It's finally here! If you haven't seen it, don't read further or you will do yourself a disservice. Black Panther is required viewing. The movie dropped on us here in the states late last week starting with premiere showings on Thursday night. Oakland's own Ryan Coogler, the director, even dropped by to one of the premiere showings of the movie. To say that it was short of electric is to short change the impact of this movie. I've been to many significant film premieres at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland over many years, but this one was particularly charged with a lot of anticipation. It was truly epic.
The movie was attended by a full spectrum of ages, genders, and races. Of course, the majority of the audience consisted of people of color. I was part of my own contingent of people forming a "March to Wakanda" as we walked to the theater. It was almost a mile of walking, but we felt as if we were going on a pilgrimage. We heard drums as we were walking to the theater, as well. That added to the feeling that we were traveling to see something special.
As we were walking, a man sprayed orange Gatorade on us and shouted some obscenities. He was taunting us to confront him. It was unclear what it was that we were doing to provoke him. We did our best to ignore him. Ultimately, he ran down the block in a crazed fashion. I got a sense that he may have been influenced by drugs. Could it have something to do with the current opioid epidemic? Regardless, it didn't shake us for long as we resumed the walk to the theater.
During the walk, I gave some thought about the last time there was a blockbuster movie featuring a black man as a superhero. The last one that I remembered was Blade. There were four others before Blade, but I think that Wesley Snipes was the most memorable and most box-office worthy. I enjoyed watching Blade. The sequels weren't bad and the fight scenes were very well done. However, the reality is that it hasn't been since 1998 (a twenty year drought!) that we've had a significant movie featuring a strong black superhero.
One of the many notable aspects of this movie is that the cast is all black except for a couple of white men. One of the white men, Ulysses Klaue, plays up the racist-hating South African trope. The other one is an FBI agent, Everett K. Ross, providing a couple of comic relief scenes. It's nice to see a turn on the usual situation of a black man providing the comedy. Seeing this on the screen makes you realize how much the movie industry has influenced the movie formula for the rest of us. Realize that 94% of the films that we see are produced by white men. Essentially, Hollywood is whitewashed.
Everything about this movie turns all of the usual narratives that moviegoers have been experiencing until now on its head. Another distinction is the appearance of a black woman, Shuri, wielding her technology and science prowess. This is truly unique and ground-breaking. You rarely see black women portrayed as scientists. This will definitely encourage young girls to consider going into scientific careers. Sometimes, all we need is to see ourselves reflected on the big screen to encourage us to pursue what are impossible dreams in our minds.
For the audience at the Grand Lake Theatre, the film fulfilled all of the hype. There were audible claps, sighs, and sniffs during pivotal moments of the movie. I'm quite sure that this was a special outing for many people. I was glad to see children, as well. This will influence their lives. The movie delivered, period.
However, this movie is purely an African film. The hero and his people are from Africa. We see a fictional African nation and we see African culture front and center throughout the movie. We see African fabrication and art. All of it was portrayed in a genuinely positive light. Contrast that with the villain, Erik Stevens, also known as Killmonger. He is an American Black man. Because of his upbringing, he develops a disdain for Wakanda and its king. He's the bad guy.
This makes me think about the continuing portrayal of American Black men as bad people. This movie strengthens it while amplifying African culture. In a sense, it portrays the stark and deep chasm between African Blacks and American Blacks. African culture is uplifted to a high note in the movie whereas American Black culture is denigrated.
I understand that the African continent has been plundered, taken advantage of and stripped of its resources. I understand that much of our knowledge, our science, and our math comes from that continent. I understand that the art, the culture, and the music is under-appreciated. All of which still remains to be acknowledged by Western culture.
What I don't understand is why they continue to ignore their role in the slave industry which flourished with their complicity. I don't think I've ever heard a collective apology from that continent for their part in the slave trade. I don't even think that Europe and the United States haven't apologized either. Maybe, this movie will open up a dialogue and give more awareness of the impact that slavery has made on the descendants of slaves.
In the meantime, let's hear drums as we march to Wakanda together.
I was proud to wear this cape made from African fabric as I marched to Wakanda.
The full beautiful spectrum of black beauty finally on a movie poster. Monumental cultural moment. Period.