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[ GuitarAtomik's blog ]

8:42 PM on 04.10.2008

Ask a Half Black Dude: My take on all this
GuitarAtomik 106 comments


Ok. There's been a lot of talk today about racism in games and I feel like I need to comment on some of the insane-o reactions to these stories. I originally was going to write this blog about a story on Kotaku that quoted Morgan Gray (the Senior Producer at Crystal Dynamics) about his feelings on black stereotypes in games, but then over here Gameboi posted about a quote from N'Gai (En-Guy) Croal pertaining to the Resident Evil 5 trailer. So I'm going to give you a 2-for-1 and talk about each separately. Strap yourselves in kids because this is going to be a long one.

First, a little background on me:




I'm the product of a white dad and a black mom. I don't really identify myself as either as I am no more one than the other, and I never even gave it that much thought until someone pointed it out to me at the age of 10. Being of mixed decent, I've had the unique opportunity of being able to see both sides of the proverbial fence. I have really rich white relatives who live in the same neighborhood as Oprah's father, really rich black relatives who could afford to buy my cousin literally a walk in closet full of toys and send him to law school, and poor black relatives who live in the heart of the ghetto where crack houses are just down the road and people shoot guns in the air on the street on New Years.

Despite the fact that my Dad is a religious right wing white guy, he raised me on NWA, 2 Live Crew, and Wu-Tang and used to blast "Fuck the Police” when the cops came to our house late at night to tell us to turn the music down (on more than one occasion). I myself tended to relate and hang out with white people more (while my little brother related more to black people), but I had plenty of black friends as well since the schools I went to had a good mix of races. My point is that I come from a pretty diverse/crazy background.



Because of my ability to blend into both racial groups (people mistake me as hispanic, arabian, and asian(?) on a constant basis), I've seen racism from all sides. I've also been the victim of racism a few times as I seem to attract white girls with extremely racist fathers. But I'm not easily offended at all, I'm not a big fan of political correctness, and I tend to laugh most racist stuff off.

But enough about me.

Let's talk about the Kotaku article first. This is the quote that Kotaku pulled from Morgan Gray's interview:

“Here's the thing: Cole Train on his own, no harm no foul. But what is Cole Train? Cole Train is basically like every other effin' black character in a video game. Like here comes the urban stereotype. Where is this 1990's — not even 2000 — black slang, where does this fit in this futuristic world that doesn't even take place on Earth? They go really far to do a lot of fictional justifications for this culture that they've built, and they go right back to this urban stereotype for the black character.

I'm not knocking Epic; the game was fun and gorgeous. But it's just a lack of thought, right? All it does is reinforce dumb stereotypes and it sort of reinforces casual racism.”





Now over on Kotaku, the main reaction to this was along the lines of “All football players are like that. It wouldn't make sense if he was a scrawny white guy.” which totally misses the point. Now let's make a few things clear.

*First of all, I think Cole is the most awesomest character in Gears. The dude is hilarious and lightens up the mood when he's around.

*Second, Gears of War isn't the pinnacle of character development. Pretty much everyone in the game is a stereotype of some kind.

*Third, from what I heard, Cole was inspired and voiced by Terry Tate or more specifically, those awesome “Terrible Terry Tate: Office Linebacker” commercials. Epic saw those and thought it would be cool if you could play a character like that in a game.





All that said, is Cole Train a negative black stereotype? Hell yes. He's the stereotypical loud mouth, cocky, football playin, simple minded, out dated gangsta slang spoutin black guy. He's extremely entertaining and again, I love the guy, but this is still true so Morgan used Cole Train as an example.

But within the context of the full original article, you can see that his point wasn't about how Cole is a negative stereotype, or even that it's not ok to have a character like that every now and then, it was the fact that more often than not when black people (or most minorities) are portrayed in games, they turn out to be a character like Cole Train. This loud mouth, attitude having, stereotypical black guy. I can't stress this point enough since so many people missed it over there so I'll say it again.

His point is that 9 times out of 10, the minority is portrayed as a negative stereotype.

Morgan isn't saying there's no place for a character like that, only that he'd like to see a more balanced portrayal of minorities in games.



Now about this N'Gai quote.





A LOT of people are reading the quote and mis-interpreting it as him saying that Resident Evil 5 is racist. THIS IS NOT WHAT HE'S SAYING AT ALL. He was merely pointing out how the trailer could be mis-interpreted (ironic huh?) as being racist and how the marketing team might want to be a little more careful about it. He was explaining how as a black man, the images of a white guy shooting up a village full of crazy black people could be a little jarring ESPECIALLY out of context.





