“Black Panther” (2018) is the first Hollywood blockbuster action film to star a Black superhero: T’Challa, the Black Panther. It features all-Black-everything Afrofuturism, special effects, shoot-outs, fight scenes, a chase scene, a battle, and even a rhino charge. Loads of PG-13 violence, no real love story. Ryan Coogler, who gave us “Fruitvale Station” (2013), directs.
Box office: It cost $200 million to make – and has already brought in $404 million worldwide after its first weekend. It looks set to become the first film with a Black-majority cast to break a billion. The highest grossing Black film to date is “Coming to America” (1988), which brought in $595 million (in 2016 dollars).
Cast:
- Chadwick Boseman: T’Challa, the Black Panther, king of Wakanda
- Michael B. Jordan: Erik “Killmonger” Stevens, the main villain (pictured below)
- Letitia Wright: Shuri, T’Challa’s kid sister and tech whiz (pictured above)
- Lupita Nyong’o: Nakia, spy, old girlfriend of T’Challa’s
- Danai Gurira: Okoye, head of the Dora Milaje (Wakandan special forces)
- Angela Bassett: Ramonda, the Queen Mother
- Forest Whitaker: Zuri, a wise, old, trusted adviser
- Andy Serkis: Ulysses Klaue, South African arms dealer
- Martin Freeman: Everett K. Ross, CIA agent
The last two are White, the rest are Black.
White power structure: The director and writers are Black, but the producer and studio (Marvel) are White. Marvel wanted Ava DuVernay to direct but she did not agree with their ideas for the film. Coogler apparently did.
Representation matters: Joe Robert Cole, who wrote the film with Coogler:
“As a kid I played a lot of make-believe and I would change every hero to black, so instead of James Bond I was James Black; instead of Batman, Blackman.
“Little brown kids, including my own, don’t have to do that. That’s amazing to me. This is the movie I wish I’d had to look up to.”
That is the great thing about the film.
Also great is the Dora Milaje, an all-female elite fighting force. It was great to see them in action.
Not so great: Killmonger, the only Black American character with more than a few lines, is the villain! He wants to use Wakanda’s wealth and power to free Black people all over the world. T’Challa, the moral centre of the film, sees that as a bad thing!!! In true Wakandan (White Liberal) fashion, he prefers handouts that keep the White power structure of the world in place.
Wakanda First: Even though Wakanda has been more powerful and advanced than the West for hundreds of years, it sat by and did nothing as Whites dragged off millions of Africans into slavery and still did nothing as Whites took over Africa piece by piece. And continued to sit by under T’Challa, the supposed hero. Hero to whom!!?
The most realistic part of the whole film was just that: if there were a Wakanda or a T’Challa it would probably go just like that: pro-Black in image but not in substance. We have seen that before.
– Abagond, 2018.
Update (March 19th): On March 10th “Black Panther” became the first Black film to gross a billion dollars.
Sources: the Cole quote, the top grossing Black films after inflation, box office figures for “Black Panther”.
See also:
- Wakanda – as told by Ta-Nehisi Coates in his first Black Panther book
- Lupita Nyong’o
- Angela Bassett
- “representation matters”
- Fruitvale Station
- White Liberals
- Obama retrospective
550
Abagond,
I enjoyed reading your review of Black Panther and I agree with you that it was a really good film. However, there are two sides to everything, just as it is with this film. Here, we have secular and spiritual lenses with which to read the cinematic symbolisms contained within and extrapolate or on the alternative, disassemble their coded meanings.
For example: “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships. Because they knew death was better than bondage.” – Killmonger, Black Panther, 2018
Sounds familiar??
There are a ton of other analogies within this movie that clearly point towards who we are as a people. And to a certain extent we are even being mocked as well. But regrettably, most so-called African Americans will not get the messages dropped throughout this film due to spiritual blindness.
Carry on Black folks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
“The most realistic part of the whole film was just that: if there were a Wakanda or a T’Challa it would probably go just like that: pro-Black in image but not in substance. We have seen that before.”
FALSE. There was a Wakanda, of sort, from 1791 to 1825, it was insurrectionary Saint-Domingue, succeeded by revolutionary Haiti.
Achievements: Broke the slave system and forced the French government to free the slaves on 2/4/1794, a date you cynically refuse to recognize. Extended emancipation to the eastern side of the island and issued the first constitution in world history that declared slavery “abolished forever”. Fought and beat Napoleon’s army when it tried to destroy the freedom gained. Provided help to Messrs. Miranda and Bolivar to start the dissolution of Spain’s American empire. With vibranium, they would have destroyed slavery worldwide. Hell, with a decent navy, colonialism would have been in trouble worldwide.
With vibranium, they would have destroyed slavery worldwide.
