Ghettopoly Criticized by NAACP

Ghettopoly -- a parody of Monopoly that features playing pieces in the shape of a machine gun, a marijuana leaf and a 40-ounce bottle of beer -- is drawing criticism from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

"It's really sick," said Darryl Rouson, president of the St. Petersburg, Florida, chapter of the NAACP in an article which appeared in the St. Petersburg Times. "What would be going through a young adult or teenager's mind if they're playing this game to win? The message that's being reinforced in the mind while you're playing, there's nothing good about it, there's nothing humorous about it."

Mary Mitchell, a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote: "Ironically, people are outraged about Urban Outfitters' selling a foul board game [Ghettopoly], but few people of influence seem to care that every record store in America is selling music that glorifies the very stereotypes the game promotes."

Ghettopoly -- which was first mentioned in this site back in April -- also includes cards such as, "You got yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack. Collect $50 from each playa." And, "You are a little short on loot, so you decide to stick up a bank. Collect $75."

The houses in Monopoly are replaced with crack houses in Ghettopoly; hotels are now "projects." The railroads are replaced with liquor stores.

The game's web site offers this description: "Buying stolen properties, pimpin' hoes, building crack houses and projects, paying protection fees and getting car jacked are some of the elements of the game. Not dope enough?... If you don't have the money that you own to the loan shark you might just land yourself in da Emergency Room."

In addition to the game, the site has for sale Ghettopoly t-shirts, sweatshirts, camisoles, thongs, boxers, hats, stickers, teddy bears, and more.

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