Blizzard community,
Our world has a long history of racism. Humans create groups, and then create divisions between groups unlike themselves. Ironic how we need each other as social creatures, yet we developed the practice to ‘other’ humans who at first glance don’t look like what we see in the mirror.
I have made it a personal obligation to educate myself about trauma others endure, and to work to change those experiences for them. Many within Blizzard come from a place of strong purpose, with a will to do in order to help society.
Last year at BlizzCon, I made a commitment for Blizzard to do better. We pride ourselves on learning and growing, and doing something now that reflects our company and community values. I also said that our actions would matter more than our words—we have been publicly silent until now because action is the important part.
Let me be clear: Blizzard stands in solidarity with those fighting against racism, because racism is as dangerous as any pandemic for those affected. We stand with those fighting against social and institutional structures that promote inequality among people of color.
Last week, AB announced donations to the Equal Justice Initiative, the United Negro College Fund, and the Management Leaders of Tomorrow (MLT) to fight systemic racial inequality. At Blizzard, we are working on initiatives for our community and our workplace.
In our games: For many years, we’ve had teams working with A.I. and machine learning to reduce toxicity and hate speech, as well as to help improve the overall gaming experience. Since January 1 this year, we’ve banned over 30,000 accounts for these reasons, as well as issued more than three million total hours of player suspensions. These penalties have notably improved our game environments: over the last two years, we’ve seen a 43% reduction in poor behavior reports, and a 59% reduction in the re-offense rate. And while this is progress, we’ve identified other places where we can use this technology and have more work to continue to do toward this effort.
In our relationships: We are also reviewing our partnerships to identify opportunities to support Black-owned and diverse businesses, and to amplify the voices of Black content creators and influencers.
Juneteenth: Today at Blizzard, we are observing Juneteenth with the goal of encouraging employees to take the time to be educated. We hosted a virtual session with a leader in our home city of Irvine, California, so employees can learn more about implicit bias, implications for law and policy, and how they can get involved in local efforts to drive change. We have also provided a list of resources to help coworkers self-educate, and shared ways to get involved in advocacy.
Ongoing: We are stronger with more diverse views and experiences. We are committed to being a more equitable workplace, including how and where we recruit, our HR practices, and employee support. We will also put an ongoing employee education program into place. This program will include more training and education (with the materials purchased from Black and minority-owned businesses), and Blizzard-wide town halls with experts on allyship, advocacy, and racism.
All of this work will continue to make Blizzard better, and play some small part in a larger, positive shift.
To our Black community, colleagues, and partners, Blizzard stands with you.
Black lives matter, today and always.
- J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment
It's really not racist to say black lives matter, because they are the ones, that are in danger.
Imagine being this disconnected from reality. Look up the stats you brainlet. Try to conjure up your own opinions instead of following what's popular like the rest of the cattle.
you little snowflake..
All lives matter, not just black. Stop all kinds of racism.
it's really not what the blm is saying at all, try understanding and learning simp.
good dv me to hell silly incels lmao
You talk right but sound like a bitch.
The idea behind blm is not that only black lives matter, it is to stop racism towards black people. I dont think I really need to explain this because its very obvious and everyone knows that. So the only gain by saying "all lives matter" is to undemine the efforts blm is making.
Let me get this clear: NOONE is saying that there are lives that dont matter. If your answer to blm is "all lives matter" you are helping the especially in usa existing racism towards black people by not making it a point of discussion.
There is always time to speak about discrimination towards any group of people but right now because of the death of George Floyd its time to talk about racism towards black people.
The only gain of "all lives matter" isn't to talk about all kinds of discrimination, but to not talk about discrimination at all. Yes that is a problem for me.
The people who think that "All lives matter" is undermining anything are missing the point. "All" lives matter includes the black ones, which treats them as equals ... which should be the goal of social justice. Really, do you want equality? Or do you want "better" equality? Saying that all lives matter includes those who are victims of social injustice, acknowledges their hardship, and doesn't omit the self worth of those who are preaching. Equality should include yourself and others ... otherwise it is inequality ... which is what the movement is supposedly fighting against.
In other words ... equality for me, but not for thee ... is a flawed way to look at things.
No man I am not missing your point, its actually very easy to understand. I am not saying you are racist and excluding black people. It is just that you are stating the obvious and by doing that hurting the idea behind blm, I explained above why. You didnt really discuss any points I made which tells me a lot.
You are not being misunderstood, I am just disagreeing with you in perfect understanding of your "point".
My "point" is that the idea is a lot bigger than the slogan. If you're looking at the political atmosphere of the United States ... the exact same thing was seen several years ago during the occupy wallstreet movement, when a bunch of people united together under a cliche without any sort of leadership or agenda. It's too damn easy to get people together to shout "we are ... the 99%" or to say "that 'whatever' lives matter." What is more difficult to do ... is to encourage people to take a proactive approach to support the agenda behind the banter that is being shouted. Indeed, black lives matter. But if there is a problem ... then the problem is that activism doesn't extend beyond picketing on the street and whining on the internet. I'm not encouraging violence, but any old punk can tell you that you can do a lot more damage within the system than from without. (That was probably a quote from a movie) Seriously. If the black lives matter movement is more important to you than all lives matter, or that it stands for something so much more profound than its counterpart ... go to a court room and rile up the crowd. Bring change to the front lines instead of preaching for others to make the change for you. This IS shit that matters! I am not against black people. I do not want their rights taken from them. What I want is for people to think beyond stupid fucking slogans and to support the decisions they make! If you think that racial injustice exists, then people need to have strength that is greater than a feeble internet voice! All lives matter! Including yours!
Keep virtue signaling. Keep dying off. Get woke, go broke. Can't wait for another company to fall.
After you read all that BS, read it again knowing that Blitzchung is STILL banned.
Dude stop using IE, blitzchung already playing GM for like few months.
but Blizzard still dont support Hongkong
Dude whats the impact on posting this here? while Blizzard is doing something very positive to the entire world.
The impact is that Blizzard doesn't have to worry about the US Government shutting down their video games, because they go against the political ideology of the USA.
So for you to say they are doing it for the entire world is utterly false at this point. Hong Kong is part of the entire world, and Blizzard has to be very careful with what they say on that matter for fear of getting shut down.
As a token of appreciation, give out The Black Knight
So you’re saying that Blizzard should treat a black knight as a token? That’s some pretty bad phrasing there. Would likely be offensive to someone out there.
I think that joke went over your head. You can pretend that it went under your ass, but if that were true it's difficult to justify the contemptuous response.