Now, when I first saw the trailer, my first reaction like most people here was “ZOMG ALMIGHTY! Look at the GraphiX!!”. Ok, actually it was “What kind of super-roids has Chris been taking?”, but while watching it I thought the same thing N'Gai did. “Oh shit. Al Sharpton is going to have a field day with this.” If you didn't then good for you. You're cookie is in the mail. But you have to understand that we as gamers know that RE is about shooting zombies so that's what we see, but imagine you have no idea what RE is or even the basic concept. Imagine you're a black person who is old enough to remember segregation and MLK being assassinated, and stories about black people being lynched or drug behind trucks and the white people who got away with it because of all white juries. Now imagine you're watching TV and the RE5 trailer pops up as a commercial. HOPEFULLY you can understand what the reaction to that might be like.





Now again we have the argument of “But no one complained about the Spanish zombies in RE4! Why are you complaining now?”. Well if you saw the “zombies” in RE4 in a quick 30 second commercial on TV would you automatically think “Hey. Why is that white guy shooting all those Spanish people?”? No because the zombies in RE4 looked pretty fucked up already and you don't really identify them as Spanish until they start talking (at least I didn't). The black zombies in RE5 don't even really look like zombies. They just look like a bunch of crazy black people. Hell, one of them is using a megaphone with his stunna shades on.





People keep saying “Well if you look for racism all the time, of course you'll find it.” or “If you keep pointing out racism, you're only perpetuating racism” which is not only retarded it's again, missing the point. If you read N'Gai's quote again, he keeps stressing the imagery and context in the trailer. That's because as a black person in America, you have this historical context of violence and oppression against blacks. For a lot of people, who grew up with this and were able to see it happen before their eyes, when this imagery of a white guy shooting up all these scary black people is presented to them with no context, they can't help but be reminded of those events. Again, N'Gai isn't saying RE5 is racist, he's only suggesting that the marketing team provide CONTEXT for the imagery when they present it to the uninformed, lest they want a shit-storm upon their doors.

This is ALL he's fucking saying.

There are some other points I'd like to make but this blog is already too long. Hopefully this will help some of you understand where these guys are coming from. I also recommend you watch or listen to Barack Obama's recent speech about racism. No matter what you're political affiliation is, he explains the issue we're talking about here pretty well. That's it. I'm out.



/longest blog ever


Attached photos:

Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo

105 comments | showing # 1 to 50

prev next 50 comments
Sadie G's Destructoid Blog
epic read...very well thought out and done.
Also, what the fuck is juice? It's purple drank!
007's Destructoid Blog
Too long? Dude, you've got to remember that we're not 4chan.
Shin Oni's Destructoid Blog
dude. this blog screams awesome. you broke it down for even the most ghettoist "illmatic" fool could understand (or so I'd hope.)

you sir, need to save all those cookies you sent and eat them.
pinksage's Destructoid Blog
I agree with you 100%. I hate when people make a big deal of out these things. Problem people don't READ. They take a quote or read the title of the story and thing they have all they need.

Also, your art rules.
CrakieRacooon's Destructoid Blog
Ever since day 1,I've been on the defense of RE5.
I was born a full African American female,and someone for the likes of me to defend such a game, it's pretty quite rare.
Ever since the first time I saw the RE5 trailer,I really didn't think anything of it. I didn't think,OMG Jessie Jackson is coming or this was going to be completely thrown out of context.
All I saw, just like you,was an awesome game about to grace us with its presents.
But ever since I read this first article:
http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/runninscared/archives/2007/07/zombies_in_afri.php
I knew that is going to get completely thrown out of context.
Well, all I can say to you my good man and any other people of the brown skin color who really don't give a shit, get ready a mega storm coming our way.
007's Destructoid Blog
I'm brown, Crakie. Can I get ready too?
Vlambo's Destructoid Blog
Very good read, Agree 110%.

But seriously, If I ran into you in a street, I never would thought you are half black, maybe Hispanic.
tazarthayoot's Destructoid Blog
Nice tiger hair, Tarzan.
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@007
Believe it or not, I probably could have made this 2x as long. Also, yeah. Get ready now!
CrakieRacooon's Destructoid Blog
Oh and one more thing!
Your hot
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@Vlambo
I know. I've been getting Asian a lot recently though. Even one of my Chinese friends thought I was Asian until the topic of my half-blackedness came up around him.

@Tazar
It's actually a lot shorter now. Wait...actually it's longer but it's more "in control".
sevink's Destructoid Blog
very good article! keep up the GREAT work.
NsOmNiA91130's Destructoid Blog
Awesome read.

