JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Black in Jax Anime made history at WasabiCon Jacksonville, becoming the first Black community group to host events at the popular convention, which attracted more than 10,500 attendees.
Founded by Larry “Larry” Lewis and supported by community leader Laia Castlez, the organization presented four events in one day, including WasabiCon’s first panel dedicated to the experiences of Black anime fans.
The milestone marked a significant step toward greater representation and inclusion in a fandom that continues to grow in popularity among Black audiences.
The festivities began with “Anime Hot Takes,” a spirited discussion hosted by Amy’s Son and featuring panelists Trippy, Son Dae Dae and Jil “Roza” Harris, the group’s lead moderator. The session sparked lively exchanges between panelists and audience members, drawing such a large crowd that convention staff assisted with crowd control.
An afternoon “My Hero Academia” cosplay meetup, hosted by Jaime Hansell and Breonnie “Onnie” King, brought together fans dressed as characters from the popular anime series. Members of Black in Jax Anime showcased elaborate costumes throughout the day, including Nikkita Campbell, Harris, Jordan Mack, Cleopatra Zurie, Marcus Holsey and Toccara Burgess.
Campbell, who portrayed the character Mirko, described the experience as a dream come true.
“This team protects and elevates our community,” Campbell said. “And I’m so honored to be part of that mission.”
The day’s signature event, “Black & Nerdy: Being Black in the Anime Community,” drew a packed audience for a discussion about representation, cosplay and the importance of creating welcoming spaces for Black fans.
Moderated by King, the panel featured Lewis, Castlez, Jasmine La’Fleur and Hansell, who shared personal experiences and answered audience questions.
La’Fleur, a Jacksonville Public Library representative, also is co-founder of Black Fae Day, an annual celebration of Black representation in fantasy held on the second Saturday in May.
The discussion concluded with “Put Me On,” a segment highlighting Black content creators and encouraging attendees to support their work.
The evening wrapped up with a Cosplay Talent Show on the convention’s main stage, hosted by Kvng Sean and King. Performances included a dance routine by group members Son Dae Dae and Holsey. A performer identified as Freddie won the audience-selected Golden Goat Trophy for his vocal performance.
For Lewis, the group’s success represented more than a milestone at a convention. It reflected the growth of a community he created after moving to Jacksonville and searching for others who shared his enthusiasm for anime.
“When I moved to Jacksonville, I didn’t know anybody, so I started a group to find people who loved anime like I did,” Lewis said. “It started with about ten of us. Seeing so many people come out to our events at WasabiCon showed me how much this community needed a space to be seen.”
Lewis credited the group’s volunteers, organizers and WasabiCon representative Gayle “Sydney” Taylor for helping make the event possible.
Taylor praised the organization for its contribution to the convention.
“Black in Jax Anime was an incredible addition to WasabiCon this year,” Taylor said. “Their passion for bringing people together and creating fun, welcoming experiences really showed throughout the weekend.”
For longtime convention attendees, the event offered a fresh perspective on the importance of inclusion.
“I’ve been going to WasabiCon since they were at the Renaissance hotel,” Harris said. “Out of every year I’ve attended, this year tops everything and more!”
Beyond WasabiCon, Black in Jax Anime organizes meetups, watch parties, cosplay activities and discussion panels throughout Jacksonville. The group also produces the BIJ Podcast and is developing its nonprofit initiative, the Black in Jax Foundation, to expand community and youth engagement.
With plans to return for WasabiCon 2027, Lewis said the organization is only beginning to build its presence.
“We’re just getting started,” he said.
For more information, visit blackinjaxanime.com or follow @blackinjaxanime on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.