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[Retro_]

Making a character have features and characteristics of one race then having other stuff say she's another is confusing, even for people not ignorant of racial matters. The fact that so many other people in this thread had the same thought proves that her design is at odds with the writing.
.

No. She looks like a little black girl with natural hair and light skin. Just not the type of little black girl that the mostly white male Telltale audience and Neogaf community is used to seeing represented in media.

It was no secret if you paid any attention at all to the context of the game.

But instead of stopping for just a minute to reflect on the idea that hey, maybe the fact that I assumed this black girl was mixed because she doesn't fit the definition of what a black girl is in my world view might be a teensy tiny bit racist/prejudice/problematic, people in this thread are instead more willing to double down on their misconceptions and reaffirm each other that they aren't wrong. It's the game's fault for not being clear in its art style or its narrative of her ethnicity. White is default right?

and nothing was learned. The world keeps on turning.

 

[Aaron-Lagann]

They're stretching because they don't WANT her to be all black.

Like I said, I have no issue with her race, I only took issue here because the similarities between her and Glen solidified in my mind that she was Asian and hearing that she was black changed the way I saw everything and I looked for ways to explain why the artist would make her look similar to the Asian character if she was entirely a black character.

 

[Mozendo]

Man, these ethnicities threads on GAF...ugh.

It's clear that Clementine is African-American . Her mother is light skinned which isn't that uncommon.

It seems like some people here only determine someone's ethnicity using stereotypes. That's pathetic.

 

[Fezzan]

TBH I thought she was Italian.

 

[GraveHorizon]

Also, just to clarify, GraveHorizon made me out to be a way bigger asshole racist in his post than my original sentiment was, since I said that my image of the game would be changed due to the nature of people seeing those two characters together and the implications that had on their interactions with the rest of the characters, and that because of that I wouldn't have seen those interactions the same way. Not because I had any problem with her being black.

You said there was no way she was black, and that there was nothing about her that initially came off as black. You insisted very stubbornly that the likelihood of her having any black in her was minimal at best, and the least likely possibility. "No way" was the common response to the idea that she was black.

And the assumption that a grown man could walk around with a little girl and everybody doesn't question it is naive. People in real life get stopped when that happens. The characters in the game acted surprised to find out Lee wasn't her father, explicitly suggesting that they assumed they were related before, which would imply they believed they bore enough resemblance to each other not to question it at all.

No, it's not. The hair, sure, but she clearly has Asian features in her face, due to the similarities between her and Glen, especially the eyes.

Yeah, the eyes. That's about it, really. The hair and skin tone alone immediately says "light-skinned black girl", and her facial features support that if you accept the artsyle.

GameInformer Magazine, January 2013, Issue 237

In the article "Creating Clementine," Kimberly Wallace interviews Telltale Writer and Creative Lead Sean Vanaman, art directory Derek Sakai and voice Melissa Hutchison.

"Lee Everett wasn't Telltale's first idea for a main character. Originally, Vanaman planned for Clementine to come from a single-parent household where Clementine's brother took care of her due to her mother not being up to the task. With this idea, Clementine's brother became the lead, but Vanaman decided a pre-existing relationship would be too much to ask a player to take on in The Walking Dead world. The decision lead to them changing Clementine's race because they wanted her to look like she could potentially be Lee's daughter."

Aka, black.

That's how it happened for me.

Does it say if she was intended to be Asian originally?

 

[Conciliator]

yall act like you never seen a black person before

 

[JDSN]

Your friend is profoundly ignorant, but then again so is a lot of posters here. They should have given her a grill so people would be sure.

 

[Cryoflar3]

what no way I thought he was an energetic latina woman

With a deep sexy voice.

Your friend is profoundly ignorant, but then again so is a lot of posters here. They should have given her a grill so people would be sure.

the friend is in the the thread.

 

[Gamerloid]

And here I thought she was obviously black.

 

[grosvenor_92]

I figured she was going by the picture

 

[see5harp]

Why do so many people think she's asian? There's no... she's not even remotely asian looking, no voice accents or anything like that. Isn't there parts of the game where other characters ask Lee if she is his daughter? Spoiler: Lee is black.

Damn all ya'll racist. The right answer is that obviously she was black based on the writing of the story and characters. It doesn't have anything to do with looks. Asian people, black people, and white people can come out all different. I have asian cousins with blue eyes and straight blonde hair. It's weird. No asian kid I ever met from a middle class family has a fucking accent.

