I’m of two minds about Overwatch. On one hand, it’s good that the franchise deli

I’m of two minds about Overwatch. On one hand, it’s good that the franchise deliberately puts underrepresented peoples and character archetypes in positive positions of power and heroism. On the other, this inherent setup means the reality of each character’s sociopolitical struggles on the basis of their identities is pushed aside for the sake of this idealism. This is why characters don’t make overtly racist, sexist, anti-LGBTQA+ remarks to one another, and simultaneously it’s why the omnics exist: to stand-in for bigotry in a world that must have some sort of strife.This tug-of-war between hopeful idealism and the ignoring of real sociopolitical issues makes Overwatch both well-meaning and awkward, and the reality is thus something I explore in my own fanworks. I enjoy Blizzard’s Lúcio because he’s an openly black, positive social revolutionary whose body and legacy weren’t destroyed in any way by white people who witnessed his feats. But Blizzard also gave him a backstory wherein he grew up in a favela, a type of neighborhood that only exists due to centuries of racism, disenfranchisement, wealth inequality, and black revolt in Brazil. Racism is, thus, as inherent to Lúcio as his music, or his skating, or Jonny Cruz.And yet, it’s background fodder. In in effort to uphold the optimism of the universe, and in a reality where the gaming community at large is hostile to the reminders of minorities’ realities and Blizzard, as a corporation, will never seek to alienate that community, Lúcio nonetheless remains a non-controversial favorite, practically a feel-good meme, because you don’t have to confront the racism that defines him as a character to play the game or enjoy his personality.But right now, the United States is in the throes of a flash fire revolution not unlike what Lúcio would lead, all due to the same white supremacy that connects not just black Americans, or black Brazilians, but black people the world over.It is unavoidable now. It cannot be pushed away. It can’t be tucked away in a little background blurb in the hero gallery. Racism is real. The police exist to enforce the protection of property and wealth at the expense of black people’s well-being. Lúcio grew up in a favela, and favelas are also a result of white supremacy. And thus, it’s very likely, Lúcio would need to have “the talk” with a young boy who is as angry as he was when he fought back. -- source link

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