Post Three- Black Panther

The movie Black Panther was an enjoyable Marvel film with a much more complex message then their films in the past. T’Challa has become the king of Wakanda after the unexpected death of his father. The world is looking to Wakanda in hopes of accessing its most valuable resource vibranium. T’Challa steps into his role as kind and seeks to stop a group of thieves from stealing a historical artifact containing vibranium. The plot thickens as one of the thieves (who we later find out is T’Challa’s cousin) kills his partner in crime and challenges T’Challa’s place on the throne of Wakanda. He wins and the country spins into turmoil. The cousin is planning on using incredible technology that they must remove the forces oppressing all African Americans. To sum this up quickly, T’Challa saves the day, and they decide to address the issues of oppression and racism in a less violent manner by educating people and providing resources.

The articles that we read looking at the criticisms of the film were very interesting. My favorite of the two was the New York Times article written by Carvell Wallace titled Why ‘Black Panther’ Is a Defining Moment for Black America. This article looked at the potential challenges that came with producing this film, but also looks at the hope that movies that cast culturally appropriate roles, and empower women actors has on people. One of the quotes that points out the rarity of this feeling for African Americans.  “In a video posted to Twitter in December, which has since gone viral, three young men are seen fawning over the “Black Panther” poster at a movie theater. One jokingly embraces the poster while another asks, rhetorically: “This is what white people get to feel all the time?” There is laughter before someone says, as though delivering the punch line to the most painful joke ever told: “I would love this country, too.” Wow. We are failing to provide people of other cultures something as simple as a culturally appropriate film.

When watching Black Panther with the intention to analyze, I saw a lot more that I missed the first time through. It is a powerful comment on race, and the anger that is felt by people about the oppression that is perpetuated by white culture. The ending where the white guy asks something along the lines of “What would your country have to offer that we don’t already have?” And very little is said as T’Challa grins. He knows that there is so much more him and his people. I appreciated view of a non-violent approach through education. This is true today. People will continue to fight and oppress each other without people coming together and learning from one another.