Saturday, May 28, 2016

King of The Black Millennials: T'Challa At Me

If you recall, a few months ago, I wrote about how the world needs a Black superhero on the silver screen—and fast. If you don’t recall, I’ve linked it here. You’re welcome. So just imagine how hype I was when I heard about the revitalization of the Black Panther franchise. No, it’s not about Huey and Stokley (although that would be lit on a completely different level). But it is about a superhuman character that is deeply connected to blackness and also saves the world—superlit.

I have thoughts about this. Lots and lots of thoughts. I mean, how could I not? It’s like Marvel literally read this blog and answered my prayers. I have an intellectual soul sister, Ravynn, who is basically going to be a super-professor—she’s getting her PhD in American Studies, focusing on race and superheroes. Ravynn also has lots and lots of thoughts on Black Panther. So, for your reading pleasure, we’ve decided to write a serial, King of the Black Millennials. Her posts will be on her blog, Quoth The Ravynn, and you can find mine here. We’ll post links on both. Teamwork makes the dream work. 



I want you to be just as hype as I am about this Black Panther comeback, so let me break it down for you. Ta-Nehesi Coats (literary bae), writer of instant classic Between The World And Me, Open City, and The Atlantic’s “A Case for Reparations”, is writing the comic series. Ryan Coogler (filmmaker bae), writer and director of both Creed and “Fruitvale Station” is directing the films. Chadwick Boseman (biopic bae), who played Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown in Get On Up, is portraying yet another Black hero as Black Panther himself. Are you hype now? Good.



Nerd moment: Chadwick Boseman was also in the original cast of hip-hop theater masterpiece Rhyme Deferred by Kamilah Forbes. Both Micah the hip-hop head and Micah the thespian dig that he’s our new hero. 



The first time that the world is introduced to this 21st Century version of The Black Panther is in Captain America: Civil War, which I saw today. If we’re being honest, Black Panther was the only reason why I was actually interested in seeing this film. I like superhero movies, but some days I’d rather watch two people talk about their lives, than sit through two hours of CGI and people hitting each other. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the film. When Alfre Woodard’s character spoke about the senseless killing of her son, by the hyper-Americanized Avengers (ring any bells?), I thought things were going in a different direction. Even though the film wasn’t a commentary on police brutality (Micah, you’ve really got to chill), I really liked it. 


The movie was good—but Black Panther was great. He got a lot more screen time than I expected. I walked in thinking that the movie would be a solid 75% about Captain America, but it was more of an ensemble piece, which, for me, was fine, considering that I would have been satisfied with a quick Black Panther teaser. His story arc was prominent towards the beginning of the movie and was clearly related to the larger conflict. We got action, we got heart, we got story. I was satisfied. 



Just for a little bit of background (not much of a spoiler), when Black Panther is not in a fly cat suit saving the world, he’s T’Challa, the new king of Wakanda, a fictional nation in central Africa. Think of it as Black Genovia. 

I like Wakanda. I like Wakanda because I can take ownership of it. I am very Black and very proud. But the truth of the matter is that my family came to this country chained and battered (although no less African). Ties to specific places were dropped somewhere between the graveyard of the Atlantic and the hell of the plantation. I mean, I could go and get a DNA test or something, but those are only partially accurate, and I don’t think I should have to pay $99 for my heritage—I’ll take that with my 40 acres and my mule, please. My point is that I, like a lot of Black millennials, don’t have a geographical location or specific place that I can link our African pride to (or if we have found some clues, it's not a complete story). So for me, Wakanda, although fictional, is a place that I can grab on to and call my own. And there will be no offended Wakandans telling us geographical orphans that we have “appropriated” their culture just because we felt enough closeness and pride in it to adopt it as our own. Black youngsters, we are Wakanda. 



And who wouldn’t want to claim Wakanda? The characterization of their king T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War, was extremely appealing. He’s clearly very intelligent, well dressed, articulate, respectful, and in-charge. Not to mention a warrior and the leader of an entire Black nation. This is what we should want our heroes to look like—so great that we can strive to be them, so human that we can relate to them, and so down that we know they’ll never forget us. 

So, yes, T’Challa is King of Wakanda, but he is also the rising King of The Black Millennials. And I mean with Coates, Boseman, and Coogler as a part of his royal court, his kingdom has the power to inspire people like me, the Black future. Basically, we’re taking over the world. And you can T'Challa at us all (you shall laugh at my pun!)


Now, I don’t know enough about the history of the Black Panther comics to tell you how exactly T’Challa got his powers—you’ll have to ask Ravynn about that one. But, if I had to guess, I’d say that it comes from the same stuff that makes #BlackGirlMagic. 

P.S. The first Black Panther film comes out in 2017...be on the lookout!





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