really the only problem with it is that usually descendants of slaves have in studies been less likely to have class mobility than african americans who arent the descendants of slaves. So IOI missed the opportunity to have their background be that they were third or fourth generation migrants and thus due to systemic classism integrated with systemic racism have been able to become ultra wealthy
ftfy.
Oh and Nobility, not Mobility. ![]()
As a quick point, the term African American exists specifically to refer to the descendants of slaves (who thus, often don’t know what country or people their ancestors came from beyond gesturing vaguely at Africa).
Though really I don’t think Hitman WOA is meant to be an in depth documentary - just general commentary. Thomas Cross, for instance, is clearly a fictional analogue of Rupert Murdoch (who definitely does not hide away on a private island) and while it’s thematically cool and fun, it really doesn’t make historical sense for the original Constant to be an old KGB spymaster with a private train.
Sure, but what you’re saying kinda feeds into capitalist apologetics where you’re suggesting anyone who gains wealth is overcoming something in order to do so. Rather than actively having to exploit people to get there. It’s a common conflict between the more radical and left wing members of the black community versus what they view as “black capitalism”, where because specific black people are allowed to have success that it’s seen as an example of the defeat of racism and classism rather than racism and classism rewarding exploiters who can create pacification of black radicalism effectively. Malcolm X said “when coffee is too black it means it’s too strong, so you integrate it with cream”, not because black people and white people cant co-exist, but that capitalism being a system made to the benefit of whites will integrate itself to reduce the strength of black people as a force for positive change
I think what youre thinking of is the term FBA, which stands for Foundational Black Americans who are the people who built America. African American can just refer to Americans with African heritage, but FBA specifically refers to the black people who were stolen from africa and built America during the slave trade, and their descendants. So Zoe and Sophia would be FBAs and African Americans
Of course, but their political commentary is pretty darn interesting and usually accurate to how these political systems work. I just find it an interesting narrative choice either way, especially given that people who are usually black oppressors who oppress their own race typically are not descended from slaves. It can happen, but usually the richest black people actually were descended from white slave owners and became black through recent generations marrying into african families
So if your original statement is true… Are you saying they earned their privilege/status due to being shown favoritism because of their minority status?
No, they earned privilege and status from areas of their identity where they have privilege and status. In this case not being the descendant of slaves always gives invisible privileges no matter the race. Non-white, non-male, non-cis oppressors gain the ability to become oppressors due to having privileges they can take advantage of, because their status as a marginalized group does not provide a benefit but they can have a status of being able-bodied, being generationally wealthy, not being a slave descendant, living in a wealthy country, having a white name, being white-passing, all these micro privileges can add up and create a gateway to becoming an oppressor. In the case of the Washingtons it is primarily generational wealth, their connections to the elite, nepotism, their right wing politics and their white-passing names which are their invisible privileges
Where did you find that? Google didn’t help.
The Hitman Wiki still has the Washington twin’s original briefing text. I know we can’t fully trust the Wikis, but I personally remember the removed ‘dark and feral bloodline’ section from a while ago, because I thought it was an interesting bit of lore. https://hitman.fandom.com/wiki/Zoe_Washington
Nowadays, in-game, the section I mentioned isn’t there anymore.
I believe this is the “high heels” sound effect. It was never used on 47 before now, but if you used the debug mod to wear a (properly set up) outfit that had them you could hear it in-game :]
I believe this was cut before release? I know there’s a second, slightly different version of their shared bio somewhere in the files. I think it’s the XX (debug) language.
If I’m right, then whoever added it to the wiki probably datamined it incorrectly.
Update:
Went in to check for myself - actors_s2 contains two separate bios for them. The one you’ve listed is under the names of ZOE_WASHINGTON_DESCRIPTION and SERENA_WASHINGTON_DESCRIPTION (plus some preceding letters & numbers) and seem to be unused.
The one in-game is ACTORS_S2_008, which matches the naming scheme for most of the other targets, including later S2 targets from NY and Haven
Another indication is that in-game it starts with
Zoe and Sophia Washington (late 20s, African American) are two young Providence operatives and newly appointed chairwomen of the Ark Society.
while the cut version starts with
Twin sister to Sophia/Zoe Washington, two young Providence operatives who serve as the leaders of the Ark Society.
…which is a bit rough in the grammar department
As well as this line from the cut version:
And after a chance encounter with world-famous treasure hunter Blake Nathaniel in the Congo, the twins developed a taste for FORTUNE HUNTING.
(IO typically uses ALL CAPS to denote possibly-not-final text & character names, but the wiki has altered this from how it appears in the files. They did wind up going with this phrasing in the final though, where it appears in lowercase as expected)
So yeah, seems to have been improperly datamined as far as I can tell :]
FORTUNE HUNTING sounds like a great name for a contract with Zoe / Sophia / Blake as targets ![]()
Probably because coach outfit doesn’t have trainers?