-This game is just one more piece of media that shows us the “evil, savage” side of Africa. Very few movies in recent years actually portray Africa as positive, so things like that can alter people’s perception of Africa.

Think of it this way: If movies were to start a trend of portraying America as a land propagated by everything we Americans are ASHAMED of, digging into the most heinous stereotypes associated with her people and her history, with no sign of stopping, how would you feel? Would it embarrass you to be constantly thought of as fat, stupid rednecks? How would that portray us for people abroad? Especially for young people?

It’s not racist to portray black zombies, in my opinion, any more than it’s racist to portray any other ethnicity as a zombie. The racism comes from the insensitivity. It’s just one more negative portrayal of the “dark continent” to toss onto the pile. One more negative attribute people of color don’t need.

White people aren’t offended by being portrayed as zombies because, in the end, where have whites traditionally been on the social ladder in America and the UK? Nobody is going to look at a zombie who was once a Caucasian man and subconsciously think to themselves, “that’s what they’re all like,” and then apply any “hilarious” stereotypes they can concoct where they feel they apply.

This is like kicking someone when they’re trying to rise to their feet. We need more positive portrayals of people of color in the media to balance out the negative.

Oh, and as a side note: This criticism doesn’t make me hate the game series. I’m not going to boycott video games foreverz. I love gaming, as I’m sure the OP does. I just don’t think anything is above scrutiny or examination.

And you say Black Hawk Down is racist? Its an event in history. That actually happened. We went to Somalia and fought black people. Not because there black but because of what was going on there. I guess just because it was in Africa we shouldn’t of went because of the color of their skin. Its based on what actually happened, relax. I guess we cant be historically accurate Also there is a scene of an African American shooting a Somalian.

“But, then, the Spanish haven’t been so egregiously misrepresented as blacks through the ages, have they?”

All races have taken their licks when it comes to racism.

“From Birth of a Nation to Black Hawk Down, black folk are apparently responsible for some of the most mindless and evil activities you got.”

Ok, you need to make up your mind. Who’s making you angry? Japanese game developers or Hollywood? I read in an article where one of the producers of Resident Evil 5 said they chose Africa because of lighting and they wanted to show the origins of the virus. When wrong-doing is suspected the primary thing you’ve got to focus on is intent. What did the individual(s) intend by their actions? I don’t feel that Capcom intended to convey anything racist when they set RE5 in Africa. As a matter of fact, I heard they were quite surprised when they found out that some people viewed RE5 as being somewhat racist simply because most of the zombies were black. If you’re angry at Hollywood then I’m on your side, because nobody has done more to perpetuate racist stereotypes than Hollywood, but Hollywood doesn’t restrict their racist stereotypes to just blacks. They’ve done a great job of putting just about every race they can into a bad light. But, if you’re angry at the developers of the Resident Evil game series, I can’t be with you on that one. I’ve played every Resident Evil game out there and I have no evidence that the Resident Evil game developers are racist. Resident Evil 5 is not racist. Have you even played the game? You have two protagonists. One black (Sheva Alomar) and one white (Chris Redfield). In the game you are seeking out the villain, who happenes to be a white man named Albert Wesker, who is aided by a white woman named Excella Gionne, and you will sometimes be aided by a black man named Capt. Josh Stone. Most of the zombies are black, because this part of the saga takes place in Africa, but you will also see zombies that are Asian and Middle Eastern, because there are Asians and Middle Eastern people in Africa. Does that clear things up for you? Btw, ‘Black Hawk Down’ is a movie about an event that actually took place. Like I said, I don’t care for Hollywood or anything they create, but are you saying that Hollywood made up the story surrounding ‘Black Hawk Down’ because they wanted to spread more racist stereotypes about blacks, or are you just saying they’re racist because they told a true story? It’s not Hollywood’s fault some blacks in Mogadishu, Somalia went ape-sh!t and killed a bunch of white guys.

“Rape, murder, satanic voodoo. With bulging eyes, simian super strength, and a room temperature IQ, we’ve been portrayed as savages beyond redemption.”

I’ve played and finished Resident Evil 5 several times now and not a single part of the game made me think of any of those descriptions you just mentioned. Maybe it’s just you. Maybe that’s the way you view yourself. You really shouldn’t belittle yourself and your race so much. After all, it IS possible for a person to be racist against their own race. Trust me, I’ve seen it. Btw, voodoo is not satanic. Voodoo has it’s own set of rules and gods. Satan is a creation of ‘white’ religion. Satan and voodoo have nothing to do with each other.

I would also like to know what you mean by “thoughtful responses”. When I give my mother a mothers day gift, that’s called being thoughtful. When you pull the race card on a video game, it’s developers, and anyone who might’ve actually liked playing the game, and then post it on the Internet, how thoughtful do you expect people to be? The only thing that should be expected of anyone is that they be as honest with everyone else as they are with themselves. So, I really don’t know what you expect from the people who have taken the time to read and reply to your post.

Also, I would like to know what you mean by this:

“The point, though, is that there are still a lot of disturbing images of black people floating around so some sensitivity is required.”

It’s a game about killing zombies. How much sensitivity could you possibly expect? If you don’t like the game, don’t play it. And if you haven’t played the game, and are only criticizing it after watching little more than a trailer (which is bad in and of itself) then I suggest you play the game first before you comment on it. That’s like trying to write a review of a game when you’ve only watched the cutscenes. It’s just like when people criticize a song, a movie or a book. I would expect those people to hear it, watch it or read it first before they criticized it. If Resident Evil 5, and/or video games in general don’t interest you, then don’t trouble yourself. I know you think you’re only trying to promote racial tolerance, but I don’t view it that way. I think the only thing you’re promoting is censorship of entertainment that you don’t even indulge in yourself. That to me is more troubling than racism, because despite the fact that it’s morally wrong, it is still a person’s right to be racist. But what you’re doing is infringing upon the rights of freedom of speech, which is worse. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Say what you want to about any particular form of entertainment, in the end, what you’re doing will only amount to censorship of our entertainment and the abolishment of freedom of speech – two things that made our country great. The world doesn’t revolve around you and your wounded feelings. Get over yourself.

Here is where i see the issue thats the wrong or old trailer shown so thats 1/2 truth. I have played the game and the more recent trailers show your partner an attactive war vetern black girl named Sheva who can be controlled in two player. But the game chemistry is you cannot leave her behind or you die, you cant complete quest without her some way you have to request her aid. Shes with you all the way thru. Shes just as capable of killing zombies like you.

Also one of the sub bosses you fight is a Blonde Hair Blue Eye (hard to see eyes they are red with the virus) girl who is given the virus by another white guy. The zombies I attack are black, white, israeli etc.

To the comment of Black Hawk Down, we have to understand all races commit crimes of destructive nature there is no perfect race. Black Hawk Down is good movie, what about the vietnam movies or WW2 movies would they be racist towards German, and Vietnamese even if we showed Hitler and the Germans getting killed in a game would that be racist towards Hitler?

Am I going to play it? Hell YES. Is it racist? ABSOLUTELY.

If it’s not racist, then where’s my game where the black soldier goes to shoot a bunch of white zombies? Hasn’t happened yet.
If it’s not racist, why don’t we know where in Africa this is supposed to take place? Seriously, I mean- that would be nice, since Africa is really big and full of vastly different countries, and all.
If it’s not racist, then how come all the black people are all poor by Western standards? So we can feel superior?