Alright, let’s gab about them black characters in Final Fantasy, you know, the games all the young’uns are playin’. I ain’t played ’em myself, but I hear things, see things on that there internet thingy.

First off, they talkin’ ’bout this Barret Wallace fella from Final Fantasy 7. Sounds like a tough cookie, this one. Got a gun for an arm, can you believe it? Folks say he’s all gruff and loud, but got a good heart underneath all that bluster. Reminds me of old man Johnson down the road, always yellin’ at the kids to get off his lawn, but always sneakin’ ’em cookies when nobody’s lookin’. He fights against this big ol’ company, Shinra, ’cause they messin’ with the planet. Good for him, I say! Somebody gotta stand up to them greedy folks.

Then there’s this Sazh Katzroy from Final Fantasy 13. Now, this fella’s got a chocobo chick sittin’ in his hair. A chocobo chick! Can you imagine? I reckon that’d be mighty itchy, but hey, to each their own, I always say. He’s a pilot, they tell me, and he’s tryin’ to save his son. A father’s love, that’s a powerful thing. I remember when my Billy got stuck up that old oak tree, I climbed right up there after him, even though I was scared half to death of heights. You do what you gotta do for your kids, ain’t that the truth?

And don’t forget about Vivi Ornitier from Final Fantasy 9. Now, he ain’t exactly like Barret or Sazh, see? He’s a little black mage, all quiet and shy-like. But powerful, real powerful. Folks say he’s got this sad story, and he’s tryin’ to figure out where he comes from. It makes you think, don’t it? Where we all come from, where we’re all goin’. Life’s a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, as my grandma used to say.

• Barret Wallace: A tough guy with a heart of gold, fightin’ for what’s right.
• Sazh Katzroy: A lovin’ father with a chocobo chick in his hair, doin’ whatever it takes for his son.
• Vivi Ornitier: A quiet but powerful mage, searchin’ for his place in the world.

Now, I hear some folks complainin’ that there ain’t enough black characters in these games. And maybe they’re right, I don’t know. But I reckon it’s important to have all kinds of folks represented, ain’t it? Black, white, yellow, purple, whatever. We’re all just people, tryin’ to make our way in this crazy world. And it’s nice to see folks like Barret and Sazh and Vivi, showin’ the young’uns that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and all colors too.

I also saw some folks talkin’ ‘bout some fella named Lee Everret from something called “The Walking Dead.” Now, that ain’t Final Fantasy, but they say he’s a good man, strong and protective. It just goes to show you, good folks are everywhere, even when things are tough all over.

It’s important, I think, for everyone to see themselves in stories, to know that they matter, that they belong. And these black characters in Final Fantasy, they’re a start, ain’t they? They’re showin’ the world that black folks can be heroes, can be strong, can be kind, just like anyone else.

Diversity in games, that’s what they call it. And I reckon it’s a good thing. It helps us understand each other better, see things from different points of view. And that’s what the world needs, ain’t it? A little more understandin’, a little more kindness, a little less fightin’ and fussin’.

So, yeah, them black characters in Final Fantasy, they’re alright in my book. They’re teachin’ the young’uns about courage and love and standin’ up for what’s right. And that’s somethin’ we can all use a little more of, don’t you think? The world needs more heroes, that’s for sure, and it don’t matter what color their skin is.

I might not be no gamer myself, but I know a good story when I hear one. And these Final Fantasy stories, with their black heroes and all, they sound like pretty good stories to me. They remind me of the stories my grandma used to tell me, about folks fightin’ for what’s right, even when it’s hard. And that’s a lesson worth learnin’, no matter who you are or where you come from.

So next time you’re playin’ one of them fancy video games, take a look at them characters, really look at ’em. See ’em for who they are, not just what they look like. And remember, heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and all colors too.

Tags: Final Fantasy, Black Characters, Barret Wallace, Sazh Katzroy, Vivi Ornitier, Diversity, Gaming, Representation, Lee Everret, The Walking Dead