Exploring Fortnite's MLK Event

You ever wake up to news that makes your soul exit your body, leaving nothing more than a feeling of dumbfoundedness? Well that's what I felt when Fornite announced a Martin Luther King based event. I was shocked and dumbfounded that Epic thought this was a good idea, putting MLK into a goddamn shooter? They know how he died right? And does this event have a 3D model of him that can be ripped? That's even worse, what are they thinking?

Well I had forgotten about Fortnite's attempt to be Minecraft, Creative Mode, which is NOT primarily about the fighting or shooting. So there was going to be no shooting or 3D model to abuse, which means the devs clearly thought of the two biggest issues. I figured fair was fair and decided that I was going to do something I hadn't done in years, play Fortnite.... MLK Edition.

Spawning into the game mode winds up with one in a recreation of the Washington Monument from one end of the reflecting pool all the way to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Here Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech plays on monitors scattered all throughout the area and can even be heard if you're not near a monitor, though it's loudest if you stay near the monitors. Music is also playing in the background, though it quickly turns to background noise as the emphasis is on the speech, where it should be.

And here's where my first compliment comes in, I think it is the whole speech being played, which is rare. Most people when talking about "I Have a Dream" focus only on the titular moment which is about a minute or two of the actual speech. Things like Dr. King's frustration about how America had failed it's promise of the Emancipation Proclamation or what will be needed for all people to be truly equal in America are on show here which, again, is pretty rare.

 Of course, it's not just listening to the speech, you're given mini-games to play during the speech to "add your light." Add it to what? I don't know. While at first I was confused as to why mini games were added I realized that completing the games gives players access to exhibits based on the Civil Rights movement. 

For example one mini-game ends by taking you to a display of a burning bus with a history lesson about the Freedom Riders attached. Another takes you to a display of a High School with a lesson about Ruby Bridges attached. So the scope of this isn't just the actual speech  but rather a general history of the Civil Rights Movement.

That said I got a little too engrossed with the games and ignored the speech at certain points, which is my only real criticism of the idea. That said the fact that the games lead to more historical displays did make up for that failing.  Also the central building in the fountain that led more more historical images from the Civil Rights era was neat.

Honestly, it's kinda like going on a field trip to a museum back in school. Except this was free, my Mom didn't have to sign a permission slip for me to go, and I didn't have to worry about packing my lunch for the trip. So ya know, it's better except for one glaring flaw, emotes.

NOTE: Emotes were patched out after I wrote this but I'm keeping this paragraph in because it deserves to remain as a reminder.

For some reason Epic kept the emotes in which is fine for a virtual concert but terrible for a virtual museum about one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century. Being able to Floss or do the Gangam Style is pretty tacky and tasteless. Luckily I didn't see too much of it at the fountain, mostly just people doing the "seat" emote, which did feel tasteful. But I've seen the videos folks posted and suddenly it's clear why I wasn't allowed to do the worm at the California Missions back in elementary school.

All in all though, this experience has been a great lesson in "never judge a book by it's cover." I thought it was going to be tacky and tasteless but for the most part it wasn't. At least it didn't seem to me, but I'm not black so I can't say for certain if it was or not. I can only use my experience and judgement, and my judgement says this isn't too bad. But if I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Honestly while I feel like this wasn't the best to start with just due to how Dr. King's life ended; I'd be up for Fortnite doing more of this sort of thing. Plenty of kids play this game, let's use that to teach history because I feel history is one of the most important things we can teach kids. Just next time Epic, turn off the emotes from the start.