Twitch has removed a Black Lives Matter video following criticism that too many of the featured streamers were white.
Published yesterday, the video featured prominent streamers such as jacksepticeye, CrankGameplays and DrLupo, and while a few Black streamers were briefly shown, most of the talking was done by white streamers. In fact, only one line in the minute-long video was from a Black streamer.
Black creators took to Twitter to express their dismay that the video had failed to properly represent Black people, highlighting the many streamers who would have been better suited to speak. Twitch has now deleted the video.
I’m sorry, but this is maddening to me.
Twitch talks about the importance of #BLMYET STILL
1. Has 90% of the talking done by white/nonblack people
2. Doesn’t promote any black streamers/content creatorsShare and promote Black Twitch content, here or in retweets! pic.twitter.com/fMJ8DNq7yU
— The Barack Obama of Arab Men In Their Late 20’s (@MisterMessiah) July 9, 2020
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Oh hey, remember when I hosted a much needed #BLACKAFRoundtable on my channel for one (1) hour & these were the stats from it?
You have Black streamers who do the damn thing too, @Twitch. Black voices can speak for themselves. Support us by actually supporting us.
Period. pic.twitter.com/hD14Jff8Ip
— OMEGA “CB” JONES (@CritBard) July 9, 2020
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This is a whole bucket of fail. There’s a WHOLE LOT of Black Creators on here who not only speak out on this ALL THE TIME, but don’t get any credit for it.
Y’all are speaking over us. Highlight Black folks doing the work already. https://t.co/6X4toho32z
— Cypher to be found elsewhere (@cypheroftyr) July 9, 2020
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In response to the backlash, Twitch said it “heard” what critics were saying, but argued its goal was to demonstrate “the importance of allyship”, a message Twitch says it failed to make clear. In the replies to this tweet, many argued that Black voices should be given priority over allies, and that Twitch is yet to act on the video’s message of promoting Black content creators.