 

[tintin1029]

Your friend is profoundly ignorant, but then again so is a lot of posters here. They should have given her a grill so people would be sure.

Dammit someone needs to go on photoshop now!!!
Please, someone make my day.

 

[jblank83]

No. She looks like a little black girl with natural hair and light skin. Just not the type of little black girl that the mostly white male Telltale audience and Neogaf community is used to seeing represented in media.

And she also looks like a lot of litlte asian girls where I live, minus the curly hair, from eyes to skin color, a skin color that could also describe numerous caucasians.

But instead of stopping for just a minute to reflect on the idea that hey, maybe the fact that I assumed this black girl was mixed because she doesn't fit the definition of what a black girl is in my world view might be a teensy tiny bit racist/prejudice/problematic, people in this thread are instead more willing to double down on their misconceptions and reaffirm each other that they aren't wrong.

Pot, kettle.

 

[aly]

I (he's probably the same) acknowledge she's got light black skin, honey eyes and dark, curly hair. I, too, (and I guess the guy you're quoting too) consider this as important as if she had short hair and thin lips. I can honestly say the skin color of someone is as relevant to me as the hair/eyes color of a cat.

I swear some people just don't want racism to end, black people included.

I think the thing is minorities don't have a lot of representation in the media. I think its nice to acknowledge characters like Clem who aren't stereotypes. Saying who cares just dismisses the fact that there are minorities who care because it is rare. I don't know it's just nice to see someone who looks like me once in a while.

 

[kazebyaka]

Of course she is black, how is that even a question? It's as obvious as the fact that Wii U is a bomba.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

There's a picture of her parents in the walking dead season 1 somewhere that makes it clear that she is- or at least biracial.

If those are her parents, the answer is obvious.

 

[Fiktion]

Why do so many people think she's asian? There's no... she's not even remotely asian looking, no voice accents or anything like that.

Smh. Really?

You forgot to mention that she doesn't eat dogs and isn't a math genius.

 

[Mafro]

I thought it was fairly obvious she was black. How anyone was still in doubt after seeing the family picture I don't know.

 

[hbkajshdvfbkjhvgkahsgdfka]

What the hell is wrong with some of you?

 

[see5harp]

What the hell is wrong with some of you?

This is what happens when Macklemore wins a grammy.

 

[ckohler]

Does it say if she was intended to be Asian originally?

No. It just shows some early concept art of her. The girls all have straight hair, one short blond, all with varying skin-tones. Two of them look Caucasian to me, the other one is racially ambiguous.

 

[Conciliator]

Of course she is black, how is that even a question? It's as obvious as the fact that Wii U is a bomba.

there's some white sheltered nintendo fanatic that is driving to your house to kill you now.

 

[Persona7]

Doesn't the game focus on the family portrait for several seconds within the first 15 minutes or so?

Does everyone look at their cell phones when a cutscene is playing?

 

[hbkajshdvfbkjhvgkahsgdfka]

This is what happens when Macklemore wins a grammy.

The worst thing to happen to race relations.

 

[Felix Lighter]

I thought is was pretty clear that she was black. I didn't realize that there was any doubt until I saw this thread.

 

[mullet2000]

No. She looks like a little black girl with natural hair and light skin. Just not the type of little black girl that the mostly white male Telltale audience and Neogaf community is used to seeing represented in media.

It was no secret if you paid any attention at all to the context of the game.

But instead of stopping for just a minute to reflect on the idea that hey, maybe the fact that I assumed this black girl was mixed because she doesn't fit the definition of what a black girl is in my world view might be a teensy tiny bit racist/prejudice/problematic, people in this thread are instead more willing to double down on their misconceptions and reaffirm each other that they aren't wrong. It's the game's fault for not being clear in its art style or its narrative of her ethnicity. White is default right?

and nothing was learned. The world keeps on turning.

That's nice that you think that, but no, she absolutely looks like she has Asian features to some people including myself. Many people I know, some of them Asian themselves, all thought the same thing. I'm not going to "double down" on it but at first glance I 100% get why people thought that.

Also if you missed the two seconds of a photograph of Clem's parent's you could ABSOLUTELY miss that she wasn't mixed. Easily. Very easily.

Mine and my girlfriend's first thoughts were that she was mixed too (Asian mother). We looked it up and we were wrong. Does that make us prejudiced? Did we have a problematic mindset? No.We did not. We both thought we saw asian features and investigated/tried to explain them. I still see those Asian features now, knowing i'm wrong and accepting we were incorrect.

