Millions of people across the US are standing together to protest police brutality and to put an end to the institutionalized racism that has plagued this nation since its very inception. The American people must unite to oppose the abuse of power and corruption that routinely leads to the victimization of black Americans like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.
As gamers, we have an opportunity to use our skills, our passion, and our voices to affect positive change; but we need to act. Joining peaceful demonstrations and marching in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement is one of the most direct ways to make your voice heard, but it is far from the only way to contribute. COVID-19 continues to pose a significant threat to public health, and many people within our community may be immunocompromised or otherwise unable to march. Here are some ways you can help.
Donate
Providing financial support strengthens the cause with resources and can provide relief to those most affected in the fight. There are many organizations, so make your donation to any that impacts you personally, is close to you, or simply speaks to you.
If you don't know where to start, you can donate directly to the Black Lives Matter organization through its website. Other organizationss that accept donations include the Black Visions Collective, Freedom Fighters DC, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
If you would like to support protestors with bail and legal fees in your city, here are just a few:
- Chicago Community Bond Fund
- New York State Bond Fund
- Atlanta Action Network
- Los Angeles People City Council Freedom Fund
- Denver Funds For Protestors Against Police Brutality
- Detroit's Bail Fund
If you would like to split your donation between multiple bail funds, this website has 38 different funds you can donate to at the same time.
Support Black Game Developers & Businesses
Black game developers are woefully underrepresented. Creativity thrives in diverse points of view. The video game industry needs better representation to push the medium forward narratively, creatively, and culturally.
This year's Game Devs of Color Expo was recently announced. It will be a virtual conference this year due to health and safety concerns, which means it will be accessible to people across the country. The expo is looking for sponsors and donations, you can find a link here.
Rad Magpie is a non-profit indie game studio in Vermont that supports underrepresented creators. They've compiled an enormous list of games created by black developers, as well as studios and organizations that support black game developers. Check out the full list of Rad Magpie's website.
Don't Complain About Delays
EA delayed a scheduled presentation to reveal a Madden 21 first-look this weekend. On Monday, Sony announced that the PS5 reveal stream scheduled for June 4th will be postponed to allow more important voices to be heard. Some have expressed their frustration with these decisions by accusing Sony of virtue signaling, as well a cynical "hot takes" that Sony would only make a decision like this to protect their bottom line. The need for escapism through video games is an oft-repeated sentiment that entitled gamers are using to bemoan these delays.
The ability to escape from reality is a privilege that 40 million black Americans do not possess. It is difficult to see the state of the world today, and it should be. Escaping from it and embracing complacency is the exact behavior that allows injustice to propagate. Like the three officers that stood idly by while a fourth killed George Floyd, if you are not engaging, if you are not helping, you are part of the problem.
Videos games will still be there, there will be time to relax, disengage, and escape from reality. Now is not that time, and complaining about the delays reinforces exactly why this movement is so important. Games can wait, black lives can not.
Create & Spread A Positive Message
Gamers are some of the most creative and passionate people on the planet. We have an opportunity to use our skills and passion to support the movement and affect hearts and minds with our shared common ground. Use that passion to make fan art that spreads a message of solidarity and compassion.
There is incredible power in the iconography of gaming's most beloved characters. If you are an artist, a graphic designer, or a content creator you can use those skills to reach people, encourage them, and keep momentum behind the movement. If you can't protest, maybe you can make signs for protesters. You can share your art on social media and inspire others to do the same. A movement is fueled by passion, and that's something we all have a lot of. Let's use it to help.