Poll: Is Resident Evil 5 Racist?

[asinann]

I was discussing Resident Evil 5 with my friends the other day and we got into an argument on whether the new Resident Evil is racist or not since you're attacking an African village filled with zombies. Some of my friends said that it was racist since it involves massacring a minority, but I think it isn't racist because you're fighting zombies, not performing genocide, and Resident Evil 4 involves a Spanish village and no one really raised much attention on that. Anyway, what do you think?

It's because they are black, and Spaniards are Caucasian... period.

 

[K_Dub]

Once the main characters of the game begin to make racial slurs and comments of the ever bitey minority, then I'll become a little concerned. Until then, "Die you zombie! Ha Ha! Die you apparently black zombie!!"

 

[Hevoo]

No, just because it has people who are black in Africa does not mean it is RACIST.... Anyone thinks that, needs to look up the definition of racism.

Haha. In fact, segregating them and making it an issue instead of accepting that they are just human, like these people are doing, comes off a lot more racist thatn the game designers, who obviously just see that people are people.

Making race and issue is just as racist as most things, except, you know, blatant racism.

I agree

You posted a logical argument witch lacked a clear point. Theres no real attack on your post that can easily be made.

Here's the point. Africans are poverty-stricken, starving, and dying on a scale that is baffling in this post-modern world. RE5 is making THOSE people the bad guys you have to shoot at. Do you see how that might be a little bit of poor taste?

See above.

Also...

IM SORRY MISTER!

I didnt know I have to be so political correct all the time, I will work on that. You make me sick, you and the billions of people who think like you are what is wrong with this twisted world, trying to cover up things that you think are unseemly, and unsightly.

If anyone is the racist here, its the people who bring up the issue of race.....

First you cover up the present to mask our short comings as a civilization, then your kind will mask our history, all ideas start small and grow with time.

 

[Jumplion]

(I know I posted before, but whatever)

Basically, take this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1IQfLItmBE] and replace "Fat Princess" with "Resident Evil 5", "Fat Chicks" with "Black Dudes", and any other neccisary things to relate it more to RE5.

It's not intended to be racist, but it's still "kind of there" if you quote Moviebob.

I can understand why someone might think it's racist, I don't think it's racist or intended to be, but I understand how someone would be unsettled by it. I mean, if I'm just a regular guy who has no idea what the fuck a "resident evil" is then I'm going to see a white guy shoot black guys, but it's how I process what I see that's going to make the difference between me thinking it's racist.

 

[Hevoo]

(I know I posted before, but whatever)

Basically, take this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1IQfLItmBE] and replace "Fat Princess" with "Resident Evil 5", "Fat Chicks" with "Black Dudes", and any other neccisary things to relate it more to RE5.

It's not intended to be racist, but it's still "kind of there" if you quote Moviebob.

I can understand why someone might think it's racist, I don't think it's racist or intended to be, but I understand how someone would be unsettled by it.

I watched that before it was a good video.

I agree with him.

 

[Jumplion]

(I know I posted before, but whatever)

Basically, take this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1IQfLItmBE] and replace "Fat Princess" with "Resident Evil 5", "Fat Chicks" with "Black Dudes", and any other neccisary things to relate it more to RE5.

It's not intended to be racist, but it's still "kind of there" if you quote Moviebob.

I can understand why someone might think it's racist, I don't think it's racist or intended to be, but I understand how someone would be unsettled by it.

I watched that before it was a good video.

I agree with him.

Heh, I got in a sortof argument with him when I pointed out his hipocrasy saying that "RE5 is from Japan, it's not racist!" yet he was saying that the feminization in Fat Princess is "kindof there".

The racism in RE5 is "kindof there" but it wasn't intended, just like the Fat Princess Fiasco thing.

 

[anti_strunt]

So, no, claiming that they are "just zombies" is not a valid defense against raciscm.
Claiming that they are the aggressors is not a valid defense against raciscm.

Sure they are.

If a white man kills a black man because, say, the black man ran over his kid (As an example), then that's not a racist. Race had nothing to do with the white guy wanting, and succeeding, in killing the black man. Whether he was white or black or Asian or Hispanic, his kid was dead and he wanted revenge.

