There has been a lot of excitement surrounding the release of the new Marvel movie Black Panther and the fictional world of Wakanda. For the most part, it has been positive. However, as with all things, there have been some negative opinions too.
Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, there are plenty of “woke folks” who are not so supportive of the movie. The main complaint from these “woke folks” is that the movie is from a white perspective, and it is still profiting white people.
Now, while it may be true that Disney/Marvel are reaping a great deal of benefit from this project, let’s not diminish how the movie is benefiting POC. Remember, monetary gain is not the only way to measure progress. I am sure that the movie’s stars are reaping the monetary rewards too.
There has been a great deal of positive to come from this movie. While I have not seen it yet, which will be corrected soon, I have witnessed the empowering affect it has had. I am witnessing how the images coming from the movie are showcasing the diversity and beauty of a people that have long been suppressed.
When I was a little girl, I remember watching television and wondering why nobody looked like me. Ironically enough, at the young age of seven, I couldn’t tell a lot of the actresses apart because they all looked the same to me. They were typically blonde haired, blue eyed model types.
As I got a little older, I would see the racially ambiguous models/actresses playing the love interests in movies and videos. Yes, there would be a sprinkling of dark skinned actresses/models who possessed physical features like mine.
Unfortunately, they were either strippers, prostitutes, drug addicts, prison inmates, or maybe the side chick of a drug dealer whose main chick happened to be white or racially ambiguous. I don’t write this to be divisive. I write this because it was my reality. In a lot if ways it still is.
Fortunately, it seems as though a newer wave is slowly bringing about change. We have powerful actresses like Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Danai Guiriri, Lupita Nyong, and many others playing major roles. We have powerful actors like Daniel Kaluuya being nominated for best actor and Chadwick Bosman playing a major superhero who isn’t portrayed in some farcical, comedic fashion.
With Black Panther, there is evidence that change is coming about. So what if it is by way of a white owned studio. The underground railroad had the help of white people who were willing to stick their necks out to help slaves escape. Embrace the positive. There is so much of it from the release of this one movie, that it is just amazing to me. Just embrace it.
Wakanda Forever.
