldview and a set of afro-centric behaviors. He claimed that the genetic characteristic that allows African decedents to share this collective African consciousness is Melanin. Melanin in the skin, spine and brain. Its all there in is text The African Personality In America: An African-Centered Framework.

The second definition is a parsing of the title. It also claims that blerd is an essence. Like the first its an essentialist definition. It implies also that one is black, but does not imply that blackness can be performed. It implies that one is nerd. This definition neglects the possibility of invisible and silent blackness, a private blackness, or an individual blackness. The same goes for nerdness. Both seem clearly visible

The third definition is based in the style employed during activities. Unlike the other three definitions it makes a distintion between nerdom and blerdom. Blerdom is a nerdom where blackness is performed. It Implies that blackness must be performed. Lastly it implies the use of “blackness” implies multiple shades of black. There are many different ways to define a blerd. Some are more exclusive then others but each one draws the line somewhere.