Make "ChinnySmirk" a Global Twitch Emote - Represent Black Women
Make "ChinnySmirk" a Global Twitch Emote - Represent Black Women
The Issue
Twitch TV is a global live streaming platform with over 4 million broadcasters monthly and 17.5 million daily active users. However, out of the over 200 global emotes available on the website, not a single one was made in the image of a Black Woman.
I'm ChinnyXO and I have been a Twitch user since 2013. Back then, my time consisted of watching streams and finding my place on the platform. Eventually I gave streaming a shot and fell in love with it, only to be met with challenges and isolation as a minority on the website. Twitch's platform marginalized a specific community that I so happen to fall into: Black Women.
In 2016, I spoke on the "Diversify" panel at TwitchCon to discuss ways to make Twitch a more inclusive platform that anyone and everyone could feel welcome on. In these past 7 years, I have witnessed Twitch evolve into a medium that actually cares for its community. However, there is still a lot more improvement that can be done. Twitch has a long way to go before they can say everyone is truly celebrated.
Recently Twitch has called for the uplifting of the Black community on their platform. They've stated that "we cannot delight in the creative contributions of the Black community on Twitch and remain silent while they are in pain." Black Women who are streamers on this platform have devoted their time, dedication, and strength to help build the website to what it is today. And yet Twitch doesn’t even have the decency to represent them in a single global emote. There are more global emotes of DOGS than there are of Black Women. It does not make sense. Twitch claims they can see us and they can hear us. Are you really listening to us Twitch? Are you really seeing us Twitch? Why are we as Black Women still left out in 2020?
I propose we change this.
The "ChinnySmirk" emote has been known in my community as a fan favorite and I truly believe it would bring joy to others to use across the platform. Adding an emote with face of a Black Woman would allow for the representation of a community of people that have always been left out.
- ChinnyXO
The Issue
Twitch TV is a global live streaming platform with over 4 million broadcasters monthly and 17.5 million daily active users. However, out of the over 200 global emotes available on the website, not a single one was made in the image of a Black Woman.
I'm ChinnyXO and I have been a Twitch user since 2013. Back then, my time consisted of watching streams and finding my place on the platform. Eventually I gave streaming a shot and fell in love with it, only to be met with challenges and isolation as a minority on the website. Twitch's platform marginalized a specific community that I so happen to fall into: Black Women.
In 2016, I spoke on the "Diversify" panel at TwitchCon to discuss ways to make Twitch a more inclusive platform that anyone and everyone could feel welcome on. In these past 7 years, I have witnessed Twitch evolve into a medium that actually cares for its community. However, there is still a lot more improvement that can be done. Twitch has a long way to go before they can say everyone is truly celebrated.
Recently Twitch has called for the uplifting of the Black community on their platform. They've stated that "we cannot delight in the creative contributions of the Black community on Twitch and remain silent while they are in pain." Black Women who are streamers on this platform have devoted their time, dedication, and strength to help build the website to what it is today. And yet Twitch doesn’t even have the decency to represent them in a single global emote. There are more global emotes of DOGS than there are of Black Women. It does not make sense. Twitch claims they can see us and they can hear us. Are you really listening to us Twitch? Are you really seeing us Twitch? Why are we as Black Women still left out in 2020?
I propose we change this.
The "ChinnySmirk" emote has been known in my community as a fan favorite and I truly believe it would bring joy to others to use across the platform. Adding an emote with face of a Black Woman would allow for the representation of a community of people that have always been left out.
- ChinnyXO
Petition Closed
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Petition created on July 22, 2020