If a black man attacked a white man in an alley or something and the white man killed him in self-defense: That's not racist. Again, race had NOTHING to do with it. It was self defense. Wouldn't matter WHAT race the guy was! He was protecting himself.

If a zombie-virus gets released in Africa and the hero of the day has to kill a bunch of zombies to save the day, and those zombies happen to be black, that's not racist. Race, again, has NOTHING to do with it! It wouldn't matter what race they are.

The point is: If race isn't the cause, then race isn't the issue.

Alright, the self-defense point need elaborating: obviously if someone is directly attacked they have the right to defend themselves irregardless of the race of either party.

My point (though somewhat confused, I'll admit) was that very act of self-defense can, and very often is, used to justify racist violence. In other words, racism isn't always about going to their country and killing them there, it is usually about defending the "race" against outside aggression.

There is still the fact that one must consider the context of this self-defense. Why is he being attacked, and how is it portrayed? Does it fit into common stereotypes about "black savages" attacking whites or what-have-you?

For instance, do the black zombies only attack white people? That would obviously be strange, and I really don't that's the case, but the fact remains that "self-defense" is not necessarily a get-out-of-jail-free card as far as racism is concerned.

 

[mike1921]

but that doesn't give you the right to make fun of them, do not dismiss some of the accusations that said people make, instead make them understand why they're wrong. They have a point though, on the surface this game may look racist but it really isn't.

Yes it does give us the right to make fun of them for being ridiculous. If you're going to judge a game, you're not a gamer, you don't plan to play this game, you have never played a game in this series, and you're just judging it by the surface without even thinking of context than fuck your opinion and your points.

but the fact remains that "self-defense" is not necessarily a get-out-of-jail-free card as far as racism is concerned.

IT is, but it only counts for the encounter you were in, not what kind of person you are or how it started.

 

[Sion_Barzahd]

As soon as me and my friend saw the first trailer for RE5 he made a racist comment, and i knew that would end up being an issue.
But really the game isn't racist at all. Africa has african people, its like saying waters wet, kinda obvious.
All capcom are doing is trying out a different location for their game. I mean how many games are set in a New York-esque place?
Now, if RE5 game with an unlockable white robe costume, then it'd be racist.

 

[Jumplion]

but that doesn't give you the right to make fun of them, do not dismiss some of the accusations that said people make, instead make them understand why they're wrong. They have a point though, on the surface this game may look racist but it really isn't.

Yes it does give us the right to make fun of them for being ridiculous. If you're going to judge a game, you're not a gamer, you don't plan to play this game, you have never played a game in this series, and you're just judging it by the surface without even thinking of context than fuck your opinion and your points.

Oh please, we always do that anyway, gamer or not.

I'm sorry if I have no knowledge of the Resident Evil universe, or that there's a corporation called umbrella, or that there's a virus going around the world in the universe just by looking at a screenshot of a game, but I don't want to nor to I care to go and do my research and say "Oh, they're actually zombies/infected people! It's not racist *la dee da*"

The above was from a regular guys perspective, not mine.

 

[GuerrillaClock]

You posted a logical argument witch lacked a clear point. Theres no real attack on your post that can easily be made.

Here's the point. Africans are poverty-stricken, starving, and dying on a scale that is baffling in this post-modern world. RE5 is making THOSE people the bad guys you have to shoot at. Do you see how that might be a little bit of poor taste?

No, RE5 is making zombies the bad guys.. again. Why segregate them by race when they behave exactly the same way as the baddies from RE4? The story obviously puts Chris Redfield in Africa,so it stands to reason that he will have to kill BLACK zombies.

There is no issue here, or there shouldn't have been until some patronizing idiot made one. Just making a race issue because the game features black people is surely more racist than just, say, passing it over because it's only a setting for a video game? Maybe?

 

[anti_strunt]

but that doesn't give you the right to make fun of them, do not dismiss some of the accusations that said people make, instead make them understand why they're wrong. They have a point though, on the surface this game may look racist but it really isn't.

Yes it does give us the right to make fun of them for being ridiculous. If you're going to judge a game, you're not a gamer, you don't plan to play this game, you have never played a game in this series, and you're just judging it by the surface without even thinking of context than fuck your opinion and your points.

