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Tables are filled with decks of cards, dice, and custom playmats. Around him sits Joseph Johnson, the meetup’s black content creator, as a diverse group of players laugh, talk trash and explain the rules to anyone who needs them.
The camera is also rolling. The event, which looks like a casual Magic: The Gathering night, is also the latest episode of Tabletop Jocks, Johnson’s online series built to create a space for Black and queer players who have traditionally felt underrepresented in the hobby.
For a growing number of Magic: The Gathering players, fantasy card games have become more than just a fun pastime. Through events, online platforms, and intentional mentorship, they seek to make historically special spaces more accessible.
Among them is Keontaye Williams, another Black content creator based in Columbus, Georgia. He said the game saved his life and he thinks it can do the same for others.
“It basically saved us from being swallowed up by the street,” Willilamus said. “This game saved me from a dark path in life, so I’m going to play this game until I can’t play anymore.”
Williams, who lost three family members to gun violence in 2020, founded Growth Elevation Maturity, a nonprofit focused on gun violence prevention and uplifting local communities through outreach events.
A motivational speaker, Williams works to steer children and teens away from dangerous lifestyles. His next goal is to bring Magic: The Gathering to youth detention centers as a tool for connection and guidance.
It’s a message that resonates with Jonathan Jones, known online as “Black Sun Moon.” According to Jonathan Jones’ Twitch profile, he’s “Just a Breed,” a nickname for black nerds, and he’s trying to build a community that heroes can be proud of.
“The first thing people see about you is always your skin color, but once you sit down and play a few games, you don’t necessarily have to be a black player in the store, you become someone who plays mono-blue, someone who plays goblins, someone who plays dragons,” Jones said. “I want the African-American community in particular to know that there is an outlet. There is a game out there to be known for what you do, not just how people perceive you.”
A fantasy world with barriers to entry
Magic: The Gathering offers players an escape from reality, allowing them to cast spells and summon creatures without worrying about 9-on-5. But stepping into a fantasy world often comes at a price.
Since the game’s debut in 1993, Magic: The Gathering has expanded beyond hobby shops to a worldwide community.
Depending on the rarity of the cards, decks can cost players hundreds or even thousands of dollars to invest. Some of the most high-end cards sell for millions of dollars.
But proxies, unofficial stand-in cards that represent cards not in a player’s collection, and the 2019 launch of MTG Arena, a free-to-play online version of the game, opened the door to more players.
Card games aren’t the only expensive hobby, but Jack Howard, director of financial wellness at Ally Financial, said the community could lead to increased access.
“There’s a whole community out there printing things and sharing them, and it probably started with one person saying, this isn’t something you can easily buy,” Howard said. “But the person needed to be honest. So my advice is to be transparent.”
Fighting stereotypes
Despite a growing player base, the game has long been perceived as a white, male-dominated, and highly competitive hobby. Like any other online gaming space, there’s a lot of bias there, and Johnson has experienced it firsthand. His YouTube channel dispels these stereotypes by introducing himself as a “famous thug” before getting into gameplay.
“When you’re pretending to be a wizard, the color of your skin shouldn’t matter,” Johnson said, adding that his goal is to create a culture where “blurred” feel safe. “I’m not pushing anyone away from this activity. If they don’t want to be part of it, there are plenty of other things they can gravitate toward.”
Until recently, Williams ran a local game store that hosted Magic: The Gathering events. As one of the few black-owned game stores, he said he feels it is his duty to attract more players who look like him.
“There’s so much coverage on TV that portrays people of color, especially black people, in a negative light, and we’re always stereotyped as thugs,” Williams said. “Black people don’t just do bad things. We don’t just play sports. We’re also nerds. We can be anything we want to be.”
He added that he feels he has a responsibility to make sure other underrepresented players also feel welcome at his store. He recalled a young woman calling ahead of time wanting to come and play, but she felt uncomfortable every time she attended other Magic: The Gathering events.
“People either think she wasn’t capable of playing the game or they’re attacking her,” Williams said, adding that his response to her was, “I’m a gay black man from the South. I’m here to foster community, love, and acceptance, but if someone makes you uncomfortable, they’re out of here.”
She entered the store. they talked. She played and had a “great experience,” he said.
“The Cookout” and Third Space
Johnson wanted more. He said he always envisioned celebrating Juneteenth with a Magic: The Gathering twist. His vision became a reality in 2022 with the launch of a branded annual event called “The Cookout.”
It started as a celebration in his friend’s backyard. This year, he rented out a venue large enough for vendors and hundreds of people to attend. They had a barbecue and of course played Magic: The Gathering.
This year, The Cookout raised more than $10,000 for Black Girls Code, a nonprofit that supports young women of color in STEM fields, she said.
It’s not just The Cookout. Johnson, Williams, and Jones foster community at tournaments, conventions, and bars across the country. Johnson’s online gameplay has caught the attention of some celebrities. He played Magic: The Gathering with Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone, actors, and professional athletes.
“A lot of our success comes from a pure passion for the game,” Jones says. “When we can talk about that passion, it makes other people feel safe to be themselves. They find us and say, ‘Hey, this face looks like me, speaks my language, and loves the same games as me.'” From there, we build a community. ”
Contact Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her at X @rachelbarber_
