What you need to know
- Microsoft's Xbox team is celebrating Black History Month in several ways.
- The company will hold a Game Camp in New Orleans and feature black streamers on its Twitch channel.
- People can also donate Microsoft Rewards points to organizations that help black communities.
February is Black History Month in the United States, and Microsoft's Xbox team is celebrating in several ways (opens in new tab). Xbox Game Studios will hold a Game Camp in New Orleans and partner with HBCU Connect to present a panel featuring Xbox employees that are HBCU Connect alums. Microsoft will also have black streamers on the Xbox Twitch channel.
As people earn Microsoft Reward points, they can donate to organizations that support black communities. Here's a list of the organizations that people can donate to:
- Cxmmunity – A nonprofit organization, committed to increasing the representation of minorities in esports through STEAM education and career development opportunities.
- Black Girls Rock! – A global women's movement and philanthropic organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering women and girls of color, by producing inspiring media content and providing enrichment programs for girls that foster positive identity development, critical thinking, leadership, literacy, tech, and innovation.
- Gameheads – A tech training program that uses video game design, development and DevOps to create diverse talent and bold new voices, train youth of color for the tech eco-system and prepare them for college, career and civic life.
Microsoft isn't just celebrating Black History Month in the real world, it is teaching people about black history through video games. Minecraft: Education Edition will have eight interactive Minecraft worlds that teach people about social movements throughout history. The Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Black Lives Matter will all be featured inside the Lessons In Good Trouble collection.
Halo Infinite will have an exclusive new emblem and nameplate for Black History Month, a first of its kind. A design context will be held by the Forza team to celebrate Black History Month as well.
Xbox will also have gamerpics, profile themes, and avatar items that celebrate Black History Month.
