Thread by @danielhkwan

There is a lot of potential lost in the overreliance on Asian pop culture stereotypes in the latest news about Strixhaven. While I'm SUPER excited to be seen in a game I enjoy, this doesn't mean there isn't room for A LOT of improvement.

/thread

dicebreaker.com/games/magic-th…

1⃣ Honour shouldn't be the only motivation for a character. It's 2021 and "Asian honour" should not be the defining feature of a character's story.

/1

One great way to frame this Killian's story would be around the generational differences between him and his parents. Kim's Convenience nailed this as they told the story of Appa, his estranged son Jung, and how they can learned to repair their relationship.

/2

I would LOVE to see a storyline unfold in the lore and media associated with Strixhaven that involves Killian AND his father both working (in their own ways) to reconcile with each other.

Will this happen? I will not be getting my hopes up.

/3

2⃣ Given the state of Canada/America, the emphasis on work ethic as a source of acceptance is poorly timed.

Asian success has long been used as propaganda for white politicians to deny the demands of other marginalized communities and shift blame away from systemic racism.

4/

There is nothing wrong about hard work. But when your character appears to be defined exclusively by HONOUR and HARD WORK, you strip their story of any nuance. You simply have a stereotype.

The model minority myth shouldn't be in this game.

5/

Killian Lu was a fantastic opportunity to write a character that people like me crave to see in media - someone with a dynamic, multi-faceted story. There is potential for a multi-generational tale about family, acceptance, & reconciliation.

Instead we got MtG Cho Chang.

6/

I say all of this as Wizards JUST released a statement of condemnation against the anti-Asian rhetoric and violence that has been pervasive in North American for nearly 200 years.

Actions over words.

7/

https://twitter.com/Wizards/status/1374767840134275075

I have hope that there will be improvements in the future. I want to believe that this is not the peak of how Asian characters are represented in games like Magic the Gathering.

If you're listening @Wizards, involve us in the stories you clearly want to represent us in.

8/

Learn from marginalized communities. Give them agency. Actively listen to what they have to say.

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If read this entire tweet and want to take action, consider donating to @StopAAPIHate. Our voices matter. We should not be afraid to go outside. We should not be made to feel like outsiders in our homes.