LIVE at BlerdCon 2026! Ranking the Most Iconic Black Characters in Gaming
About this episode
The episode features a live debate on the most iconic Black characters in gaming at BlerdCon 2026.
We’re taking the show on the road! The Clique vet panel touched down at BlerdCon 2026 in Arlington, VA, for a live, unfiltered debate on the state of Black representation in video games. With a packed auditorium of cosplayers, creators, and convention-goers, we tackled the ultimate question: Who are the most iconic Black video game characters of all time? The room was divided as we revisited the heavy hitters like CJ (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) and the emotional weight of Lee Everett (The Walking Dead). But things took a turn when the audience started making a case for... Knuckles the Echidna? Is the guardian of the Master Emerald an honorary member of the community, or are we just reaching because of the dreads and the "unknown from M.E." theme song? This live panel explores the evolution of Black characters from background NPCs to industry-leading protagonists, all while navigating the unique energy that only a BlerdCon crowd can provide. In This Episode: The GOAT Debate: Why CJ and Lee are still the gold standard for representation. The "Knuckles" Discourse: Breaking down the cultural coding of non-human characters. Audience Q&A: Blerds give their…
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