And you're not the whitest black person ever. One of my friends listens to Neil Diamond, for serious. He's like an Oreo, black on the outside, white on the inside.
MarginalMeaning's Destructoid Blog
Good Post... and also, the juice is in the fridge, I do understand the words coming out of his mouth, and my stunna shades happen to be on my desk.

But seriously, it is unfortunate when someone's words are taken out of context and people get butthurt for no good reason.
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@CrakieRacooon

I try :D
Cheeburga's Destructoid Blog
You look like me nigga.
liquidninja's Destructoid Blog
That said it all, right there.
Wexx's Destructoid Blog
The whitest black kid, or the blackest white kid?

Also, good read, I enjoyed it!
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@Wexx
That is indeed the question!
bovine's Destructoid Blog
I liked your blog and am going to read the stuff you put up more often.

The Morgan Grey article also had a point that I find mighty interesting. How do present day stereotypes end up in games set way in the future?
power-glove's Destructoid Blog
I hate to tell this story but it is an example of what racism truly is.

My sister wanted to get an ice cream cone from an ice cream truck. She decides to order a chocolate ice cream cone. The ice cream truck employee responds with "Chocolate, I thought you would want vanilla" It may be funny in hindsight but it is scary especially when you see "Death To Whitey" written at your local train station.

Anyone claims that something is racist needs to really think about it first. I'm right with GA.
Robert Janelle's Destructoid Blog
Nothing to add but nice post.
Aberrant Thought's Destructoid Blog
Good write-up there sir!

I, too, was disappointed to find that people reacted on the thought 'OMG Blacks hate whites' or what have you, when the topic was really much simpler about that.

For RE5 I was a bit biased in the beginning given that the first article I read on the concerns of racism for this game, was written by a gal who suggested that 'shooting whites would not be racist at all.' I do not recall her name, but the article was heavily one-sided and malformed. Being a white male I have extreme guilt over just being alive, so topics of racism tend to really exacerbate ideas of my 'redemption' so I try not to go down that road often.

I though it amusing, in a sad way mind you, that N'Gai was right; people did go way too far with it. I suppose it is better than it occurs on the internet where nothing 'really' matters.

Well done sir.
Electro Lemon's Destructoid Blog
Ride the Coltrain, baby!



Great article.
Dexter345's Destructoid Blog
I totally agree with you. People need to learn how to read so they'll understand what N'Gai was saying. He had a valid point, but people just went on with the stuff we heard months ago when it first came up.
HarassmentPanda's Destructoid Blog
Great read! I agree with you completely. Is that really a family photo? Also, I lost it when I noticed the grape drink in Cole's hand.

Oh yeah, Wu-Tang!
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@Reaprar

That's the magic of hybrid-ism at work.
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@HarassmentPanda

Yeah that's my parents and me in '84 when I was 1 yr old. My parents are only like 20 and 21 in that pic.
Y0j1mb0's Destructoid Blog
If these are the blogs that your going to put out when someone says some dumbshit I hope the dumbshit doesn't stop.

Great read.
loki d20's Destructoid Blog
I'm going to be honest and say I don't agree with you 100% in regards to the RE5 article. My thoughts are in regards to an ideal world concept, though, rather than the actual world we live in which many people look for racism let alone the chance of finding something racially motivated.

Up until N'Gai's historical view of the images used, the only thing I've seen about this was that it was a white man killing a lot of black people, and that's it. IMHO, I don't think the mass majority of people, let alone those who will ever see this video, understood the depth of imagery that N'Gai took from it.

I believe if more people had the historical understanding and reference that N'Gai has, though, we'd live in a better place with less racism.

One item of note: “If you keep pointing out racism, you're only perpetuating racism” which is not only retarded it's again, missing the point.

People aren't pointing out racism since we know there isn't racism there, people are pointing out that people are improperly inferring racism where there is none. Sure, not the point, but it has obviously fueled a lot of the responses in the home page article, some of which I've even mindlessly responded to due to boredom at work.
the GAMEGOBLIN's Destructoid Blog
God damn why are you so cool lookin'?
Aerox's Destructoid Blog
I'm glad there are at least a few people who actually took the time to read N'Gai's article.

+50,000 points
MaximusPaynicus's Destructoid Blog
I'm not going to pretend that I agreed with N'Gai's views on the trailer: If you ask me, I think he voided his argument when he brought up the Holocaust for... whatever reason. Considering that it has been about nine months since this was last relevant, the fact that it was even brought up at all is somewhat depressing.

