7 Days of Pokémon Go: Day Six – All In the Game, Yo. All In The Game

Look fam, last week was rough. You watched Black people gunned down by police every day in different cities across the country, 5 police officers were killed after what had been a peaceful protest, and you probably found yourself in more than one unsolicited “All Lives Matter” conversation. We’re there with you. While digesting all of this pain, we have found moments to steal some joy back for ourselves, following the lead of our colleague Lauren Bullock’s column about the Blackest Joy in the form of Pokémon Go. We’re bringing you 7 days of Pokémon Go, our testimonies and our spontaneous moments of delight that have helped us get by. Catch our week-long series here. Theoretical conversation between the BNP staff that is familiar with Pokemon and myself upon the release of Pokemon Go: Me: Aiight, aiight. Since we ain’t gettin’ nothing moving off the boards cuz y’all trainers on this Pokemon Go shit… Give it to me, the hell is this? Various Black Nerd Problems Staff: Um, it’s Pokemon, what needs explained? Me: Dude, I watched the original He-Man live. Humor me. VBNPS: You can collect Pokemon in your neighborhood. Me: In your own hood? VBNPS: Yeah, you have to walk around. Me: You mean the block? VBNPS: um…sure Me: And you slangin’ them pokeballs, right? VBNPS: Not sure anyone said anything about slangin’… Me: And your goal is to keep building your squad and taking over territory. VBNPS: Well, I guess it’s technically territory but it’s called a gym— Me: Shit sounds like The…