...and that precisly the attitude I've been telling people to drop. We gamers aren't just some guys in a little secret club anymore (if we ever where). We are a multi-billion dollar industry. We are a part of the "real world". And the "real world" is watching us. They and their opinions are not going to fuck off, no matter how much you might wish it.

We don't have a choice whether to face outside scrutiny. We can only choose how we react. Telling them to "fuck off"... simply won't do in the long term.

but the fact remains that "self-defense" is not necessarily a get-out-of-jail-free card as far as racism is concerned.

IT is, but it only counts for the encounter you were in, not how you are or how it started.[/quote]

Indeed, and until we know more specifics on the greater situation, accusations of racism cannot be denied anymore than they can be accepted. Both sides just have to wait and see...

 

[mike1921]

I'm sorry if I have no knowledge of the Resident Evil universe, or that there's a corporation called umbrella, or that there's a virus going around the world in the universe just by looking at a screenshot of a game, but I don't want to nor to I care to go and do my research and say "Oh, they're actually zombies/infected people! It's not racist *la dee da*"

Than your opinion doesn't matter and niether do any of the points you make. Although you do know all the context you need, for all you know there's context to that context that indeed makes it racist.

...and that precisly the attitude I've been telling people to drop. We gamers aren't just some guys in a little secret club anymore (if we ever where). We are a multi-billion dollar industry. We are a part of the "real world". And the "real world" is watching us. They and their opinions are not going to fuck off, no matter how much you might wish it.

Regardless of how big the industry gets, non-gamers can't judge. Just like I could never judge a movie if I don't watch movies and am not going to atleast read the plot summary on the wiki. I never did any research on V for Vendatta , and never saw it, so my opinion on it could fuck off. And, if game developers had some nads they would indeed say "fuck you" to any non-gamers who aren't going to look things up. Or atleast send their email-adresses to me so I can send them pictures of my groin and then have them arrested for child pornography.

We don't have a choice whether to face outside scrutiny. We can only chose how we react. Telling them to "fuck off"... simply won't do.

That's the best way to react. But this is coming from a guy who wouldn't send a terrorist a penny to save the earth from being blown up if I can't get that penny back or beat the shit out of them.

 

[Hevoo]

(I know I posted before, but whatever)

Basically, take this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1IQfLItmBE] and replace "Fat Princess" with "Resident Evil 5", "Fat Chicks" with "Black Dudes", and any other neccisary things to relate it more to RE5.

It's not intended to be racist, but it's still "kind of there" if you quote Moviebob.

I can understand why someone might think it's racist, I don't think it's racist or intended to be, but I understand how someone would be unsettled by it.

I watched that before it was a good video.

I agree with him.

Heh, I got in a sortof argument with him when I pointed out his hipocrasy saying that "RE5 is from Japan, it's not racist!" yet he was saying that the feminization in Fat Princess is "kindof there".

The racism in RE5 is "kindof there" but it wasn't intended, just like the Fat Princess Fiasco thing.

I WILL EXPLAIN RACISM TO EVERYONE.

Racism is Subjective in nature.

I know what racism is, even if other say I may not, because I'm white(that in itself is racist). Well here in America we call this white guilt, because I have to feel bad for what other white people did 140 years ago to blacks. Now, if I don't feel bad, I would be labeled a racist, If I do feel bad; that would only continue the idea of racism, and that's not good.

The thing is I don't feel bad, because I'm not a racist, and I don't have to prove to anyone that I'm not a racist, but society makes me. I don't know or care for the whites that did that slavery crap all the way back then. They are just a bunch of white rednecks, and for the racist today who are white, they are still white rednecks.

As for racism in the eyes of another race, I don't know what that is because I'm white. I don't know what it means to be called a racial slur and I will never know what that feels like. Does that make me not understand racism, not at all.

The best thing to do is deal with racism head on, everyone has to admit that they are a little racist at time. Getting over that step is the first step to ending racism. As far as poking fun at race, I think its the greatest thing you can do because there is a little Irony. That Irony being that its funny to make fun of something, that in the greater context of things it should not mean anything, but because we are forced to be political correct, it means everything.

Now for Hate itself, that is Objective in nature.
But what you hate is Subjective, case in point race...

