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Sooo... D&D's recent statement on their plans for diversity and depictions of race.
TL;DR here. I support the promise of diversity, inclusion, and community, but I highly doubt that Wizards is going to live up to those words. (1/18)
TL;DR here. I support the promise of diversity, inclusion, and community, but I highly doubt that Wizards is going to live up to those words. (1/18)
I'm gonna pretend that y'all know the history of conversations on race and the bioessentialism of D&D. If you don't, go ahead, do a google, then come back. I don't have the energy to educate you on that right now. (2/18)
So D&D made this tweet on 17Jun2020. It includes a link to a longer statement on the Wizard's website. The statement discusses plans and actions that Wizards has/is taking to fix their mistakes and do better.
(3/18) https://twitter.com/Wizards_DnD/status/1273413119813890048?s=20
(3/18) https://twitter.com/Wizards_DnD/status/1273413119813890048?s=20
D&D's making changes to CoS and ToA due to the racist depictions of Vistani and Chultans. They don't address mongrelfolk within CoS which... is also a major issue.
D&D mentions a Romani consultant on board and they are looking to expand their staff and consultants team. (4/18)
D&D mentions a Romani consultant on board and they are looking to expand their staff and consultants team. (4/18)
Yesterday a D&D freelancer made a post about how it's too late for D&D. (No I am not tagging the freelancer or the post. DO NOT TAG THEM on this thread)
They said NDAs have prevented marginalized creators from talking about their negative experiences with the company. (5/18)
They said NDAs have prevented marginalized creators from talking about their negative experiences with the company. (5/18)
They are not the first person to mention these NDAs with the Gag Clause.
For those of you who don't know, Gag Clauses are supposed to prevent people from spilling company secrets, but are often used to prevent people from talking about negative experiences. (6/18)
For those of you who don't know, Gag Clauses are supposed to prevent people from spilling company secrets, but are often used to prevent people from talking about negative experiences. (6/18)
So looking at this situation, A bunch of marginalized consultants will be joining D&D, hit with a Gag Clause, and then made unable to speak up publicly if things go wrong? Its a situation primed for disaster. D&D is NOT making a space that is safe for marginalized groups. (7/18)
Moving forward! Yesterday's book announcement. Look at this tweet. Look at the entire team. Seems cool right? Lots of big names! Gender and sexuality diverse, but there's an issue. Only 2 are POC. 0 POC on the writing team. (8/18) https://twitter.com/ChrisPerkinsDnD/status/1273700597770801152
It feels incredibly performative to say you're working on being more diverse, only to promote your most recent book which is the whitest thing since pre-mixed mayochup. Do you see where this is going? D&D makes promises, then immediately takes contradicting actions. (9/18)
Now some people disliked the call for FireMikeMearls on the diversity post which is completely fair. Here's why I, personally, think its important to be happy about this
promise of diversity while also calling for MM to be removed. (10/18)
promise of diversity while also calling for MM to be removed. (10/18)
MM is a bad person and is working on the RPG. Any consultants are gonna have to deal with him in some capacity. That post is full of promise, but no verifiable actions yet. If D&D really wants to prove they are listening to the community, they should and can do both. (11/18)
Fire MM AND move forward with the celebration of diversity and inclusion. RN D&D is a White Boys Club.
To support and give marginalized voices a stage and platform, missing stairs and false allyship must be rooted out. Take action to Fire MM as an act of good faith. (12/18)
To support and give marginalized voices a stage and platform, missing stairs and false allyship must be rooted out. Take action to Fire MM as an act of good faith. (12/18)
Firing MM is not the end all be all to making a safe place for marginalized people. You have to address the reasons - why MM remained for so long
- who allowed him to remain
- what systems failed to prevent it
- how to prevent those mistakes from happening again.
(13/18)
- who allowed him to remain
- what systems failed to prevent it
- how to prevent those mistakes from happening again.
(13/18)
And EVEN that's not the end. They must also address:
- How they treat freelancers & staff
- Giving marginalized groups space to speak up against the systems of oppression within the company
- How to support those voices without speaking over them
(14/18)
- How they treat freelancers & staff
- Giving marginalized groups space to speak up against the systems of oppression within the company
- How to support those voices without speaking over them
(14/18)
It's a long and difficult road full of uncomfortable conversations. But if D&D wants to be better and do better? The people in power NEED to have these conversations with an open and honest heart. They NEED to handle these issues. And they CANNOT blame those they've hurt. (15/18)
I want WotC to do better, but they haven't proven themselves. Every step of the way feels like pulling teeth and this doesn't feel like a solution. I'm worried for the people they hire. I'm worried for the ecstatic creators hoping to do good work, only to end up hurt. (16/18)
I hope WotC proves me wrong. I desperately hope they prove me wrong. But only time will tell. To anyone who is going to be joining the team, be careful. And if the time comes and you need someone on your side? Let me know. I'll be there.
Thank you for hearing me out. (17/18)
Thank you for hearing me out. (17/18)
If you like this thread and it helped you see or understand these issues, consider throwing some money towards Prism Pals Tiltify.
We are trying to raise money for The Bail Project and are trying to reach $1000 by the end of June. (18/18) https://tiltify.com/@prismpals/prism-pals-for-justice
We are trying to raise money for The Bail Project and are trying to reach $1000 by the end of June. (18/18) https://tiltify.com/@prismpals/prism-pals-for-justice