Very, very few people are doubling down on it after being proven incorrect. Double checking/trying to explain something that you think you see is not problematic or racist. Sorry if I sound mad but your posts hit a nerve for me because sweeping posts in the style that you've been making really annoy me in that they push a lot of people into the same 'problematic' group just because they didn't come to a certain 'enlightened' position right away (in this case: "oh wait, not all black people look the same? Whhaattt?" etc). I know this. I'd be willing to bet most people who thought she looked Asian initially know this as well.

I'm sure your heart is in the right place and sorry for the rant you got me really riled up here.

 

[Romez]

She's blessed is what she is. Black but can apparently pass for white, like Rashida Jones or Beyonce (lol)

Always thought it was obvious Clem was black.

 

[JDSN]

Dammit someone needs to go on photoshop now!!!
Please, someone make my day.

Luckily someone created this twitter account so confused stereotype-loving people can make a proper transition into accepting that Clementine is black despite not looking like someone from The Wire.

 

[GuardianE]

The only reason I ought she was part Asian is because of her eyes. And it's not farfetched, when you compare her with Glenn as someone did earlier in the thread.

The family picture makes it pretty clear that she's fully black, but there's a basis for people thinking she's mixed beyond her lighter skin.

 

[GraveHorizon]

Doesn't the game focus on the family portrait for several seconds within the first 15 minutes or so?

Does everyone look at their cell phones when a cutscene is playing?

I saw it front and center, but the part later with the

Spoiler

crazy white woman

confused me for a moment and had me thinking that was her mom since I forgot the picture. But I always remembered Clementine being black.

That's nice that you think that, but no, she absolutely looks like she has Asian features to some people including myself. Many people I know, some of them Asian themselves, all thought the same thing. I'm not going to "double down" on it but at first glance I 100% get why people thought that.

Also if you missed the two seconds of a photograph of Clem's parent's you could ABSOLUTELY miss that she wasn't mixed. Easily. Very easily.

Mine and my girlfriend's first thoughts were that she was mixed too (Asian mother). We looked it up and we were wrong. Does that make us prejudiced? Did we have a problematic mindset? No.We did not. We both thought we saw asian features and investigated/tried to explain them. I still see those Asian features now, knowing i'm wrong and accepting we were incorrect.

Very, very few people are doubling down on it after being proven incorrect. Double checking/trying to explain something that you think you see is not problematic or racist. Sorry if I sound mad but your posts hit a nerve for me because sweeping posts in the style that you've been making really annoy me in that they push a lot of people into the same 'problematic' group just because they didn't come to a certain 'enlightened' position right away (in this case: "oh wait, not all black people look the same? Whhaattt?" etc) I know this. I'd be willing to bet most people who thought she looked Asian initially know this as well.

I'm sure you're heart is in the right place and sorry for the rant you got me really riled up here.

Given the artstyle I can accept that some people would think she might have some Asian in her. But I just can't understand how anyone could look at her and not see any blackness. Just... how?

 

[Ties]

the idiocy in this thread regarding race i can't

 

[enanogrande]

Like I said, I have no issue with her race, I only took issue here because the similarities between her and Glen solidified in my mind that she was Asian and hearing that she was black changed the way I saw everything and I looked for ways to explain why the artist would make her look similar to the Asian character if she was entirely a black character.

So where did you get that Clementine was adopted from?

 

[hbkajshdvfbkjhvgkahsgdfka]

She's blessed is what she is. Black but can apparently pass for white, like Rashida Jones or Beyonce (lol)

The perfect specimen. She's not taller than me (5'6") either. She's only 5'2".

 

[freethoughtbubble]

For the record, I thought she was black and asian as well for some strange reason. And I know I saw that family picture way back in episode one, too. (Then again, I have a pretty shitty sd tv, heh…) If I'm being honest, I probably made an assumption based on her character design.

But having said that, I have no attachment to her being any specific race, and it doesn't boggle my mind that she is in, in fact, african-american on both sides. Whatever the hell that actually means. As a dark-skinned latino man, I couldn't really begin to tell you with any certainty about my racial lineage, nor do I care much about it. Personally, I don't put much truck in constructed notions of racial or ethnic categories. There is more than enough variation within any purported racial group to account for "asian" eyes or light skin or whatever.

What does surprise me is that op's friend's experience could somehow be changed by Clem's race -- from what I remembered from the game, her race never played much of a role in the narrative. Well, unless he himself is asian and appreciated seeing a positive, prominent, non-stereotypical character in a video game of his own ethnicity, which I actually kind of get. I'm still waiting on a latino character in a game who's not a luchador, narco-trafficker, bandit, or some combination of the three…

Spoiler

Not holding my breath.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

People have various factors that influence how they see things; some people's factors come from a more limited set of variables than others.