Hell, with a decent navy, colonialism would have been in trouble worldwide. I’ll give the final word to the “real” T’Challa i.e. Jacques I Emperor of Haiti: “Shall I again recal [sic] to your memory the plots lately framed at Jeremie? the terrible explosion which was to be the result, notwithstanding the generous pardon granted to these incorrigible beings at the expulsion of the French army? and (dread harbinger of death) the frightful despotism exercised at Martinique! – Unfortunate people of Martinique, could I but fly to your assistance, and break your fetters! Alas, an insurmountable barrier separates us. Perhaps a spark from the same fire which inflames us, will alight into your bosoms: perhaps at the sound of this commotion, suddenly awakening from your lethargy, with arms in your hands, you will reclaim your sacred and imprescriptable [sic] rights.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
@Abagond
There was a ton of hype preceding this movie. Did it meet, exceed or disappoint your expectations or any preconceived notions you had prior to seeing it?
Did you enjoy it?
Do you think discussions about the impact the movie might have on society, the movie industry, and young people are warranted?
LikeLike
See: Black Panther’s Lack of Black Power http://mailchi.mp/9591fa78d3c1/is-all-the-buzz-around-this-new-film-missing-the-point-blackpanthernoblackpower-1033705
LikeLike
One of the problems with Black superheroes in Marvel and DC comics is that they may look Black, but very rarely do they reflect the experiences and struggles of Black people. This was a point that was made Kenneth Ghee who explained in Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation that: “Historically in comic books and movies, the Black superhero operates in a totally Eurocentric (White) context; no Black family, no Black lover, no connection to community or culture…For him (and for us and our children) there is no Black consciousness or Black cause, only a generalized ‘humanitarian’ supportive role from a Eurocentric worldview and perspective.” Given that the Black Panther movie is set to be released next month, I would like to point out that one of the unique things about the Black Panther is that he is one Black superhero who has to confront many of the problems that Black people confront daily. The Black Panther doesn’t just live in Africa, he also lives many of the real problems that Africa has faced and continues to face. Black Panther comics are filled with themes of Western imperialism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism in Africa. These themes are especially prominent in the six episode cartoon series which was an adoption of Reginald Hudlin’s run of the comics.
In the comics Wakanda is the most technologically advanced country in the world because the people of Wakanda are able to utilize their country’s resources for their own benefit. Wakanda was the only African country never to be colonized or conquered, so it did not suffer through the ravages of the slave trade and colonialism which disrupted Africa’s development and, as Walter Rodney explained, underdeveloped Africa. Some have defended colonialism by arguing that colonization was a benefit to Africa because it introduced European technology, but this was not entirely the case. The technology that was introduced was utilized in the service of European domination in Africa. The vast majority of colonized Africans were exploited and impoverished, and they did not benefit from European technology in any significant way.
Ethiopia was able to fend off the Italian invasion and under Menelik II’s rule Ethiopia made many technological advances, including establishing a railway, a postal service, and the country’s first hospital. This was because without European domination Ethiopia was free to adopt European technology and apply it in ways that were beneficial to their country, but the other colonized African nations did not have this benefit. Whereas Menelik was able to establish a hospital, in many colonies Africans were malnourished and given inadequate medical care. In Mozambique the Portuguese failed to train a single African doctor and Guinea-Bissau was even more neglected by the Portuguese colonialists than Mozambique was. Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, once explained that by the time Tanzania gained its independence the country only had 12 doctors. Wakanda presents us with a glimpse of where Africa could have been had it not been for colonialism, as well as a glimpse of where Africa could very well be with the proper leadership.
Comic book superheroes are typically people who decide to become superheroes due to personal tragedy or by obtaining superheroes, but the Black Panther is unique in that he has inherited his role as a superhero. T’Challa comes from a long dynasty of Black Panthers that have protected Wakanda for thousands of years. The Black Panther does fight the typical super villains that are found in comics, but what makes this character unique for people of African descent is that the Black Panther also fights a threat that Africans had to fight in real life, which is European colonization. For example, one story in Hudlin’s run depicts one of T’Challa’s ancestors defending his nation against an assault led by a European settler known as Klaue. In the story Klaue is a soldier who fought military campaigns in South Africa and has nothing but contempt for Africans, whom he views as uncivilized savages.
T’Challa’s own story is rooted in Africa’s struggle against neo-colonial forces. T’Challa’s father, T’Chaka, was murdered for refusing to give up Wakanda’s most valuable resource, which is a fictional metal known as vibranium. In Hudlin’s retelling of the story, T’Chaka’s assassination was part of a plot that was carried out by various Western countries that were unable to talk T’Chaka into giving them his country’s resources. When they realized that T’Chaka could not be bought off, their next option was to simply kill him. This brings to mind the assassinations of Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, and other African leaders who were killed or overthrown by Western countries for refusing to serve the interests of those countries. T’Challa ascends to the throne and has to remain cautious about the fact that the very governments that assassinated his father would be plotting to do the same to him.
