Okay! So, I promised myself I’d finish grad school homework, housework, and entering grades before I wrote this post! Here I am at 11:24 PM STILL FIRED UP about the Black Panther movie premiere my family and I went to see on Friday night! IT WAS SO GOOD!!! For so many reasons! I couldn’t help my thoughts from bubbling over all weekend, so I’m glad to finally get the chance to write them down! Here are my top 5 reasons why Black Panther is such a big deal.#1. For African Americans across the nation and Black people across the globe, the representation of actors and actresses who LOOK LIKE US all across the screen throughout an ENTIRE movie that boasts the name Marvel in its title is incredible history! Sure, we’ve had low-budget films and even some big-name actors and actresses play breakout roles in various ways, but we had not yet seen a Marvel Superhero movie with the budget it had to give black actors and actresses this kind of screen time! Amazing history!
#2. Did you check the girl power from beginning to end in this movie? I was BLOWN AWAY by the female characters–the strength, dignity, tenacity, and leadership they garnered throughout the entire nation of Wakanda. After we watched the movie, my husband, my daughter, and I shared our favorite characters with each other. My daughter loved the little sister for her wit, humor, and technological intelligence! I loved Nakia’s character because of her strong independence and self-determination to fulfill her purpose and answer the call on her life (and obviously because she is T’Challa’s love interest, too!). But I can’t even front–the General is my girl, too! She is that friend who keeps it real; rides for you; cuts for you; fights with you; leads fearlessly; and stays loyal beyond reproach! She had me cracking up with side eye and comments. She truly was a bomb warrior! Ladies–we represented in this film!
#3. Black Panther isn’t just a superhero movie. Rather it showcases leadership styles that every leader should become aware of. There are the passive leaders–ones who work all of their careers to maintain stability, but hardly take their teams beyond the “norm” out of a lack of courage or even because they just don’t realize there could be more. From the gist of the movie, I would say T’Challa’s father was like this. He developed a strong foundation for Wakanda to stand on, but as far as taking Wakanda to the rest of the world, he allowed fear to keep them shut in. There are also aggressive leaders. This was Michael B. Jordan’s character (I can’t recall his character’s name!). Aggressive leaders demand respect immediately and can (most of the time) demand it rightfully so because of their confidence and strength in their area of expertise. However, aggressive leaders lack the humility necessary to empower those around them, often using fear as a means to lead which almost always leads to destruction, dishonor, and disloyalty. And finally, T’Challa–an authentic leader who desires to serve the people he leads. This type of leader uses wisdom, sound judgement, and a confidence laden with humility. T’Challa’s character depends on his inner circle of wise counsel to help make decisions in times of distress. He employs patience with situations where he is confused or frustrated; and he inquires respectfully of those questions he doesn’t have the answers to. T’Challa is a class act, all-around respectable King of Wakanda who knows how to serve the people he leads as well as have the courage to fight for them as well.
#4. The richness of the Wakandan culture presents a glimpse into the traditions, rituals, and customs of African tribes. What a fun way to introduce your family to a culture different than your own where you can learn more about how they live and what each custom means to them. Talk about bringing history lessons to life for your own children at home! I have so much respect for tribes of African descent who are faithful and true to the rituals and customs that have predated their own lifetimes. There’s something to be said about a culture or a people whose resilience has brought them through time and time again while keeping their culture authentic and strong.
#5. And finally, the first battle scene: T’Challa is challenged by the leader of the White Gorilla tribe. Towards the end of the battle, it looks as though T’Challa will lose. His head bows backwards and upside down. The screen shows the crowd from T’Challa’s perspective and it pans to his mother (Angela Bassett–who is another number on this list all by herself if I had more time!) who yells to her boy, “TELL HIM WHO YOU ARE!” AAAAHHH!!! Just thinking of this part gives me chills! After he hears his mom’s instruction, he refocuses, re-centers, and goes on to win the battle. It was in his mother’s reminder that T’Challa recognizes his identity, aligns his mentality and his actions with that identity and takes the victory! What a beautiful reminder for us as children of God! When we are at our lowest; when we are seemingly drowning in defeat, the Holy Spirit will make it a point to remind us through someone, somehow of WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST JESUS! We reign with Jesus in Heavenly places! We have authority and dominion over the attacks Satan plots against us! We are the redeemed! We are the set free! We are the delivered! We are children of the most High God who have world-overcoming faith residing on the inside of us!
I saved #5 for last because it’s my closing point; and somehow, it is intertwined with all of the points that precede it. But most importantly, it’s the most powerful point I want to get across today. No matter what has been said about your name, your family, your culture, your nation–you, too, can rise up against all odds. There is a resilience within you that has the power to change the narrative that’s been written about you. And there is an identity Christ wants to give you that will give you VICTORY in every situation you face.
Did she get all that from watching Black Panther? YES! I did! And I’m so grateful to be part of a historic era! And I’m so glad that a movie like Black Panther illuminates so many beautiful things worth blogging about! I hope you go see the movie and support the movement this Black History Month! Let me know what you think!
Yours Truly,
Mrs. Bri Walker