Revolution in Cinema: "Black Panther"
Feb. 16 marked the release of highly-anticipated film “Black Panther,” produced by Marvel Studios. The film’s eponymous protagonist, Black Panther, known as T’Challa, is the first black superhero to have his own film. Often times, black characters and other people of color are included as tokens in major films; playing the sassy best friend, the help or the criminal. The fact that it took this long to produce a movie like “Black Panther” is astounding, but it was wonderful to see black characters featured as the rulers of kingdoms, inventors of advanced technology and global catalysts for positive change and peace.
“Black Panther” included a mostly black cast composed of incredible actors and actresses such as Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Forest Whitaker. Aside from the representation of the black community through the movie characters, there was also representation behind the scenes with the director (Ryan Coogler) and the co-producer of the soundtrack (Kendrick Lamar). Representation is important for various reasons, one being to provide youth with an example to look up to.
Currently, there is an absurd underrepresentation of black characters in the film industry. That is a reason why “Black Panther” is so incredible. Some of us have grown up seeing only white heroes, subconsciously assuming that only white people exhibit those courageous, intelligent and driven superhero qualities. Yet, in “Black Panther,” we finally see a black man as a King, his sister as an brilliant inventor and female black warriors who protect their nation.
This teaches children, especially in the African-American community, that they can be anything they want: rulers of nations, lawmakers, heroes, world-changers, inventors, scientists, soldiers or anything else that they desire. It teaches females that they are brilliant, strong, hardworking individuals. We rarely get to see these stories being told and it is critical for children to see themselves as heroes and world-changers because they are the future.
While this is only the first major film with such a huge representation of the black community, its success signifies that it will not be the last this year, and that hopefully, the film industry gets the memo that representation matters. This film contained an overarching theme of afrofuturism, and portrayed the continent of Africa in a new light. Often times, Americans, especially white Americans, perceive the many nations that comprise the continent of Africa to be less civilized or developed. President Trump’s recent derogatory comment deeming these nations as inferior only add to this point.
Contradicting such demeaning depictions of the continent, in “Black Panther,” we get to see the African continent in a different manner. The film focuses on an African nation called “Wakanda” and describes it as the most technologically advanced and civilized nation in the world. It has resources (especially vibranium, the strongest metal in the franchise’s universe) to help other nations in the world and aid the oppressed.
The amount of cultural representation throughout the film made it even better. One of the most eye-catching throughout the film were the ceremonial body modifying with lip plates. While many cultures use them, they are best known as part of the Surma and Mursi tribes in Ethiopia. We also see the beautiful Queen Ramonda, mother of the newly appointed King T’Challa, wearing a Zulu headdress of “Isicholos,” worn by married Zulu women in ceremonial celebrations. The outfits of the female warriors in the film were also inspired by different African tribes and cultures. Mainly, the unique and captivating ornamentation were emulations of the Maasai people from East Africa, residing in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. This culmination of different aspects of diverse cultures and tribal customs within the large continent of Africa is something that we rarely get to see in movies. It’s important to not only notice this, but also to learn about these different cultures and the nations that they represent.
All in all, “Black Panther” lived up to the hype surrounding it. This new Marvel movie hopefully marks the start of many more with just as much representation of the black community and other people of color. The impact of representation of positive role models in this film and similar ones is everlasting, teaching children that someone that looks like them has achieved such incredible things and can be heroes. The huge success of this film also shows Hollywood that African-American narratives have the power to generate profits and they should create more films with even more inclusion.