A Paradise for Young Black Gamers

By Devored Horton | St. Louis American | Word In BlackYoung gamers have found a fun, safe haven at Gamer’s Island in Ferguson, Missouri. Black gamers are becoming a force in the industry, and the success of Gamer’s Island is part of a growing trend nationwide. Credit: Gamer’s Island(WIB) – The idea for Gamer’s Island was conceived in February 2023 by a trio of friends who loved video competition. The concept is proving successful, as Gamer’s Island has grown into a go-to spot and epic gaming experience for players into PCs, Xbox, PlayStation, VR, and more.Owned by Maurice Taylor, Darris Ford Jr., Terrell Smart, Tashauna Parker, and Kalonda Cloyd, Gamer’s Island is located in the historic downtown Ferguson area at 248 S. Florissant Rd.& “It was a simple idea,” Taylor said.“It was a thing where me, Darris, & Terrell were all playing the game on the regular and we started Team St. Louis Gaming and Terrell told Tashauna. So, she asked if we thought we could make a business out of it and we talked amongst ourselves and said “why not give it a shot?”Parker also talked about the vision her co-owners had for the business.“When I did talk to...