The Dark Fantastic

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The diversity crisis in children's and young adult media is not just about representation but also a lack of imagination. While speculative fiction offers escape to many, people of color often find access blocked. This issue extends beyond children's publishing to the television and film industries, where characters of color frequently face marginalization or violence, reinforcing harmful societal messages. The exploration of race in popular youth speculative fiction is both engaging and thought-provoking. Drawing from her experiences as a YA novelist, fanfiction writer, and education scholar, Thomas examines four black girl protagonists from notable early 21st-century narratives: Bonnie Bennett from *The Vampire Diaries*, Rue from *The Hunger Games*, Gwen from *Merlin*, and Angelina Johnson from *Harry Potter*. Analyzing their stories and audience responses reveals parallels to real-world violence against black and brown individuals. In response, Thomas highlights a tradition of fantasy and radical imagination within Black feminism and Afrofuturism, showcasing how young people of color have reimagined fantastical worlds that resonate with their realities. As Thomas powerfully states, "we dark girls deserve more, because we are more."