Platform:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher:
Rockstar Games
Developer:
Rockstar Games
Release:
(PlayStation 4,
Xbox One),
(PC)
Rating:
Mature
In recognition of some of the diverse narratives in gaming, we present this list of complex black characters that have graced our television screens and PC monitors. After lengthy discussions on the topic, we decided to highlight characters played by and modeled after black talent. In this way, we hope to recognize the staff members who work behind the scenes in conjunction with the characters presented here.
Games motivate. More importantly, they have the power to mirror an ever-changing fanbase. Here are several black characters that have inspired us.
Lenny – Red Dead Redemption II
One of the youngest members of the Van der Linde gang, Lenny was born to former slaves in 1880. His father and uncle were both educated men who taught him to read and write. When two drunken men killed Lenny's father, he gunned them down in a fit of rage. After three years of constantly running from the law, he joins the Van der Linde gang and earns the trust of his companions.
Red Dead Redemption II's Lenny is compelling because he is a vocal reminder of the heightened racial tensions that plagued the wild frontier. In camp, he provides first-hand accounts of violence against his family. The "Preaching Forgiveness As He Went" mission is particularly striking, as Lenny educates Arthur about the experiences of being black in a hateful America; "…but most of [racism is] a glance, or a word, and after that, a visit in the night."
Grace – Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus & Wolfenstein: Youngblood
I dare you to name a revolutionary more courageous and committed to her cause than Grace Walker. She's no stranger to pain, having suffered severe burn wounds from an atomic bombing and experiencing the loss of a life partner. Even so, Grace joins the American Resistance in her daughter's name and to protect her people.
She might be a little rough around the edges to newbies like B.J. and team members that she can't trust, but who wouldn't be when fighting for freedom? Give the gutsy heroine a machine gun, and she'll get the job done alongside some of Wolfenstein's most badass protagonists. Grace joins this list as a testament to black strength and resilience in the face of systemic racism.
Lee/Clementine – Telltale's The Walking Dead
A former history professor at the University of Georgia, Lee begins his apocalyptic journey, downcast, in the backseat of a cop car – not an ideal start for a black character in modern-day America. Lee discovers his saving grace: Clementine. Through their strong bond, Lee finds absolution while Clementine transforms into a leader and pseudo-parent of equal measure.
Lee comes across racism in his fight for survival, but his self-agency is never limited by it. He rises above his foes, shielding Clem from the horrors of the apocalypse and making the ultimate sacrifice. Years later, Clem evokes those same commendable qualities – making the hard, important decisions when no one else will and saving more than a few lives along the way. Lee and Clem are proof that we're in dire need of more riveting black leads in blockbuster franchises.
Alyx – Half-Life 2 & Half-Life: Alyx
The Combine didn't take long to assert its interdimensional dominance over human society. Alyx and her father, Eli, escape the ensuing struggle, but they do not flee unscathed. Eventually, the two find respite in a nearby wasteland. Many years pass, and Alyx joins the Resistance to retake the planet.
Alyx becomes a key figure in the war effort against The Combine and assists leading-man Gordon Freeman in Half-Life 2 as he explores the regions of Black Mesa. In her own standalone game, Alyx showcases her proficiency at hacking and combat, which, thankfully, frees her from the troubling but oft-repeated restrictions of the "damsel-in-distress" or "scantily clad-warrior" tropes. Simply put, Alyx is a shining example of black femininity.
Captain Anderson – Mass Effect
One of the Alliance's most well-respected soldiers, Captain Anderson is a veteran of The First Contact War: a series of battles that occurred after humanity's first contact with extraterrestrial life. Despite his personal hardships and betrayal at the hands of Mass Effect's antagonist Saren, he remains Shepard's most loyal supporter. With his constant guidance and active assistance, you handily defeat the universe's most daring threat.
Anderson's myriad decorations and commendations include captaining the iconic Normandy cruiser, graduating from the legendary N7 branch of the Alliance, and being instated as the first human Council member. These various occupational successes are nothing short of exemplary. Human ethnicity is not explored in Mass Effect, although it does deal with xenophobia (*ahem* Ashley). Nevertheless, Anderson has been included here because of the high, prestigious standards he sets for the soldiers around him, including Shepard.
Barrett – Final Fantasy VII Remake
Thank goodness for Final Fantasy VII Remake. Barrett is one of gaming's most prominent black characters. Still, his stereotypical physique and othering diction in the original FFVII were painful to see.
Even now, Barrett straddles the line between "passionate environmental activist" and "loud, angry black man." However, his dialogue outside of battle and tense cinematics often reveal levels of depth that he lacked in the '90s. I mean, who could ever forget his riveting speech about complicity in the Shinra elevator cutscene? Barrett is not only a doting parent (much like our following entry) but a charismatic icon for Sector 7 citizens and the game's colorful troupe of heroes.