Black Panther: Being Black in America, Wakanda, and the Bridge Between.
by Matthew Bright
The depiction of Black women, From Eric Killmonger's relationship to T'Challa relationship. It's all there, and the theme for me was: "If you listen to the Black Woman, everything will be fine." Showing a spectrum instead of singular type is what we needed. Killmonger is very quick in his decisions with the girl whom seemingly is ride or die. Where T'Challa is late to listening to Shuri & Nakia. However the theme is if you had her support Eric, you may have had a different outcome, and if T'Challa listened sooner, well the movie might have been over faster. #WakandaForever
Killmonger, T'Challa, and Wakanda all represent something larger in my opinion. Wakanda is Africa (With all it's resources, could change the game in terms of resources for the Buffalo Soldiers.) Killmonger is Black Americans, descendants of Slavery (mad at a system that oppresses us & feels our homeland could intervene and make things better for all us. Instead chooses to ignore what was done to us, or even take some responsibility in it happening.)
T'Challa is the bridge between these two conflicts (His actions going forward for Wakanda. The way he treats Killmonger. Accountability he feels. He rises above old notions of thought in this sense and decides to be the beacon for change the world so desperately needs. A message given to him by Shuri and Nakia. A message that put hope into me like something I've never felt.) #WakandaForever
White People who are allies, be Everett Ross. Try to slow down on using the hot takes from the movie yea? There's a black person's lens to this & you should talk to a P.O.C. friend about this movie before you start using the Wakandan Salute OR Gorilla Bark from M'Baku. #WakandaForever
The final scene between Killmonger and Black Panther, how T'Challa does not want to kill his own (Recognizing him as also Wakandan.) Being the Pessimist he is suspected what his life would be like in Wakanda if he were to go along with T'Challa's notion and the line he delivers resonated so much with me. Freedom or death, nothing in between for Eric Killmonger. His line of reasoning was hard to deny and most of the audience (The Black audience) understood his anger, What's revealed about him made it personal and all the more easier to relate to. His quote in the end simply was jarring and moving. #WakandaForever
This film gets top notch marks from me. Not because of the visuals and music. How it depicts Black Existence, this is what you've been missing out on. You shouldn't just watch Black Panther. You should listen to it.
Black Panther is the type of hero and ideal that resonates in this climate and for generations to come.
