MAC Members: A research opportunity. Linda Florence Callahan Immediate Past Head, MAC NC A&T State University Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Greensboro, NC 27411 (336) 334-7221 or 334-7900 -----Forwarded by Dr. Linda Callahan/NCAT on 08/21/2004 08:44PM ----- To: MMTC Scholars List H-P <[log in to unmask]> From: David Honig <[log in to unmask]> Date: 08/20/2004 05:01PM Subject: Scholars Needed to Conduct Research on Video Games Dear Colleagues, MMTC has received a request for scholarly assistance from our friends at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights As described below, LCCR needs scholars to perform an investigation of racial stereotypes in video games. This is a worthwhile project that is profoundly worthy of consideration. Sincerely, David David Honig Executive Director Minority Media and Telecommunications Council 3636 16th Street N.W. #B-366 Washington, D.C. 20010 Tel: 202-332-7005 Cell: 202-669-4533 Fax: 202-332-7511 [log in to unmask] August 20, 2004 MEMORANDUM TO MMTC SCHOLARS LIST FROM: Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law RE: Video Games August 20, 2004 As you may know, video games have become wildly popular over the last several years. What you may not know is that these games are widely accessible and often contain deeply racist, sexist, homophobic, and violent images and themes. For example, in one of the games I recently previewed, an African American male character is shot, urinated on, set on fire, and then the announcer makes a remark about fried chicken and about African Americans all looking alike. In another game, a female character is violently assaulted and then urinated on. A coalition of organizations has recently been formed to address the proliferation of video games that promote hate crimes. Partners Against Hate, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, NAPALC, the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility and a local law firm, are working together to develop a strategy to address this problem. Current plans include putting pressure on the creators of the games and the executives of the stores in which these games are sold. A letter of concern has been drafted and the coalition came to the conclusion that the letter will be more effective if specific examples of racial, sexual, and religious discrimination are included. Therefore, a thorough study of video games currently on the market is needed. Such an investigation will explore the racist and discriminatory images, commentary and actions utilized for entertainment marketed to youth, and will provide a report of specific examples which will be used in subsequent correspondence and to educate the public about this growing problem. The product deliverable will be a report which will include: identifying the video game (creator, rating information) detailed descriptions of racial, sexual and religious stereotypes (character features, accents, etc.) actions against a particular race, gender or religion (i.e. shooting persons of color, engaging in sexual actions with women) audio commentary perpetuating discrimination, stereotypes (i.e. after setting fire to a black target, commentary has included, "how's that for welfare reform?" and "who says 'they all' don't look alike?") marketing information, if available (popularity of the game, purchased by, etc.) The logistics of the project are open to discussion. The goal is to have this report completed by November 15, 2004. Please contact Jamie Dunchick at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law ([log in to unmask], 202.662.8334) if you are interested in performing this investigation.