Ok, let’s begin by acknowledging that Wakanda is a fictional country in Africa. In the Marvel comics universe, it’s home to the superhero Black Panther. But there is still something about it that has recently struck a nerve in the black community. The Black Panther movie debuted in February to positive reviews and by February 25, earned more than $403 million in the US and Canada and $709 million worldwide. Wow.

I must admit I’m not as big a movie buff as I was as a young Thundercat. Age I guess. But when my wife purchased tickets as a Valentine’s gift I simply couldn’t refuse. Still, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The last big-budget movie I saw left me a little disappointed (who would ever believe that Luke would just disappear? How lame!). However, since the Black Panther character was introduced in a previous Marvel outing I did have hope. To my pleasure, I wasn’t disappointed. Given the millions of dollars in ticket sales, I guess I’m in decent company.

So, there were many things to like about the Black Panther movie. I’ll discuss a few now and a few more in later posts. My first observation was the positive image of an African nation. I grew up watching Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan movies whose characterization of Africans was stereotypical of Hollywood during the Jim Crow era. What eventually turned me away from Tarzan movies altogether was the reaction of local Africans to Weissmuller’s Tarzan swinging through the jungle. They hid in fear at the sound of his voice. What I imagine most racists during Jim Crow would like black Americans to do … run in fear at the sound of the white voice. But I digress.

The Black Panther’s Wakanda was not some primitive land, but one of culture, history and high technology. So my initial observation is relief in that an African nation was depicted in such a marvelous light. In fact, I found it amusing that at the end of the movie the King of Wakanda was asked what a nation of farmers had to offer the world. A sly smile crossed the King’s lips as the credits began to roll again.

Such a brief scene might go unnoticed by most, but it struck a nerve with me. When Europeans began their colonization of the world hundreds of years ago Africa was their first victim. They plundered the continent for any and everything of value. So it seems rather insulting that someone would ask what an African nation has to offer the world. I know it’s just a movie, but I wonder how many in the real world feel the same way.

My second observation was not represented as subtly.  The depiction of black women was more than a pleasant surprise. From the leading male character’s mother to his sister to the leader of his special security forces, black women were shown as positive participants in Wakanda’s society. What a relief. In our society black women have been vilified unjustly for generations. In the antebellum era, black women were either seen as the seducers of white males or the loud overbearing and overweight caregivers to the master’s family.

Sadly, not much has changed today. Black women are still being portrayed as seducers (see the numerous reality television shows) and overbearing caregivers (ok, maybe Tyler Perry’s alter-ego shouldn’t count, but he’s made legions of fans while dressed in drag). While Wakanda is fictional, the way black women are portrayed in our society is real. Too bad it took a movie about a fictional superhero to bring a bit of pride to those who have suffered so much in this society.

Maybe the cry “Wakanda Forever” is real after all.

See you soon.

PS: Has anyone seen the President’s taxes yet?