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Resident Evil 5 is SO RACIST: The idiocy begins

10:36 AM on 08.01.2007, Jim Sterling 483 comments

Resident Evil 5 is SO RACIST: The idiocy begins photo
     Capcom

Well, we knew this was going to happen and yet I'm still moved to a sad shaking of my head at the myopic nature of humanity. Predictably, a black interest Site in the form of Black Looks has jumped on Resident Evil 5 and its foreign setting, getting its digs in early before other self-segregation organizations take a piece of the attention cake. See, because Resident Evil 5 DARES to have black people in it, it is obviously racist, according to one reactionary writer:

The new Resident Evil video game depicts a white man in what appears to be Africa killing Black people. The Black people are supposed to be zombies and the white man’s job is to destroy them and save humanity…

This is problematic on so many levels, including the depiction of Black people as inhuman savages, the killing of Black people by a white man in military clothing, and the fact that this video game is marketed to children and young adults. Start them young… fearing, hating, and destroying Black people.

[Hit the jump for more on this. Thanks to TheGoldenDonut.]

This is just ... ridiculous. Ridiculous proof that racism will never go away because certain people, both black and white, refuse to be objective and are unable to see a game set in Africa/India/Brazil without instantly, guiltily or selfishly assuming its all about race and "shooting them thar darkies." Racism isn't a one-way street, and it's attitudes such as the one above that are more "problematic on so many levels," than a game that has the guts to set itself in a location outside of white America.

Do I even need to tear this person's pathetic post apart? Not really. It doesn't take a genius to see that the game isn't about "destroying black people," it's about destroying zombies/ganado who for once happen to be black. It does, however, take a really self-centered, perhaps even racist individual, to see it as "the white man killing MY people," and this clearly what the writer sees in Capcom's game. I can pretty much be secure in my assumption that she has never had a problem with the fact that all the enemies save one in Resident Evil 4 were white. Scarcely a black face among them. 

The blog about Resident Evil 5 looks like it was written by a straight up racist. She seperates white and black people, distinguishing between them. She ignores the previous games where enemies were mostly white because it doesn't fit in with her blinkered world view. She accuses what she believes to be non-black games developers of ulterior motives and she writes for a Site that's all about black interests. Were the roles reversed, she'd be called a bigot and I wish to call her one now. Oh, and I noticed something else that might be worth pointing out -- please read her little blog post again. Notice anything in particular? It's subtle, but it's there.

That's right. She capitalizes the word "Black."

Not "white." 

Bloody racist.


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resetbutton at 08/01/2007 10:36
Pretty sad and stupid. RE4 has spanish zombies and i think RE0 to RE Veronica had white zombies. Where were the protesters then? Ppl like her are the ones who keep racism alive.
garrfunkel's Avatar
garrfunkel at 08/01/2007 10:37
did you notice that the author says

"R_N,

Yes… I am more comfortable with the zombies being white. In fact, ALL zombies should be white from this day forth."

in one of the comments.

*cough* racist *cough*
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 08/01/2007 10:37
So wait, did Spaniards miss out on RE4? Quick, fire up those blogs!
J03yyz's Avatar
J03yyz at 08/01/2007 10:38
jesus christ, i hate interest groups...
Bioautographical's Avatar
Bioautographical at 08/01/2007 10:38
Ha, I love this comment to the original blog:

"Just thought you might want to knowm this game is made by the Japanese, not Americans."

I'm surprised she didn't respond with something like, "Well, they're KIND of white, just with funny eyes."
kintaeb's Avatar
kintaeb at 08/01/2007 10:39
Yes, I love blind racism based on a 3 minute trailer! People in the gaming community have no idea what the story is, so I love that she assumes the white man is there to kill black people to save the world.

I at least expected this later, when actual questions could be raised about the main character's mission (which would still have been ridiculous), but this is awful.
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 08/01/2007 10:41
Well, I don't think she deserves a front page blog about some shit she wrote, especially a blog by Sterling. This place is for Manhunt, and Manhunt only! And Dynasty Warriors.
robotplague's Avatar
robotplague at 08/01/2007 10:41
According to Wikipedia the term (or belief) in zombies originated with Caribbean people of Black and African descent.
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar
AngelsDontBurn at 08/01/2007 10:42
I'm Spanish and I was TOTALLY outraged when I played RE4!

Haha, I can't even type that and keep a straight face! Honestly when I played RE4 I felt the complete opposite because I thought it was awesome that it took place in Spain. :)
JamesSorensen's Avatar
JamesSorensen at 08/01/2007 10:42
wait wait....

So this SOLO white guy gets attacked by GROUPS of black infected zombies....... and the SOLO white guy is racist for defending himself??

gotta love the ignorance of some random blog people.... i guess they will be happy with the extra site hits.
free touch's Avatar
free touch at 08/01/2007 10:42
She's just a troll trying to make a name for herself. It happens.

