Fighting for the Future: Fighting Video Games as Tools for Black Student Engagement and STEM Preparation

• In Event: But What About the Children? Black Education in America

Abstract

Historically, the Black community has been underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses and careers, particularly in the gaming industry. Yet, gaming is a hobby that builds valuable skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. Within the Fighting Game Community (FGC), Black gamers commune and practice academic concepts, such as applied mathematics, to refine their craft and competencies. This autoethnographic study explores the childhood gaming experiences of three Black male researchers, emphasizing how gaming served as a protective buffer for us while growing up in unsafe or isolated spaces. These experiences not only shaped our personal trajectories but also informed our current academic research and advocacy for Black students. Drawing on Harper’s (2014) work on the culture and performance of digital fighting games, we analyze communal practices within the FGC and examine their implications for culturally relevant student engagement and college-and-career preparation. We begin by reviewing the literature on race, gaming, and STEM, focusing on Black pioneers, present-day figures in gaming, and the physical and mental health benefits of gaming. We then conceptualize a video game-based academic enrichment program that centers fighting games (e.g., Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Tekken) as tools for supporting Black students’ learning, families, and communities. This work contributes to Black Digital Humanities by reimagining gaming as a pathway to STEM participation while fostering belonging and enrichment for Black students (Greason & Chambliss, 2018).

Author

• Devin White, Johns Hopkins University