Executive Voice
A Conversation With Well Versed Gamer Janey Laney
Hello my fellow Disruptors. Today I would like to introduce you to Janey Laney that’s been disrupting the gaming industry in a positive way. First we’re going to get to know Janey and a bit of her background. Then we’ll discuss her child friendly content. We’ll follow that up by learning a bit more about her group Black Minecraft, followed by a conclusion.
The Conversation
About three years ago, I was introduced to Janey by way of the Mixer community. I was new to the platform and was checking out other game creators on the platform when I came across her channel. After watching her play Minecraft for a bit, I started to engage with her and her community. That eventually led to her being one of the first streamers that allowed me to play with them while on stream. Janey is not only very Knowledgable about streaming but also the gaming community as a whole. I, myself, have went to her for advice on a few things.
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of picking her brain on the gaming community, black Minecraft, and etc. I believe this interview will give other black and brown, creators both new and old insight into who is Janey Laney and the many attributes she brings to the gaming community.
Without further ado lets all meet Janey Laney…
Me: Who is Janey Laney?
Janey Laney (JL): I am a Black woman who loves games and wants to continue to use them to teach kids and emphasize the need for diversity and inclusion. I love animals and creating fun family friendly content.
Me: What inspired you to start gaming?
(JL): I started gaming originally around 2 or 3 when my dad was in the military and would go on deployment often. He would send my brother and I games and tell us he cannot wait to see how far we get before he gets back. When he would be home we would play games like Madden with him and NBA jam. It was often the time for us to bond with my dad and became a way for me to escape to a different world and explore.
Me: Why was it important to make kid friendly content?
(JL): Making kid friendly content has been important because it allows kids to feel valued and accepted in this world. A lot of kids are often ignored by adults and experience many bullying situations. Creating kid friendly content has allowed for many kids to make online friends in a safe way throughout the community. They have found kids to play games with and even some have started creating content together. I think kid friendly content is also a great way to reach and teach children while they can have fun watching clean and positive content.
Me: Describe to our readers what Black Minecraft consists of?
(JL): BlackMinecraft is the initiative I create in order to address the lack of diversity, inclusion, and representation within the Minecraft arena. Although there is a problem within the whole gaming industry (and basically all of every day life) I decided to focus on Minecraft because I love the game and many Black and POC children play. I have personally addressed the issues in the content creation space, where Black and POC creators have rarely ever been highlighted by Minecraft and have strategically been hidden from industry. Minecraft has been one of the BIGGEST games that includes a wide array of STEAM (science , technology, engineering , art, and mathematics) foundations and these are areas that most minorities are shut out of. Creating a better gaming environment for us will in turn create a better learning environment and better future for us. BlackMinecraft has been a way for us to connect , have fun , and learn together. We have servers , a podcast, and an upcoming directory that will list Black and POC Minecraft content creators and other creatives .
Me: What’s next for Janey Laney?
(JL): What is next for me hopefully will be more collaborations with Minecraft and the ability to create local and online Minecraft community events for Black and POC players. I am also currently working on proposals to add Minecraft Education Edition within my local school district (Duval County Public Schools) .
Janey has also expressed to me that she is a partnered content creator who focuses on family friendly content and making sure that Black and POC creators and players can have the proper representation and respect in the Minecraft community. She loves her dog and her frogs. I cannot forget to mention that she is also a CyberXR, where she make sure that companies are upholding to the standards that allow for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Metaverse. Janey is also a E3 Partner and Xbox MVP Recipient. Amongst her many accomplishments, she is has also been featured in Xbox, Minecraft, E3, and other video game centric events.
Now that we have picked the brain of the talented gamer Janey Laney, I hope this gives you all some insight on what it’s like to be a gamer/streamer. Do not forget to follower her on all of her social media platforms. Also, remember to stop in and say hey when you see her streaming!
