About
Black Piercer Party (inspired by the Black Panther Party) highlights the culture and contributions of the African and Black diaspora on the practice of body piercing. It serves to create safe spaces, platforms, networks and opportunities for BIPOC industry professionals and clients.
Despite the massive influence of Black & Indigenous People of Color on the western piercing industry, it is overwhelmingly white presenting. Anti-blackness is prevalent through unpaid apprenticeships, classism, tokenism, gate keeping, micro-aggressions, appropriation, underrepresentation in media, AAVE in advertisements, etc. Dominant industry figures co-opt sacred practices that perpetuate erasure and white supremacy culture. Dominant industry manufacturers profit from re-branded cultural designs that were pioneered by people of color centuries ago, without regard for those communities. As the subculture of body modification evolves, we must honor its roots to pave the way towards a truly inclusive industry.
Meet the Founder
Kookie (she/they) is a Black and Queer body modification artist who centers ritual & reclamation, using trauma informed practices. Since 2010, she's traveled across the US piercing in a range of studios. She is passionate about equity and maintaining the connection between the modern piercing industry and it's sacred roots.
In 2019, she launched the Piercers of Color Scholarship to fight the financial barriers of access and education. After experiencing similar anti-blackness in both white and non-Black POC spaces, she narrowed her focus on a new project. In 2022, Black Piercer Party was born. Today you can find her at Ceremony Piercing, a worker owned studio based in Baltimore, Maryland and periodically traveling to pierce in a city near you.
