Why The World Needs The Black Panther Movie Right Now
by Phil Perich for the Capes and Lunatics Blog
Before you read any further, be warned there will be spoilers for the new Black Panther movie! Now with that out of the way, let’s get to it. Not only is the Black Panther movie one of the best entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the global community needed something like it right now. Not just for it’s portrayal of African culture (but there is that too), but for personal and social issues that effect us all.
Generations
One of the biggest plot points in the story is when the new king of Wakanda, T’Challa (Black Panther) discovers his father T’Chaka had years ago killed his own brother to save his friend. T’Chaka then decides to leave behind his young nephew who his brother had had after his years of operating undercover in America. The child would reappear years later as the adult Erik “Killmonger” Stevens who attempted and almost succeeded in stealing the throne of Wakanda. T’Challa in the beginning of the movie was unsure if he could live up to his father’s legacy. By the end of the movie, T’Challa discovered he would have to view his father as much of a flawed human being as anyone else and would have to forge his own destiny for himself and his country.
Children Are The Future
And speaking of the aforementioned Killmonger, the “villain” of the story also provided much of the inspiration for T’Challa at the end of the story. After being abandoned after the death of his father, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens would go on to despise the world that had failed him and became a killing machine working with the CIA. If only someone had shown this young man some kindness, numerous lives would have been saved and a potential war would have been avoided. While most examples of child neglect do not get to this level, Remember today’s children will grow up to be the leaders and citizens of tomorrow’s global community. T’Chaka’s failure of Killmonger is what inspires T’Challa to reveal the secrets of Wakanda to the world and open outreach centers around the world.
Heroic Figures
The Black Panther movie also highlighted the advantages of teamwork, especially pertaining to friendship and family values. One of the key central figures to this story who I believe stole the show even among such a talented cast was the character of Shuri, T’Challa’s younger, genius level sister. Not only was she instrumental in T’Challa’s mission building the advanced technology he would use, but she also showed that not everyone has to be a superpowered, super strong superhuman to be an important hero.
Love Thy Neighbor
Another lesson I got from the movie was the idea of people coming together no matter where they come from, what their beliefs are or any other man-made differences we use to think of people as “not like us”. In the beginning of the movie we see tribal leader M’Baku challenge T’Challa for the throne of Wakanda. Believing that generations of the royal family had failed his tribe, M’Baku saw his people as different than the rest of the country only keeping an uneasy truce with the rest of Wakanda’s population. Only when the threat of Killmonger arose did M’Baku see the benefits of joining with the rest of his community. Should M’Baku have reached out to the royal family long ago, or should T’Chaka, T’Challa or one of the other royals attempted to find a common ground with all their citizens? Perhaps a lesson for those of us in the real world?
World Stage
And speaking of real world issues, what about Everett K Ross, the former Air Force officer turned CIA operative? From his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War through the first half or so of Black Panther, Ross is suspicious of T’Challa and his entire country until he sees it from the inside. And in the first end credit scene when T’Challa announces to the United Nations that he will reveal all of Wakanda’s secrets to the world, certain members ask what Wakanda has to offer. Should we take from this that individuals and countries should offer the hand of friendship and cooperation until there is proof to act otherwise? Is that the overall lesson to be taken from this movie? That friendship and goodwill go much farther than fear and distrust?
If you couldn’t tell I really enjoyed this movie, from story, action, and the great cast. It gets a grade of A from me. What did you think of Black Panther? Did you get the same themes as I did? Anything I missed? Let me know!
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