BIPOC & DEIB – Stonemaier Games

BIPOC & DEIB

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Deaf History Month

August is National Black Business Month

Below are some Black-owned businesses connected to the tabletop game industry. We’re happy to add to the list if you have suggestions!

Deaf History Month starts Sunday, March 13th and runs through April 15th (2022)

What is Deaf History Month:

It was introduced in 1997 by The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), National Deaf History Month recognized the accomplishments of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. National Deaf History Month has been celebrated annually from March 13 – April 15 to recognize three key developments for the Deaf community.

What are the three key developments?:

  1. A school for deaf students opened on April 15, 1817 which is now the American School for the Deaf.
  2. The founding of the first college dedicated for the deaf and hard of hearing which is called Gallaudet University, on April 8, 1864.
  3. The hiring of the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, I. King Jordan on March 13, 1988.

Today, about 11.5 million Americans have some sort of hearing impairment, ranging from difficulty in hearing conversation to total hearing loss.

HLAA_HearingLoss_Facts_Statistics.pdf

Black History Month

Black History Month

 I want to introduce to you two individuals that I’ve met that are awesome black content creators:

De’Von Truvel: Game Designer of Black Wall Street

I’ve had the opportunity to sit on a panel with De’Von at Gameschoolcon in California on diversity in board gaming and he shared with me his wonderful game called “Black Wall Street”

Its theme is based around the Tulsa Riots with teaching tools on financial literacy and activities to motivate future entrepreneurships. I’ve personally used this tool educationally and really connects building a foundation of providing accessibility to all players.

https://www.playblackwallstreet.com

Jason Crayton and Peter Ferry: Co-Creators of Faction Battlegrounds

Faction Battlegrounds is a multiplayer fantasy combat board game representing diverse cultures and mythologies from African, South American, Native American and more.

I was able to play this game at the Stonemaier Design day and was impressed by the representation of diversity. The intent was clear, with the authenticity throughout, including how to pronounce the names, background, and brief knowledge about the culture. This was definitely a highlight for me. 

https://factionsbattlegrounds.com

Happy Lunar New Year!

Happy Lunar New Year!

The Lunar New Year starts on February 1st and is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures and communities

Instead of just celebrating on one day like many of us are used to, the Lunar New Year is celebrated throughout many days

Each Lunar calendar has 12 Chinese zodiac animals (rat, ox, tiger, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig) as well as the five elements are also on the calendar. Since each year a zodiac animal on the calendar corresponds to an element, it is time for the year of the Water Tiger to appear!

The year of the Water Tiger will last until January 2023.

Attached is a wonderful link to learn more about the Lunar New Year as well as activities you can share with your families

https://asia.si.edu/lunar-new-year-celebration/

Native American Heritage Month

What is Native American Heritage Month:

November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

“The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also a time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.” (source)

Example of board games from Native Americans:

Board games from Native Americans

International Pronouns Day

International Pronouns Day happens each year on the third Wednesday of October. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Print out this selfie sign (or edit it into your pictures), fill in your pronouns, and post on social media using the hashtags #MyPronounsAre and #ShareYourPronouns to tell the world why it’s important to use the correct pronouns for everyone.

How this promotes DEI in tabletop gaming:

Acknowledging pronouns not only provides a safe space for individuals, it allows for everyone to be truly seen as they want to be seen by the name and pronoun they prefer.  One big supporter for this cause that we see at conventions is Tabletop Gaymers Inc.

What is Tabletop Gaymers Inc.

TABLETOP GAYMERS is a nonprofit organization whose mission is championing the visibility and inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community through tabletop gaming.

(LGBTQIA+ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and others)

They are a wonderful organzation that are seen at conventions passing our pronoun badges to be attached to existing badges as well as host events to support their mission of visibility and inclusion in the LGBTQIA+ community. Usually they are outside of the convention halls but I encourage us to start thinking about how to make space into our gaming halls.

https://tabletopgaymers.org/about/

National Hispanic Heritage Month

What is National Hispanic Heritage Month?

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.

https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/

Why Is It Important to the Board Game Community?

One of the goals of DEI is to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion to tabletops worldwide, part of which includes learning about different heritages and celebrating content creators and designers of Hispanic heritage.

An important step in becoming significantly more proactive in “doing the work” to be more inclusive to those who are underrepresented, undersupported, and marginalized in the gaming community and industry was setting and tracking goals in the chart below. After doing this for around 18 months, I decided to to stop “keeping score,” focusing more on the work instead of counting. Treating people as individuals, not numbers, as has been a guiding philosophy since 2012. Also, it was enlightening for me to realize that this isn’t about me (or Stonemaier Games). It’s about diversity, equity, and inclusion; it’s about moving the needle, not pointing fingers at myself or others; it’s about choosing love over hate. I can assure you that the work continues, sometimes actively, sometimes by responding to those who fill out the above form, sometimes a mix of both. –Jamey