Personally, as I was reading the MTV piece, I couldn't help but feel like N'Gai was reaching for straws -- especially when referring to the "questionable" humanity of the natives. Also, throughout the article it was hard to not get the vibe from N'Gai that he felt Capcom was being racist. After all, while he did say on a few spots that he didn't feel Capcom was being racist, he would then turn around and explain how Capcom was, in essence, being racist.

However, if the next trailer has Albert Wesker muttering "Those silly negros have no idea what we're doing to them", then we can have a nice, long discussion about Capcom's alleged (presumed by some) racism.
brainderailment's Destructoid Blog
Well written. ----->Add to friends

Also, I would've thought you were mostly Hispanic with a tan.
AngelsDontBurn's Destructoid Blog
Awesome stuff dude. Great read. :)
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@loki d20

I understand what you're saying but what you should have a problem with is the abuse of that AKA playing the "Race Card". I have a problem with the abuse of it too but my point is that the N'Gai article was not an example of that situation. Most of what Al Sharpton rails against IS an abuse of it and I can understand it there, but N'Gai has legitimate concerns that probably should be addressed.

I'm just saying that every time someone points out something as racist (which again, isn't even the situation here) it doesn't mean they are automatically playing the race card.There might actually be some legitimacy to it.
Redzie's Destructoid Blog
great write-up. Ive nothing more to add since its all up there.

I smell promotion. It should be.
Blake's Destructoid Blog
You good sir, have earned the title of awesome in my book.

And dear god, You've got cool hair.
Jordan Grim Devore's Destructoid Blog
You = my hero.
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@MaximusPaynicus

Don't get me wrong. I think he was reaching a bit with some of his examples too. But I think he brought up the Holocaust as an example because it's pretty much the only thing that most American's can understand automatically in context. It's not a 1-1 example at all but most people here simply aren't informed enough or know the proper context of other more similar events. Everyone knows how bad the Holocaust was (unless you're the President of Iran).

while he did say on a few spots that he didn't feel Capcom was being racist, he would then turn around and explain how Capcom was, in essence, being racist.

I think he was trying to get at how they didn't realize how insensitive they were being and that even though it wasn't intentional, they should realize that some people are going to take it that way. The Japanese have a reputation for being xenophobic and this sort of innocent stereotyping is a result of that. Since they barely have any black people over there they don't even know what they're doing.
Y0j1mb0's Destructoid Blog
I'll respond now with a bit more. The only thing I got from N'Gai's article was "Was he watching the same thing as me?"
To me he was making a mountain out of a molehill. As for my background I'm Hispanic and like you growing up I experienced bouts of racism from quite a few sides but because I did I don't actively look for warning signs of racism ready to jump out at me.

When you start doing that..racism will be waiting for you everywhere even if it's not there.

I wonder what N'Gai thought of the movie The Serpent & the Rainbow?
Cheeburga's Destructoid Blog
YOU SHOULD CUT MY HAIRRRRR
;]
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@Cheeburga

You need to talk to my ex-gf who is totally in charge of that department. Come to PAX and I'll try though!
aj2good4you2's Destructoid Blog
thank god someone didnt take it out of context. great writeup!
Samit Sarkar's Destructoid Blog
Dude, I love those Terry Tate commercials. They’re all so goddamn hilarious. Also, PURPLE DRANK, NIGGA!
Sharpless's Destructoid Blog
Fucking perfect, man. Well said, and I agree 100%. I don't think it's as bad as some people make it, but gamers are too quick to go on the defensive (like always) and cry that anyone who suggests anything negative about the issue(s) is full of crap. They're idiots. Both sides have good points.
MaximusPaynicus's Destructoid Blog
As a white guy, I'm not allowed to say certain words that others are allowed to say. I've always considered that a great... injust... screw it.

PURPLE DRANK!
Sharpless's Destructoid Blog
Also, dude, your dad was hot.
GuitarAtomik's Destructoid Blog
@MaximusPaynicus

SUGAR, WATER, PURPLE!
MaximusPaynicus's Destructoid Blog
@GuitarAtomik
Okay, PURPLE DRANK aside (you really do have to shout that, too), I do see your point, and I do see his -- even if I don't agree with his. However, I would like to bring up one final point that just rubbed at me the entire time I read his remarks: He's 35. He's not part of the gaming majority anymore, and I think that the majority of gamers (who are capable of independent thought, mind you) saw that and simply did not see race. To me, that's encouraging.

PURPLE PURPLE WATER SUGAR!


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