Slay - Brittney Morris

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⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

The second book I've read this month about a gamer who's a person of colour, but library holds sometimes decide your fate for you.

In this book, Kiera has created a game called SLAY that is only for Black players around the world, which is a way for them to be in a place free from racism and celebrate Black excellence in all its forms. Nobody knows she's the creator, but things start getting wild when a player is killed in real life over the game.

Obviously this book has a lot to do with video games, but it also examines what it means to be Black in a super interesting way. So even though I don't play MMORPGs myself, I still thought it was super well done, and other non-fans of video games would still enjoy it.

The book also stresses how not all Black people have the same experiences or opinions. Kiera has discussions and arguments with her sister, her parents, and her boyfriend, all Black, who disagree with her about their obligations as Black people. Should they be focusing all of their attention on decolonising themselves and spreading awareness, or getting super educated and respectable, or just appreciating their backgrounds? A really eye-opening discussion for a white person. I highly recommend for both people interested in gaming, and those of us trying to learn more about the Black experience.

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