The only thing that's racist about this game so far is how everyone and their mother see's black people and a run down village, and automatically think its Africa.
Johnny Blaze's Avatar
Johnny Blaze at 08/01/2007 10:43
I don't know which to pissed off more about.. The fact that I am a gamer and I get the point of the game .. or the fact that as a black person.. we get upset about this when there are a hundred more things to protest about that actually mean something...

Faith's Avatar
Faith at 08/01/2007 10:44
I hate people who use the race card to make themselves look better or get their way. I feel for the people who really have to deal with racism as a real problem in their life, but I don't feel for the people who see racism in every nook and cranny in their live.
The author of the post needs to seek professional help for her paranoia.
Kryptinite's Avatar
Kryptinite at 08/01/2007 10:44
As a black guy:

This is total bullshit, ignorant people should go play in traffic, and I hate stupid people. That is all.
Noctane's Avatar
Noctane at 08/01/2007 10:45
Sorry there's a total of about 4 white people living in Africa...

I hate people like that. Embrace realism for once.
skankerzero's Avatar
skankerzero at 08/01/2007 10:45
someone should point her to this

http://www.adl.org/videogames/default.asp
Rhoq's Avatar
Rhoq at 08/01/2007 10:46
Once the recently deceased becomes a zombie, it technically no longer a person - therefore Chris Redfield will not be killing "black" people. He will, however, be slaughtering a shitload of zombies - just the way we like our Resident Evil fix.
BenHaskett's Avatar
BenHaskett at 08/01/2007 10:47
Marketed towards children and young adults?

Pfffffffft!

ha ha ha ha!
Crackhippo's Avatar
Crackhippo at 08/01/2007 10:47
i'm offended when one person tries to speak for an ENTIRE social group
Justin Villasenor's Avatar
Justin Villasenor at 08/01/2007 10:47
"Race" shouldn't be a problem, cause, you know, all of us (black people included) are humans (the same race). Zombies on the other hand are a different race but as I have yet to see any complaints from the zombie community on this subject I must conclude that they're okay with it.
Noctane's Avatar
Noctane at 08/01/2007 10:49
In Resident Evil 4, it was all Spaniards and no one complained...

I hate political correctness. =^[
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 08/01/2007 10:49
robotplague is actually totally right there. The whole zombie mythos originates from black cultures. To be offended by black zombies is to be offended by black culture.

Ha. Win.
robotplague's Avatar
robotplague at 08/01/2007 10:50
I would be more concerned with games like this:

Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 08/01/2007 10:50
Lest we forget: it's about africans being infected by a killer-virus. No AIDS references?? Close the pool!
Nick Chester's Avatar
Nick Chester at 08/01/2007 10:50
The fact that we're even talking about this is sad.
PwnDaddy's Avatar
PwnDaddy at 08/01/2007 10:50
Mr Sterling, I applaud your moral character. However, this post was not about a) Dynasty Warriors, b) Manhunt, or c) trying to answer the age-old question of just who the f*ck you are. I'll have to dock you 2 Cool Points.
Joe Burling's Avatar
Joe Burling at 08/01/2007 10:51
I was watching National Geographic the other day and there was this show on African tribes people, and I couldn't stop thinking , "Man, this show is so racist! Why don't they ever show white African tribes people! This is bullshit!" Then I called the NAACP. They are looking into it.
MrJunko's Avatar
MrJunko at 08/01/2007 10:52
Is Chris Redfield working for the Westboro Baptist Church? Or is he out to finally exterminate Al Sharpton?

Come on.

Unless the dialogue in the game starts sounding like this:

"OH NOEZ DAT KRAKKA IS GONNA DUN KILL US NOW!!"

"You Darkies dont stand a chance, you were too worried about your precious cornbread and "colly greens" to see our true motives!"

"YOU! IT WAS YOU DAT KILLED JOHNNY COCHRAN, NOT A BRAIN TUMOR! IT WAS DA WHITE MAN!"

"yes, and now you blackies dont stand a CHANCE in court!"
Mauer's Avatar
Mauer at 08/01/2007 10:54
Well then I call racism on Gears of War, how dare the Cole Train run around killing all those poor white locusts.
BNinjaC's Avatar
BNinjaC at 08/01/2007 10:55
Blatant hate-monger.
Bioautographical's Avatar
Bioautographical at 08/01/2007 10:55
Man, the comments on her blog are the funniest things I've seen next to YouTubers:

"New weapon confirmed for RE5: “Fried Chicken”

