I found reading about the video game developed by Momo Pixel, Hair Nah, to be a learning experience. I was unaware of the volume of racial microaggressions that black people, specifically black women, experience on a daily basis. Learning about how this game developer transformed frustrations got me thinking about how many other game developers there are creating games not just for entertainment but as an interactive medium to put yourself in someone’s shoes. It was also interesting to hear how some games perpetuate stereotypes and injustice by their depictions, especially in smaller ways that aren’t obvious at face value.
The discussion in this article about Battlefield 1 and the Harlem Hellfighters reminds me of a larger discussion about diversity in gaming when this game was released. At the time of release, Battlefield 1 featured people of color and women in the forefront, which caused some groups of people to get angry about how it wasn’t “realistic”.
I agree that "Hair Nah" was a very interesting concept to read about. I knew about this microaggression in the form of hair touching and overemphasizing its difference to white hair, but I had never heard of this game. I also had no clue that this very simple game would have such an impact on its intended audience. It's kind of beautiful to think about how passionate people can be when they feel understood, and that is what I think this game did for people who have experienced this issue. Reading about this game made me wonder- how much of an impact can video games make in inspiring social change?
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