February 1, 2021 – Renegade Games announced this morning that a new edition of World’s Fair 1893 is coming. The drafting and area control game was originally released in 2016 with this new version releasing February 26, 2021, with pre-order now available. The big difference here is the new edition now includes a new group of diverse playable historical figures. They even worked with historical consultant Jade R. Rogers to make sure they gave the proper voice to these important figures. This is an excellent step in making efforts to broaden representation and inclusion, good for them for putting resources into telling this crucial part of history. This is an Amazon exclusive and can only be found there.
Pre-order World’s Fair 1893 on Amazon
The important figures include:
- Ida B. Wells
- Frederick Douglass
- Irvine Garland Penn
- Fannie Barrier Williams
- Susan B. Anthony
The full information from the Renegade announcement is below:
The World’s Fair of 1893 in Chicago was a spectacular international exhibition that showcased many great achievements in science, technology, culture, and entertainment. In the Mensa Select Award-winning World’s Fair 1893, you can travel back in time and assume the role of the event organizers. You will compete against other players to gain influence and obtain the grandest exhibits to be displayed at the fair.
A New Edition? What’s New?
The World’s Fair was an event that demonstrated what was at the time considered cultural and technological entertainment; however, racism and segregation were an overarching reality and African Americans and Indigenous Americans were excluded. The New edition of World’s Fair 1893 now includes a new group of diverse playable historical figures.
When our team was working on this new edition, we worked with historical consultant Jade R. Rogers – the founder of The House of Afros, Capes & Curls. You can check out her website at www.jaderrogers.com. The new rulebook includes a historical note she wrote about race at the World’s Fair in 1893.
In 1893, it had been less than 30 years since the abolition of slavery in the United States. Despite the progress of the African Americans, they were not given the opportunity to share their own accomplishments at the World’s Fair. These five new playable historical figures were instrumental in giving African Americans and other disenfranchised groups the chance to highlight their progress and achievements.
Throughout this month we will be sharing a series of blogs on our website to highlight and celebrate the lives and achievements of these seven people. You will be able to find that information here.
This kind of CYA woke-ism doesn’t do anything for anyone other than relieve someone’s guilt. Playing the card with Ida B. Wells’ picture on it isn’t functionally any different than playing the card with Daniel Burnham’s picture in the original version. It’s window dressing.
If the designer really wanted to make a statement, why not design a new game that actually incorporated the experiences of 1890’s black folks into the theme and mechanics?