College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Graduation Date

6-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Department/Program Conferring Degree

Critical Ethnic Studies

Keywords

Hermione Granger, Black, fandom, representation, Harry Potter

Abstract

Hermione Granger was introduced to the world in the 1990s, with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone. Described only as having "brown eyes, frizzy hair, and very clever", with no reference to her race or skin tone, it was long assumed and accepted that Hermione Granger was White. However, with the emergence of a Black Hermione Granger within fanfiction, fanart, and other fanwork, as well as the casting Afro-British actress Noma Dumezweni in the stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" other iterations of the character have come to the forefront. In a survey and various virtual interviews with 193 participants, I dissected and discussed why the reimagining of a Black Hermione Granger came to be and why she is important, particularly to the Black Community. Throughout the paper, I write about how the character of Hermione Granger has impacted my life. A Black Hermione Granger in fanfiction, fanart, and fancast is important because representation matters. Hermione Granger as a Black girl serves a role model to the Black community, and her salience in pop culture tells us that not only does representation matter, but that inclusion matters too.

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