Shelf Stories - Jason

It'll always be there - that's how much of myself I put into telling a new REPRESENTATION story. But comparing the reactions to cultural disrespect at least tells me I'm not crazy. It's just time to recalibrate and see where else I can contribute.

Board gaming just isn't the place for me. Not enough Boricua spirit or solidarity with it. I got video games, sports (damn Yankees), books, pickleball, and other stuff. Though I'm doing my best to move on, the reaction to the "garbage" comment brought this all back up for me.

Even among folks on the lefty side, I found very few understood the immediacy of the CULTURAL DISRESPECT angle for me. For us. The colonialism, the 500 years, "gringos win again", all needs to be felt. Or else its shoulder shrugs, "get over yourself", or whatever other bullshit I got.

I first tried to address the company. However, I felt not respected and, as the joke goes, dismissed like "garbage". Then I tried different ways to speak with the gaming community. Disastrous. There's only so much misinterpretation, apathy, and ignorance a person can take.

There was agreement, but I only had what amounted to a handshake on that, not real contractual protection. That's on me. I exposed myself to harm and separation, which happened. Once the game came out and no one complained about slavery anymore, I was dropped as no longer needed.

REPRESENTATION means uplifting creation AND creator. Material benefits and say are shared, not just extracted.
REPRESENTATION, for me, meant ONGOING relationship so I would be involved with further products, outreach and (most important for me) discussions moving forward.

...but it reminded me of what did NOT happen when I went through what I did with Ravensburger. I got screwed. They disrespected me AND MY CULTURE, still using the Puerto Rico coat of paint to extract profit for themselves, not showing respectful partnership. A 500 year old story.

Many Puerto Ricans get this instinctively. When we heard the garbage "joke", so many of us felt the 500 years of colonialism behind it and reacted accordingly. Bad Bunny! Marc Anthony! Politicians, entertainers, every day people speaking up. It's was beautiful to see...

These are two examples among countless ones in Western culture. It matters ALOT in the aggregate. How we are depicted influences and is influenced by how we are materially treated in the world. Puerto Rican poverty is created by gringo policy, justified by gringo cultural ideas.

The former is not as obviously mean as the latter, but they come from the same ignorant place. They both MIS-represent my island from gringo perspectives. Slaves or garbage, what a choice! And they both get minimized the same way - "It's just a game" or "it's just a joke".

Puerto Rican media is STILL POPPING OFF about the whole "Puerto Rico island of garbage" comment. We will continue to do so through the election. It's bittersweet for me; I love to see it, but it also presses on a wound with regard to my own situation in board gaming.

Thanks to all who have reached out to help me through all this, especially Dan Thurot and Rodney Smith. Quality humans, go follow them if you don’t already (can’t seem to get their links to work, but go seek them out!)

And go enjoy the game, if that’s your choice.

As any artist knows, if it goes awry. the flip side of that is hurt. But I’m done manifesting that. I tried my best. Time to recalibrate and move on to the next things.

I’m posting this because I want love to be at the core of everything I put out, everything I’m known for in this hobby. As art, Puerto Rico 1897 came from a deep place within my heritage and creative, storytelling soul. The millions of players deserved my best and they got it.

There is a lot of other kinds of good that can come out of this project. If it leads people to learn more about our people, our history, our culture, and our (10 point) buildings, then that’s also part of what I wanted to accomplish.

It all comes down to cultural partnership. Puerto Ricans benefiting from and speaking for the Puerto Rican stuff we make. It’s the only aspect I really care about. This project falls short of that. But as the saying goes, you can’t eat principles. What’s done is done.

Today is launch day for Puerto Rico 1897 deluxe. Everyone here knows how I feel about it. I have tried every way possible to address, but I have reached the end of the line. Nothing will change, so I am seeking peace for that.

Ngl, I’m excited.

I want to inform people of what went on from my perspective. If people make individual decisions to not buy this thing, or to start conversations, great. That’s not a “boycott”. People are free to make their own decisions.

I want the pubs to treat me and my creation with more respect. I was misled in the opportunities that would be open to me if I shared my theme with them, so that requires redress. There’s nothing I can do legally (I checked), but if consumers make their voices heard, perhaps someone will listen.

Thanks, and welcome back!

This video is the nice version. Get me privately and I’ll tell you what I really think ;)

Thank you, brother.

Thanks so much for sharing out!

Not easy, but necessary. Colonization (separation of people from things of value they create or occupy) is over 500 years old, happens in big and small ways, and shows no signs of stopping, only changing. It's on me to fight smarter and build as much real solidarity as I can. Thanks!

Thank you for your time and the solidarity!

I thought the irony would be a deterrent. Surely, they wouldn’t screw the Puerto Rican who fixed their game about White Europeans screwing Puerto Ricans? Oh what a sweet summer child I was.

Thanks for the solidarity, brother!

Thank you for the solidarity, fam!

Colonization, brother. You know it well.

“The settlers was usin’ townfolk to make em richer
Fast forward, 2024, you got the same agenda…
You run to Atlanta when you need a few dollars
No, you not a colleague, you’re a f***ing colonizer”

Kendrick speaking to me so hard. More tomorrow.