Black Creators To Read, Watch, Follow

On June 1, GameSpot began hosting Play For All--a celebration of all things gaming. We asked that you join us as we bring you the summer's hottest news, previews, interviews, features, and videos, as well as raise money for COVID-19 relief with the help of our friends from around the gaming world. But we're also taking this opportunity to state our support for the recent protests that have popped up across the US in response to the continued police brutality against black people.

To that end, GameSpot would like to highlight black creators in our industry, whether they specialize in writing video essays, producing hard-hitting articles, or hosting good podcasts. Below, we've listed the work of notable black creators--regardless of whether or not they work at GameSpot. We hope you'll take a few moments to read and watch them and maybe gain a new perspective into your favorite video games. And keep checking this page, as we'll continue to update it with more voices over the coming days and weeks.

A current initiative to note is Wellness Week from Black Girl Gamers, which is happening now until June 7 (see their streaming schedule here). It's a series of relaxing streams from several black women streamers in an effort to raise money for Color of Change and The Bail Project. They will also be having the Black Girl Gamers Online Summit on June 13 which will features keynotes and panels throughout that day. For more, be sure to get the details on what Black Girl Gamers is doing.

Projects By Black Creators About The Black Experience

• Long Reads
  • Borderlands 3's Lovecraft DLC Hand-Waves Major Issues With The Author's Work (Jordan Ramée, GameSpot)
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons Has Afro Twists, And I Love 'Em (Jordan Ramée, GameSpot)
  • Far Cry 5's New American Setting Made Me Feel Like An Outsider (Alessandro Fillari, GameSpot)
  • Are Gaming Companies Actually Supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement? (Junae Benne, Medium)
  • How The Game Industry Can Support The Black Lives Matter Movements (Junae Benne, GameIndustry)
  • She Dreams Elsewhere is The First Game That Feels Made Specifically for Me (Cameron Hawkins, Dualshockers)
  • Finally, I Can Be Me In Animal Crossing--But I'm Exhausted (Funké Joseph, GameSpot)
  • Where Are Our Black Gaming Journalists? (Jeffrey Rousseau, USGamer)
  • The Trouble Portraying Blackness In Video Games (Evan Narcisse, Kotaku)
  • 9 Black Superheroes Who Deserve Their Own Shows (Malcolm Venable, TV Guide)
  • Marvel And DC Stars Reflect On Their Black Superhero Roles (Keisha Hatchett, TV Guide)
  • Cheo Hodari Coker Reflects on Luke Cage's Legacy (Malcolm Venable, TV Guide)
  • Black Creators Are Hopeful for a Future Where Black Superheroes Aren't "Niche" (Malcolm Venable, TV Guide)
  • Treachery In Beatdown City Review (Funké Joseph, GameSpot)
  • Black Work Matters (Mike Williams, USGamer)
• Videos/Podcasts
  • A Lesson In Blackness (Kahlief Adams, Parris Lilly, Blessing Adeoye Jr., Zombaekillz, Pikachulita, and Cameron Hawkins, Spawn On Me)
  • What It's Like Building a Company for Marginalized Voices (Austin Walker, VICE Games)
  • From GTA to Call of Duty | What Makes a Great Black Character? (Elle Osili-Wood, BBC)

Streamers and Presenters

• DeejayKnight (Twitch)
• iamBrandon (Twitch)
• DJTechLive (Twitch)
• OKAYDRIAN (Twitch)
• Black Girl Gamers (Twitch)
• DJ Tech Live (Twitch)
• Briggsycakes (Twitch)
• EEvisu (Twitch)
• Rodney Conyers, Jr
• Rakeemc (Twitch)
• TheBlackHokage (Twitch)
• GamingEthos (Twitch)
• Gaming Illuminaughty (YouTube)
• Barefoot Gypsy (Twitch)
• TonyTheBaptist (Twitch)
• Malik Forte
• Amanda Stevens (YouTube)
• Marcus aka MyHroBlakademia
• Kitana Prime (Twitch)
• Cuddle Core (Twitch)
• Dark Wizzy (Twitch)
• Smug Da Beast (Twitch)
• Punk Da God (Twitch)
• Jackal (Twitch)
• JJmondo (Twitch)
• Jon 'Solkuro' Jack (Twitch)
• Sensei CJ (Twitch)
• Elle Osili-Wood
• Bryce aka Cross Out Media (Twitch)
• Briggsycakes (Twitch)
• MsAshRocks (Twitch)