Minecraft faces backlash for promoting left-wing ‘Lessons in Good Trouble’ protest DLC for Black History Month

In promoting the DLC, Minecraft wrote on social media, "Want to change the world IRL? Start in Minecraft. In the free Good Trouble DLC, explore global civil rights movements, meet changemakers, and learn how to stand up, speak out, and build a better world."

A trailer for the DLC states that players can "walk with civil rights leaders" such as John Lewis, Malala Yousafzai, and Rosa Parks, and "make good trouble." The DLC was reportedly first released in 2020 and was last updated in 2025.

https://twitter.com/Minecraft/status/2018380915244663086?s=20

The DLC quickly drew backlash from social media users, with Libs of TikTok writing, "This is how they indoctrinate your children. Parents beware."

https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2018417267722055936?s=20

YouTuber Tom Cassell wrote, "What the actual f*ck is this."

https://twitter.com/Syndicate/status/2018397402680750315?s=20

"This game is supposed to be about blocks. What the hell happened to Minecraft?" another user added.

https://twitter.com/barkmeta/status/2018428368769691778?s=20

"I had to click on the profile and even still I can't fully believe this is real," wrote Chloe Cole. "Encouraging literal children to 'make good trouble' is mind-blowingly awful propaganda. There are very few places that kids can actually go to just be kids."

https://twitter.com/ChloeCole/status/2018423656079392910?s=20

The DLC is listed on Minecraft's "education" page, and breaks down subjects that each of the DLC's eight lessons go through, including the Civil Rights Movement, India's independence movement, women's suffrage, and South Africa's apartheid. One lesson is devoted to the Black Lives Matter movement, in which the page states, "Join the activists on Black Lives Matter Plaza as they stand together as catalysts for Good Trouble, seeking racial justice for the Black Community." The lesson is listed as being for ages eight to 18.

The lesson states that by the end, students should be able to "understand how to display a sense of empathy and understanding for others as they explore the reasons and causes of the BLM movement," "understand the terminology associated with racial injustice and discrimination," and other objectives.

Per Inquisitr, gameplay also includes references to the Black Lives Matter movement and includes an external link to its website. An activist reportedly mentions in the game how BLM was created to "seek justice following the acquittal of the person who killed teenager Trayvon Martin."