When culture, community and gaming collide, magic happens. In this episode, Jemele chats with Khleo Thomas (actor, rapper, gamer) and Jay-Ann Lopez (founder of Black Girl Gamers). The three dig in on the ways identity shape gaming spaces and the importance of representation through community. From unpacking long-standing stereotypes in gaming spaces, Jay-Ann and Khleo discuss how they are reclaiming online spaces one game at a time and creating new possibilities for themselves and the culture.  Later, in a game of This or That!, they give us their final answer on what is better for gaming…PC? or Console?
Executive Producers: Robin Harrison &amp; Fallon Jethroe
Producers: Cris Colbert &amp; Danielle Jones-Wesley
An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacpplus
Got a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Interested in sponsoring an episode: Email your pitch to <a href="mailto:imageunscripted@naacpnet.org">imageunscripted@naacpnet.org</a>
 #NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #JayAnnLopez #Blackgirlgamers #KhleoThomas

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;When culture, community and gaming collide, magic happens. In this episode, Jemele chats with Khleo Thomas (actor, rapper, gamer) and Jay-Ann Lopez (founder of Black Girl Gamers). The three dig in on the ways identity shape gaming spaces and the importance of representation through community.&lt;br /&gt;From unpacking long-standing stereotypes in gaming spaces, Jay-Ann and Khleo discuss how they are reclaiming online spaces one game at a time and creating new possibilities for themselves and the culture. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Later, in a game of This or That!, they give us their final answer on what is better for gaming…PC? or Console?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Executive Producers: Robin Harrison &amp;amp; Fallon Jethroe&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Producers: Cris Colbert &amp;amp; Danielle Jones-Wesley&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacpplus&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Got a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Interested in sponsoring an episode: Email your pitch to &lt;a href="mailto:imageunscripted@naacpnet.org"&gt;imageunscripted@naacpnet.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #JayAnnLopez #Blackgirlgamers #KhleoThomas &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Chapters&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:00:00) - Image Unscripted&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:00:55) - Nomination for the NAACP Image Awards&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:02:07) - Fortnite, Mario Brothers &amp; More&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:05:47) - Don't Let A Man Ruin Your Gaming&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:07:55) - Q&amp;A: The State of Women Gamers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:09:31) - Black gamers on Inclusiveness&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:12:19) - Khleo on His Love for Gaming&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:14:58) - Black Girl Gamers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:19:21) - Khleo on Being the Odd Guy Out&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:20:52) - No More 24-Hour Streaming&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:22:20) - Khleo on Being in the Spotlight&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:25:03) - Are You a Gamer's Therapist?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:27:33) - Black Girl Gamers on&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:32:32) - If You Were Creating A Video Game, What Kind Of Game Would&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:35:32) - Xbox One vs Playstation 4&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:37:47) - When You Can't Play With Your Significant Other&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(00:39:28) - Image Unscripted&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
 </description>


                    When culture, community and gaming collide, magic happens. In this episode, Jemele chats with Khleo Thomas (actor, rapper, gamer) and Jay-Ann Lopez (founder of Black Girl Gamers). The three dig in on the ways identity shape gaming spaces and the importance of representation through community.From unpacking long-standing stereotypes in gaming spaces, Jay-Ann and Khleo discuss how they are reclaiming online spaces one game at a time and creating new possibilities for themselves and the culture. Later, in a game of This or That!, they give us their final answer on what is better for gaming…PC? or Console?
Executive Producers: Robin Harrison & Fallon Jethroe
Producers: Cris Colbert & Danielle Jones-Wesley
An NAACP+ Production | Watch on YouTube @naacpplus
Got a guest or topic you’d love to hear on the show? Interested in sponsoring an episode: Email your pitch to imageunscripted@naacpnet.org
#NAACPIMAGEAWARDS #IMAGEUNSCRIPTEDPODCAST #IMAGEAWARDS2026 #IMAGE #JemeleHill #JayAnnLopez #Blackgirlgamers #KhleoThomas 
                

Image Unscripted

Representation in Gaming with Jay-Ann Lopez and Khleo Thomas

Representation in Gaming with Jay-Ann Lopez and Khleo Thomas

Description