Details on Capcom’s upcoming game Resident Evil 5 are sparse, but a new weapon has been confirmed. Fried Chicken comes in either cases of 3 or buckets of 10 which are scattered throughout the game, or sometimes dropped by defeated enemies. A piece of Fried Chicken can be thrown like a grenade or dropped. Any enemies in the vicinity (who can see or smell it) will immediately be attracted to it, and converge upon its location, dropping whatever they are doing at the moment.
If there are multiple enemies in the area, they will viciously attack each other."
Kryptinite's Avatar
Kryptinite at 08/01/2007 10:55
Locust are white? I had no idea
shadow300z's Avatar
shadow300z at 08/01/2007 10:56
She's just trying to get attention, no rational person would believe that this game is maliciously racist.
Butmac's Avatar
Butmac at 08/01/2007 10:58
Ya know, this wouldn't bother me as much if I didn't think their was a chance this could actually affect the games eventual release or final content matter. That would suck.
Rogue Trooper's Avatar
Rogue Trooper at 08/01/2007 10:59
savagesaladin's Avatar
savagesaladin at 08/01/2007 10:59
I knew this was coming up as soon as I saw the preview. I defend the game whenever I get the chance. That woman is a racist. Pure and simple. She is like the Jack Thompson of "black interests".

I'm sure this greedy, extortionist, racist, anti-semitic douche bag will be speaking out against it next.



Why do people have to pull the race card every time black people are depicted in anything that isn't in "black interest"? A zombie is a zombie no matter what color IT is.

God fucking dammit now I'm pissed.
Rogue Trooper's Avatar
Rogue Trooper at 08/01/2007 11:01
Guys, don't you see? The white man infected the Black people of that poor village so as to turn them into zombies, as a excuse. So the white man can kill those Black people and claim that he was saving the World. How can you people be so blind?
hydden's Avatar
hydden at 08/01/2007 11:03
I'm spanish, and I never had a problem with RE4. Ya, so they ppl i were killing were my from my family's origin, big deal. It's a video game. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to kill a bunch of white tourists that Sadler just happened to kidnap and then change just for the events of the game. It's the setting, and more so, a video game. Get the stick out of your ass and enjoy the game.
hydden's Avatar
hydden at 08/01/2007 11:03
I'm spanish, and I never had a problem with RE4. Ya, so they ppl i were killing were my from my family's origin, big deal. It's a video game. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to kill a bunch of white tourists that Sadler just happened to kidnap and then change just for the events of the game. It's the setting, and more so, a video game. Get the stick out of your ass and enjoy the game.
ExceptionOE's Avatar
ExceptionOE at 08/01/2007 11:08
Pools closed :-(
Michymaster's Avatar
Michymaster at 08/01/2007 11:10
Yeah... whats the problem? its just a damn video game for christ's sake
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 08/01/2007 11:11
The 'towards children and adults bit' shows just how misinformed the general public can be. Perhaps they should do some research first. Resident Evil has always been an adult game and always marketed as such, even way back on the PS1. Perhaps she should wikipedia RE first before sounding off. Is that so hard?

As a black person and gamer, the RE series is my fave. I'm not offended by RE at all. All Capcom need to do is include a multicutural zombies (this would be difficult to do if its based in part of africa) and a black playable character (it possible there might be one, considering the location). No one ever said all africans were black, because they aren't.

Zombie like Contagion don't choose who it infects. If it's living, it game for contamination. Frankly, we've seen pictures of the zombies, but I can't wait to see what Capcom do with the zombie animals.
bluemeep's Avatar
bluemeep at 08/01/2007 11:14
It was good enough for the blogs, so it's good enough here.

<simpsons>
Zombie eat brains...but zombie cannot swallow this injustice!
</simpsons>
phamtq's Avatar
phamtq at 08/01/2007 11:15
I agree that this woman's a bigot but I would like you point out that saying a game is racist doesn't make a person a racist. It might make you an idiot/dumbass for thinking so, but not a racist. I think the terms gets misused by people on both sides of the aisle.

Racism implies superiority over a particular group of people. Being wrong and mentioning race doesn't automatically mean racism. Just like saying something incorrect about a console doesn't automatically make you a fan boy. You might be, but it doesn't always. Point is, blanket statements of any kind are bad.
DeusPayne's Avatar
DeusPayne at 08/01/2007 11:19
I read this on gamepolitics earlier. Fucking hilarious. Playing the race card so early... what are they going to do when the game actually comes out.

And as some people have pointed out, RE5 is clearly not the game you should be going after if you're looking for racism. There's a few out there, but RE5 is not one of them.
jerrt's Avatar
jerrt at 08/01/2007 11:22
there is lots of good discussion going on about this over at kotaku and i'm glad to see that brains are being used here as well. this person is certainly stretching and i'm hoping the real world just ignores all this crap. that is what should really happen.
TheReminator420's Avatar
TheReminator420 at 08/01/2007 11:23
Being a Zombie, I've thought the RE games where racist from day one. I'm just sorry that it's only after black Zombies are put in is the game called out for the hateful smut it is. Zombies everywhere need to recognize it's trash like this that forces Zombie youth into the "stereotypical Zombie" role.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 08/01/2007 11:23
@ MrJunko:

As much as I hate defending Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, the guy certainly isn't a racist. He actually was a strong proponent of civil rights and did a lot for the movement before he was disbarred for being a batshit insane homophobe.
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