32 replies to this topic

[eviluncletony]

1. Is there a search term for African american miniatures? (I am from the UK and would just say black but don't want to be accused of anything)
2. Are there any African american miniatures?

[Goblyn]

african

american

Blacks only Legionnaires and Orcs

[Heisler]

Yes, there are a few and here are the tags that go with them:
50033 Horace "Action" Jackson - Tags: Male, Human, Pistol, Clothing, Melee, Afro, Modern, Pimp, Gun, Leisure Suit
50179 Ebony Foxx, Modern Heroine - Tags: Disco, Clothing, Pistol, Human, Female

[Wren]

There's at least one more than Heisler mentioned (14512, and 50203 might be said to resemble a certain black man in black. ;->)

I would probably recommend that you search by other key word factors (gender and job), then just look at the figures that come up and pick the one you feel you could best paint up for the look you're after. There are a lot of figures that could be painted to appear similar to a variety of real world human groups.

[Stubbdog]

One thing is for sure.... there is a shortage. There need to be more mixed in with the various themes. Need some knights, rangers, thieves, etc... of that ethnicity.

[Goblyn]

.. of that ethnicity.

why people is so afraid of using the word BLACK

[Heisler]

I'm not, its just not in the tags. I'm sure ReaperBryan or Kit could add it if they want to.

[haldir]

If you really want some black looking mini check out Bobby Jackson's (sculptor for Reaper) Thugz line.

http://www.fantizati...byjacksons.aspx

If you want the gangsta look.

I agree thou there is shortage of black minis.

With most fantasy (epically D&D) being Euro-based fantasy I understand but it would be nice to see more.

[Frankthedm]

2. Are there any African american miniatures?

There are fewer minis of African people and people of African decent for a few reasons. One reason I'll mention is an issue of scale. At the 25mm - 32mm scale of miniatures, subtle differences in facial features can be hard to represent without exaggerating those features. Exaggerating the distinguishing features of a race can unintentionally enter racist caricature zone.

If you really want some black looking mini check out Bobby Jackson's (sculptor for Reaper) Thugz line.

http://www.fantizati...byjacksons.aspx

Though sometmes it isn't unintentional.

[joshuaslater]

If there was a large demand for Black models, the market would fill it.

[BunnyPuncher]

Hair is the only issue i can think of with using standard minis for african characters. Even at 25mm it is pretty clear that the hair on minis is of the straight variety. Beyond the zulu and tribal looks, North African moorish types are the only ones i have seen other than there being quite a few thuggish modern types.

Unfortunately, demographic participation rates impact who is spending money on miniatures and what they buy.

[BunnyPuncher]

Also i like Tariq 14094. He makes for a great ethiopian and passible west african. Or he can be straight yul brynner or arabic. Someday i will get around to painting him!

Edit: i see ann painted him with dark skin. Actually 14254 has great hair for a female and could be of any race. Pity she is a little too chain mail bikini.

[Bruunwald]

2. Are there any African american miniatures?

There are fewer minis of African people and people of African decent for a few reasons. One reason I'll mention is an issue of scale. At the 25mm - 32mm scale of miniatures, subtle differences in facial features can be hard to represent without exaggerating those features. Exaggerating the distinguishing features of a race can unintentionally enter racist caricature zone.

Though sometmes it isn't unintentional.

Exactly. A lot of minis can be painted up black, and they look great. I've painted these black, and you'd never tell the difference:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/Chronoscope/sku-down/50260
http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/Chronoscope/sku-down/50191

This one I painted a deep, rich chocolate, with anime pink cotton candy hair:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/Chronoscope/sku-down/50156

She looks awesome!

Oooh! Didn't see Cleo before:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/Chronoscope/sku-down/50194

[cerebro1974]

I have painted 02824: Nehanda, Princess with black skin, and a cheetah cloak. I thought it came out great.
I think the funny thing on this thread is how someone from the UK, where there is just as large a population of blacks as whites, is nervous about how to ask a question in "American Terms" to not offend! Sounds like over cautious "politically correct" territory to me!

[TGP]

. . . the UK, where there is just as large a population of blacks as whites . . .

That statement appears to be so remarkably non-factual I had to go look it up.

http://en.wikipedia....ngdom#Ethnicity **

The ratio of blacks to whites in the UK was about 1 : 53.

The same ratio within Reaper Human figures appears to be 1 : 128, ~or so (see below).

I took the number of Black human Reaper figures to be the ten that previous posters have mentioned in this thread. And used the figure finder search for the total number of humans. However:

(Funny thing is you get different results depending on where you search:
http://www.reapermin...lineStore/human - 1274 humans
http://www.reapermin...iniatures/human - 1331 humans
...wondering why I got different results. I guess it is not exactly the same search.)

(** I seriously doubt and would be amazed to learn that in eleven years the ratio has moved to 1 : 1. It could have moved to 1:48 or even 1:40 by now but not 1:1. Populations just don't change that fast.)