As far as this game goes and race... Its not racist at all. It point some facts out about cultures, first the Japaneses don't know how to handle race. But also it its factual what there are a lot of blacks in Africa, and they happen to be poor. Just because they are acting like crazed zombies, does not mean they are like that as normal non zombies. For people who think that this game is showing just that, they themselves are racist, and have to get over there denial of not being racist.

 

[Axolotl]

Here's the point. Africans are poverty-stricken, starving, and dying on a scale that is baffling in this post-modern world. RE5 is making THOSE people the bad guys you have to shoot at. Do you see how that might be a little bit of poor taste?

Yes, yes I do as I've already stated in this thread it's far to similar the traditional "Mighty Whitey" style used in virtually every depiction of Africans up until WW1.

 

[I Stomp on Kittens]

Your in Africa what do you expect...This is why I think people need to look up Racism and know what it means (not talking to the owner of this thread but its annoying)

 

[Avatar Roku]

Did you know that black people actually live in Africa?
It's true! I've been there!

i dont believe you

I know these crazy kids today and there crazy ideas...

You said it. In my day, if you were gonna shoot up an African villiage, you had to be damned sure everyone in it was white. These crazy kids...

 

[anti_strunt]

I WILL EXPLAIN RACISM TO EVERYONE.

Racism is Subjective in nature.

I know what racism is, even if other say I may not, because I'm white(that in itself is racist). Well here in America we call this white guilt, because I have to feel bad for what other white people did 140 years ago to blacks. Now, if I don't feel bad, I would be labeled a racist, If I do feel bad; that would only continue the idea of racism, and that's not good.

The thing is I don't feel bad, because I'm not a racist, and I don't have to prove to anyone that I'm not a racist, but society makes me. I don't know or care for the whites that did that slavery crap all the way back then. They are just a bunch of white rednecks, and for the racist today who are white, they are still white rednecks.

As for racism in the eyes of another race, I don't know what that is because I'm white. I don't know what it means to be called a racial slur and I will never know what that feels like. Does that make me not understand racism, not at all.

You Americans really have some issues... No offense.

...

Anyway. Another very popular argument against possible racism:
"It's in Africa, of course there are Africans around! (Suggesting otherwise makes you a racist!)"

I'll ignore the utterly brilliant second part if you don't mind.
Now obviously he'll be killing Africans, just as if he were in Tel Aviv he would be killing Jews, or if he was in an Orphanage he?d be killing Zombie Orphans. No sane person is claming that the game is racist for the mere act of portraying Africans as living in Africa.

Claiming so is just an absurd strawman argument, and you all should really know better.

The point, rather, is twofold:
1. Why is the game taking place in Africa? Don't say "because of the story" because the creators can come up with whatever the fuck they want. They very deliberately choose to locate the game in Africa. Obviously I don't think their reason was that they hate black people, but they obviously did it for a reason.
The most probable, in my opinion: atmosphere. They wanted to evoke a certain horror atmosphere and they thought Africa would be best for this purpose. I suppose they want a more visceral, down-to-earth feel after the rather Gothic Spanish adventure. Is this racist? Not really, in my opinion, but they still picked Africa because it evoked certain emotions and carried certain connotations. Some of those may very well have racist-mythological roots, so again, there may be cause for concern; if they picked Africa because they thought it closely connected with blood-sucking cannibal savages, then that would be rather racist of them. They are walking a rather thin line.

2. The portrayal of blacks and Africa. Nothing much can be said about this, of course. I can only repeat what I said before: no matter the reason for being in Africa, and no matter if they are zombies or not, the population of Africa could still possibly ending up being portrayed in a racist manner, even if no ill was intended. But this we can't know, so it's useless to discuss; but neither can it be debunked.

Consider this though: if this was only about knee-jerk political correctness against any portrayal of Africa what-so-ever, where is the storm of rage about FarCry 2?

 

[PirateKing]

Just because a villain is black and the hero is white that doesn't automatically make it racist. Plus these people are like--under the control of las plagas or something. It's self defense, not pointless murder.
Plus I think there's some white guy who's behind all of it. Probably Wesker or some subordinate of his.
Not a lot of games are set in Africa either. A fairly original choice.

 

[anti_strunt]

Plus I think there's some white guy who's behind all of it. Probably Wesker or some subordinate of his.

Aha! So black people are incapable of forming their own master plans for world domination, eh?!