OPINION: Afro-Latino Miles Morales Is A Revolutionary Superhero We Needed To Shine Into Gaming’s Next-Generation.
In the newly released Spider-Man: Miles Morales for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Morales is a Black Puerto Rican raised in Brooklyn, New York City. As the main protagonist in a leading, next-generation launch title, the industry as a whole should take notice of Morales’ diverse representation.
This week marks the new era that both Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation have entered in their next gaming consoles with the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5. Today marks the debut launches for some of PlayStation’s exclusive titles that include the highly-anticipated Spider-Man: Miles Morales. By now, millions of gamers in the United States (including myself) are eagerly awaiting their crispy white, black, and blue hardware to arrive in their homes, with then having a couple of PS5 launch titles choose from. It is indeed Spider-Man: Miles Morales, however, that many will be playing for their first game as they immerse into the new PlayStation era.
From the Odyssey, the first video game home console released in 1972, to now, video games have become one of the world’s most cherished and enjoyable hobbies throughout the many generations of gamers. Hence why Miles Morales in #MilesMoralesPS5 will shine not just as a game, but will also mark his cultural impact and imprint in the industry.
Miles Morales is one of the very few protagonists in a video game of his stature. He’s a 17-year-old Black Puerto Rican raised in the burroughs of Brooklyn, New York City. Morales takes on the responsibilities of the legacy superhero that is Spider-Man (he gains spider-like powers after also being bitten by a radioactive spider) soon after the death of his father, police officer Jefferson Davis. He befriends Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, soon after his father’s death. Upon gaining “Spider-Sense,” Morales reveals this discovery to Parker, who then mentors Morales towards the path of becoming NYC’s new superhero (the new game takes place a year after the original game, Marvel’s Spider-Man).
Let me reiterate that as a consumer, I am ecstatic about this new era of gaming. It is indeed an exciting time to be a gamer, with so many options to choose from between consoles, personal computers (PC), mobile, virtual reality (VR), and cloud gaming. Whichever choice you choose to play, know that gaming has no limits in 2020 and beyond.
As an Afro-Latino myself (Black and Puerto Rican), regardless of the many gameplay reviews that will be published from the endless amounts of gaming websites, the biggest positive from this game is, indeed, the representation. Growing up myself on the intersections of Blackness and Latino pride, I struggled to figure out ways to connect both sides of my culture. I am biracial that was born in the South. My father’s side came from the countryside of Blackville, South Carolina, while my mother’s side came from the city of Long Island, N.Y. Both sides are polar opposite, to say the least.
It was not until I got older that I sought to truly embody the diversity of myself in being an Afro-Latino, a demographic that even within both the Black and Latino communities still struggle with being equal in certain ways. Add in the challenges of diversity and inclusion within the gaming industry related to video games and there are only a handful of titles that have protagonists who are non-White.
Miles Morales represents the millions of both Black and LatinX children who have always wanted to see themselves in a superhero, but had to settle for those that did not look like them. Nothing wrong with that at all of course, but it does mean something when you see yourself in someone. The film success of Marvel’s Black Panther became a true testament to how revolutionary the late Chadwick Boseman embodied the superhero role so well that it became critically acclaimed worldwide. Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Voice Actor: Nadji Jeter) for PlayStation is no different to me in that regard. I write this with my chest out: REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
Miles Morales represents the millions of both Black and LatinX children who have always wanted to see themselves in a superhero, but had to settle for those that did not look like them.
I, indeed, do look forward to playing this game personally, but the more important aspect for me is that one day, I will share this experience with my son (who is currently three months) who himself is part African-American, Puerto Rican, and Sierra Leonean. As he grows up, I desire my young boy to see superheroes that his youthful imagination can experience…and Spider-Man: Miles Morales will do just that.
Representation matters. Black excellence matters. LatinX pride matters. Diversity and inclusion will always be an important piece of the puzzle of the Video Game industry.
