If your identity falls along the intersection of Blackness and queerness, you likely haven’t seen too many examples depicting such. Sure, we’ve had Black LGBTQ+ cinematic lore staples such as Noah’s Arc and most recently B-Boy Blues, but sadly, the gamut runs short. Thankfully, we have Batwoman to save the day — unless it gets canceled. It’s unclear whether the CW series will get renewed for a fourth season, but we must acknowledge what it’s done for representation. When Javicia Leslie was announced as the series’ replacement for its titular character ahead of season two, a wave of excitement swept over me. Of course, I was ecstatic about seeing a Black woman take on the mantle of one of DC Comics’ most iconic superheroes, but her being queer added another level of sheer joy.
Javicia Leslie's portrayal
As a Black child growing up, I can recall on one hand the number of times I saw myself represented on television. Growing up as a Black, queer child just added to that isolation. My youthful years were spent idolizing white superheroes such as Superman or Wonder Woman because that’s all that I was introduced to.
As I think about children of today’s era who get to witness Javicia Leslie donning the Bat cape as a human who stands proudly in her Blackness and queer identity, I become a bit jealous. I instantly start to think about how wonderful it would’ve been to witness a superhero who looked like me and loved like me, fighting for what’s right. I want to be clear that while I’ve always known that Black people are superheroes, it makes all the difference to witness such a feat in the media. I think what makes me the most emotional about this show possibly not being renewed is the loss of Black love that we’ve witnessed during its duration.
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Black Love
When most people think of Black love, beautiful heterosexual couples likely come to mind. While there’s nothing wrong with that, Black, queer people deserve representations that showcase us and our beautiful love stories, as well. When Batwoman started to pursue a romance with another Black character on the show, I was in shock.
Of course, I was surprised that this traditionally whitewashed network allowed this lovely display of affection, but I was more taken aback by how much I needed to see this. The same way that I’m envious of Black children who get to experience the magic that is Batwoman is the same envy that I express for heterosexual couples who are always represented in the media. It was so joyous to see these two Black women love on one another while fighting crime together. This is so monumental because, from that moment forward, young Black and queer children will have a new reference on what it means to depict representation and Black love.
Black love isn’t singular. It’s a wondrous amalgamation of various backgrounds, identities and stories. The fact that we were able to see a Black, queer love story is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly and hopefully opens more doors to do such. I’m also hoping that the CW network not only sees its potential but its ability to show what happens when diversity isn’t just tolerated but celebrated.
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Representation
We all know that our peers who lack melanin and decorum were likely not too enthused about seeing a Black, queer woman become a superhero, but guess what? Batwoman isn’t for them; she’s for us now. As the show’s renewal is currently up in the air, it’s worth noting that the two seasons we had Leslie’s character lead the show have been a breath of fresh air.
I hope that regardless of the renewal (although I hope it does get renewed) that this will create some much-needed dialogue around representation. Not in the sense of it being necessary, but in a way that’s centered on how we can continue to bring stories to the forefront that proudly — and boldly — celebrate the beauty of being Black and queer. There’s a lot to be said about how much work there is to do in the media landscape to ensure this, but let’s also be sure to uplift shows like Batwoman for moving us in the right direction.
