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There’s this myth that the only racist gamers that exist are 13 year old boys on Xbox Live. I’m here to break that myth and say that I believe that the most racist gamers are actually young men and grown men. Racist? Damn that sounds like such a strong word, but I cant think of another way to describe the people who say  ignorant stuff all the time like its really hurting someone. Online I have been witnessing such horrible stuff said about black people and it gets crazier by the day. Comments even on my own website said things such as “you niggers don’t know anything about video games” to “Black people don’t play video games”. Where did this perspective even get born? 

Media. I believe in self responsibility and against any kind of handouts. But when you have the video game media not show so much color then of course something like “black people don’t play video games” gets spat out from a idiots mouth. The major media doesn’t have any personalities that shows gaming from an urban perspective, therefore we don’t exist in many peoples eyes. I had a conversation about this with my good friend HipHopGamer, who has a weekly show that he broadcasts on the Internet. Every week there’s racist comments on his site, keep in mind he has been doing a show every week since last year. And then recently Oliva Munn from “Attack Of The Show” fame featured him on her blog. Even more racist comments put on her site (she didn’t condemn those statements either). If these are all so called “real gamers”, it makes me sick.

Just recently I saw a story on the popular gaming blog Kotaku about Wesley Snipes looking for a Nintendo Wii. Wesley Snipes is a star that has been around for ages. Therefore there are a lot of images you can use for him. But instead of using an image from the popular Blade series or something else , they decide to use a mugshot. Really? was that the only image you can find? Its little things like that that play to stereo types and helps create the monsters we have today. And I’m not pointing out Kotaku as the only outlet, but its many small things like that from different sources that builds up that opinion in people.

This is a reality check. Black people play games. White people play games. Everybody plays video games. So for those selected few who don’t think so. realize your on the Internet. When your on Neogaf or Bxgamer forums you don’t know the color of that persons skin when you debate games with them. But the moment you see someones skin color is different then yours they know less just because? Its 2009 now, lets usher in a more mature game community. I’m not trying to save the world and bring peace and all of that funk. But you ignorant people need to hear about yourselves. You can call me a nigger, porch monkey or whatever, but I’m still a gamer. I wouldn’t be surprised if you cowards commented on this piece and prove me right.

Written By A.B. Frasier

I don't think outside of the box. Because if I did then that would presume I was already in one. Co Founder Of The Koalition.

1. Neal says:

   January 20, 2009 at 5:08 am

   As a white 40yr old gamer, I find abuse of all sorts I find online amazing, I play the 360 and have more or less stopped playing online, because of the hate I hear. I have to say that the vast magority of it coming from Americans.

   MS need to be doing more to stop this.

   I agree, a gamer is a gamer is a gamer. Done.

   Reply
2. Gary A Swaby says:

   January 20, 2009 at 12:51 pm

   Great article right here, this is an issue that defiantly needed addressing. and this is why the urban gamer movement is important…to show that gaming is universal.

   Reply
3. Stranger says:

   February 8, 2009 at 12:57 am

   Good article. I agree with Gary A Swaby.
   It’s easy for racist to discriminate colored people if they are safe in their room, far away from their victims. But let them hate.
   The majority of the gamers (like Neal) aren’t that hateful anyway.

   Reply
4. JC says:

   September 4, 2009 at 2:24 pm

   I care, really.

   Reply

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