Neil Druckmann, why don't black lives matter?
In this historic moment, where the world is rising up to dismantle White Supremacy, we absolutely must ask Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog a very important question.
Why don't Black Lives Matter to you?
Are you confused? Even though it's not my job, I'm going to educate you right now because nobody else is doing it.
What is this story about?
The primary themes of this game are broadly characterized as a coming of age story regarding the futility of revenge, and of a story centering on white gay and gender nonconforming women. Here's the problem with that.
You Are Moralizing Against The Fight For Equity
There is this very white idea that people who have been wronged must sit back and take their abuse. "Turn the other cheek", white jesus tells us. This ethos is intentionally constructed to keep oppressed peoples in their place. It tells them what is and is not an acceptable way to express their pain and and grief. You Don't Get To Tell The Oppressed How To Feel, Neil!
You Are Centering On White Women at a time when you need to center on BIPOC
It is a very well known fact that privileged white women opportunistically take the spotlight off of the struggles for equity and against white supremacy that BIPOC (Black Indigenous People Of Color) fight against every day. Throughout history, white women pretend to be allies in our fight but in the end they are only looking to cement their own supremacy at the top of a rigged system.
You could have done better
Abby could have been a BIPOC. This one change, which could be made in a single patch and would have required all of 5 minutes would solve every problem with this game.
You would justify her struggle against white supremacy, and you would show the white supremacist lesbian that revenge is not hers to take against a BIPOC.
The fact that you refuse to make this change shows your complicity in white supremacy.
The solution is clear.
#MakeAbbyBlack #BlackLivesMatter #FuckSony #FuckNaughtyDog