Cards Removed From ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Game After Being Called ‘Racist’

As protests across the country have taken place in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, many people and organizations have taken this opportunity to self-reflect. One company doing some introspection is Wizards of the Coast, which is the publisher of the Magic: The Gathering card game. 

Wizards of the Coast recently has banned seven cards from the game with racist undertones. In a statement, the company said, “The events of the past weeks and the ongoing conversation about how we can better support people of color have caused us to examine ourselves, our actions, and our inactions. We appreciate everyone helping us to recognize when we fall short. We should have been better, we can be better, and we will be better. … There’s much more work to be done as we continue to make our games, communities, and company more inclusive. Know that we work every day to be better and that we hear you. We look forward to sharing more of our plans with you as our games and organization evolve.”

The seven cards that were banned include: 

• Invoke Prejudice 
• Cleanse
• Stone-Throwing Devils
• Jihad
• Pradesh Gypsies
• Crusade
• Imprison

The Invoke Prejudice card was the center of controversy as it essentially kills creatures that do not look like the being already in play. “The card is racist and made even worse by the multiverse ID it was unfortunately codified with years ago,” Wizards said. “There’s no place for racism in our game, nor anywhere else.”