Very limited.

 

[Immaculate]

Smh. Really?

You forgot to mention that she doesn't eat dogs and isn't a math genius.

why are you so offended

 

[anaron]

the idiocy in this thread regarding race i can't

It's embarrassing.

 

[Fezzan]

Really though, no one would find a black as fuck kid cute and her being cute is a big part of why its so easy to care for the character. Light skinned little black girl with natural hair is almost a trope at this point.

.

 

[GuardianE]

why are you so offended

The implication that an Asian character would need to have an accent?

 

[Dark Octave]

She's blessed is what she is. Black but can apparently pass for white, like Rashida Jones or Beyonce (lol)



Always thought it was obvious Clem was black.

What the fuck are you talking about? You're joking right? How is looking white blessed? Who would mistake Beyonce for a white person?

This whole post is probably a joke. I hope it is.

 

[Fiktion]

why are you so offended

It shouldn't be hard to figure out.

Damn all ya'll racist. The right answer is that obviously she was black based on the writing of the story and characters. It doesn't have anything to do with looks. Asian people, black people, and white people can come out all different. I have asian cousins with blue eyes and straight blonde hair. It's weird. No asian kid I ever met from a middle class family has a fucking accent.

This is an A+ post. I've never known a second generation Asian who had an accent. Unless it was, ironically enough, a southern accent.

 

[Miggytronz]

Does it matter?

 

[MrCookiepants]

What the fuck are you talking about? You're joking right? How is looking white blessed? Who would mistake Beyonce for a white person?

This whole post is probably a joke. I hope it is.

Well...

 

[Retro_]

That's nice that you think that, but no, she absolutely looks like she has Asian features to some people including myself. Many people I know, some of them Asian themselves, all thought the same thing. I'm not going to "double down" on it but at first glance I 100% get why people thought that.

Also if you missed the two seconds of a photograph of Clem's parent's you could ABSOLUTELY miss that she wasn't mixed. Easily. Very easily.

Mine and my girlfriend's first thoughts were that she was mixed too (Asian mother). We looked it up and we were wrong. Does that make us prejudiced? Did we have a problematic mindset? No.We did not. We both thought we saw asian features and investigated/tried to explain them. I still see those Asian features now, knowing i'm wrong and accepting we were incorrect.

Very, very few people are doubling down on it after being proven incorrect. Double checking/trying to explain something that you think you see is not problematic or racist. Sorry if I sound mad but your posts hit a nerve for me because sweeping posts in the style that you've been making really annoy me in that they push a lot of people into the same 'problematic' group just because they didn't come to a certain 'enlightened' position right away (in this case: "oh wait, not all black people look the same? Whhaattt?" etc) I know this. I'd be willing to bet most people who thought she looked Asian initially know this as well.

I'm sure your heart is in the right place and sorry for the rant you got me really riled up here.

And she also looks like a lot of litlte asian girls where I live, minus the curly hair, from eyes to skin color, a skin color that could also describe numerous caucasians.

Pot, kettle.

Still can't even give me that minute huh?

Keep on turning baby

 

[0ptimusPayne]

Her dad is black/black and her mother is Black/white and maybe some Native American mixed in who knows. She pretty much has the same roots as I do. Black father white/native mother. She's biracial clearly peeps.

 

[Dark Octave]

Well...

Half the people in my family look like this. Hang around more black people.

 

[Turin Turambar]

The thing you can learn of this thread, is the genius of Telltale to make her with just the an appearance that makes people think of all the American races:

white
asian
hispanic
black


No controversy with her then! Everyone can identify with her, somehow!

 

[Roto13]

Well...

I had to google a picture of Destiny's Child to make sure I wasn't misremembering her as having clearly black skin.

How does this even happen.

 

[GraveHorizon]

What the fuck are you talking about? You're joking right? How is looking white blessed? Who would mistake Beyonce for a white person?

This whole post is probably a joke. I hope it is.

Because passing for white has never helped anyone in the history of the world.

Spoiler

Probably a joke.

And if someone can completely miss Clementine's blackness, mistaking Beyonce for a white girl isn't completely impossible.

 

[JDSN]

why are you so offended

You cant tell how his statement is ignorant as fuck? Or maybe its gonna be something "not worth being offended" about that people like to talk about so much despite repetitively saying how they have no investment at all.