Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend an IMAX screening of Black Panther, Marvel’s Afrofuturistic tale that introduces T’Challa, king and protector of Wakanda. (I will leave out all spoilers, but if you haven’t seen it, get your life together and go see it). From the moment I stepped into the theater, the energy was high. The number of people who dressed for the occasion rivaled any Star Wars premier, and I was happy to be surrounded by a diverse crowd ready to take their first look at Wakanda. After enjoying what I considered to be one of the best Marvel films I’d seen (It rivaled Ragnarok, and I loved Ragnarok), I opened my phone and had the misfortune of scrolling past a social media post expressing outrage over the fact that people were so excited over what was “just a film.” I was taken aback, because what may be “just a film” to one person could be so much more to another. Here are four reasons why Marvel’s Black Panther is a game changer for this generation. #Wakandaforever.
1. Heroes come in all colors
Every child has a favorite Disney princess or superhero, and this one film gave us both. Representation matters, and in a world of Elsas and Harry Potters, Black Panther gives young people a chance to celebrate a hero that looks like them. Black Panther is inspiring a generation of children to love their hair, their skin and, most importantly, their history and culture.
2. Women run the world
In Wakanda, women are warriors, inventors and leaders with important roles throughout the community. Despite T’Challa’s ground breaking heroism, his sister, Princess Shuri, seemed to steal the show whenever she came on screen. At the age of 16, Shuri is already one of the smartest women on earth and is responsible for creating most of Wakanda’s modern tech. The character of Shuri is sure to inspire women of all backgrounds who are interested in the tech field.
3. Embracing Africa
The media often portrays Africa as a place full of poverty and people who need assistance from the rest of the world. And while some areas of Africa are poor, it is a diverse continent with people from a variety of socioeconomic classes. Wakanda may be a fictionalized nation, but this movie celebrates the many ways in which Africa is rich in culture, tradition and resources alike.
4. It’s record-breaking
The money doesn’t lie. Disney estimates that Black Panther made $201.7 million through Sunday for opening weekend in North America. The world is not only ready for diverse movies; it’s hungry for it.
