The Harlem Renaissance for Gaming: Game Devs of Color Expo 2018

On July 14th, Harlem welcomed creators from all over to participate in Game Devs of Color Expo 2018. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which is renowned for its fantastic research library that focuses on the histories of people of African descent, hosted their third annual event. As I walked through the doors and past check-in, the three floors were buzzing with excitement. There was no shortage of games to test, and pretty much every seat in front of a console, screen, or board game was occupied. People were digging the atmosphere! It felt like there was something for everyone in each room. You like card games? BAM, check this out Are you a messy bud who enjoys playing with your food? There’s something for you! BNP’s Chris Aiken has some epic highlights from the expo, so check it out!

The energy was not muted, or awkward, or lackluster. There was so much happiness and passion in this environment, which speaks volumes for the coordinators and creators. To have a place that nourishes creatives and encourages diversity, justice, and inclusivity within the gaming and development world is immensely necessary not just for progression technologically but for the betterment of humankind. We as a society depend on the arts, not just for entertainment but for an expression of the soul. Technological breakthroughs coupled with a need to build an inclusive community is crucial in the making of a nurturing, revolutionary game development platform. One panel focused on …