Aside from the Western governments that seek to undermine Wakanda to exploit its wealth, the Black Panther also has to confront African dictators such as M’Butu, who is one of the antagonists in the cartoon series. M’Butu is the dictator of a nation that borders Wakanda and he is depicted as being the opposite of T’Challa. M’Butu is greedy, self-serving, and is easily paid off like many of the dictators that continue to rule Africa today. M’Butu is also a close American ally and even agrees to participate in a plot to overthrow the Black Panther. Black Panther not only fights to protect his nation against European invaders, but against African traitors as well.
I am not sure how deeply the movie will delve into these themes. The anti-colonialist message found in the cartoon series and some of the comics was toned down when the Black Panther was introduced in Captain American: Civil War. In that movie T’Chaka’s assassination was part of a plot to frame the Winter Soldier rather than being an assassination that was carried out because T’Chaka refused to give up his country’s resources. Even if the anti-colonialist message is toned down, I still think the significance of the Black Panther movie is that it’s a movie that will challenge some of the ways Africa and African people are typically depicted in the mainstream media. It is also significant in that it has a message that is relevant to all people of African descent. For African Americans and others in the diaspora it is a reminder that there is more to our history that slavery, and for those on the African continent it is a reminder of the great potential that Africa has.
LikeLiked by 2 people
@ Kushite Prince
You need to give a source for that text.
LikeLike
Abagond, what text are you referring to? Kushite Prince made no comment on this thread. You seem confused lately, mistaking Obama, a commercial product of the same corporate entities who created this movie, with real organizations that arose from the struggle against their rule. If you want to know the source of Emperor Jacques I’s speech that I quoted from, it is here: https://haitidoi.com/2013/08/02/i-have-avenged-america/
LikeLike
@ gro jo
Kushite Prince has a comment in moderation.
LikeLike
@Abagond: Did you see the film?
LikeLike
Oshay Duke Jackson seems to have a different take on Black Panther: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBMtr0YyaGM)
Being his black conservative self, however, he frames Wakanda as looking out for its own self, proposing that the great civilization would have been torn apart had it helped other blacks that, in his opinion, only wanted big and strong to liberate them without actually doing any of the work themselves. Essentially, Wakanda had to get its own house in order before coming close to being able to help anyone else.
He also frames Killmonger (the hell kinda name is that, anyway?) as a garden variety angry Afro-American who’s jealous of T’Challa and wants to take over so he can essentially give blacks worldwide handouts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ Mary
I saw it on Saturday.
LikeLike
@ Open Minded Observer
I enjoyed it, despite the massive hype, despite the fact that I found myself rooting against the hero (hardly the first time). But I thought Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station” was much better, far more powerful: it was a true story and it hit me at a much deeper level. But way more people are going to see, have already seen, “Black Panther” so its impact will be bigger and therefore more worth talking about. When the dust settles it will probably be the biggest Black film of all time, so you cannot not talk about it.
Something I did not bring up in the post is its effect on the Broken Africa stereotype. I am not sure if it strengthens it or weakens it. It is written against that stereotype, but since it is a fantasy it might wind up strengthening it, like how an exception proves the rule.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, we had Blade, Spawn and Steel in 90s as black super hero films.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Here’s the link to the article. I posted it on my blog.
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5a539948e4b0f9b24bf3195e
LikeLike
I’m with Killmonger. It seems this film reveals a profound truth: if africans and africans of the diaspora united we could free our people.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Asia had three Wakandas, China, India and Japan, two of them succumbed to outside aggression and internal rot, one adapted by becoming a member of the aggressor club until it to was tamed by the end of WWII. What’s the moral of this story? Isolation doesn’t work and leads to stagnation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Picture via http://www.abagond.wordpress.com […]
LikeLike
As I stated almost a week ago, the Black Panther movie was filled with scriptural or coded meanings. However what saddens me the most is that most Black folks are unable to un-package or disassemble the hidden messages contained within the movie.
Trust me, the entire film was about MOCKING us and most Black folks that went to see the film, failed to realize the scriptural and social underpinnings of this event. This took place even while Hollyweird shoved the Black Panther movie right into faces at the time of viewing and one week later, it still holds true today. Here we go folks to prove my point and that’s if you could decode the meanings contained within:
And for those who dream that there will be some type of alliance between so-called African-Americans and native Africans, that is not only wishful thinking, but sheer nonsense. The depiction of the gentleman wearing a green suit in the movie with a green lip-plate lodged in his lower lip was done for a strategic purpose, that is, to indicate the difference between us, not similarities.
By the way, how many so-called African Americans have you ever seen wear a green painted lip-plate in public??
Wake up Black folks, Selah!
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ blakksage
I hated seeing that lip-plate man in the film. In my experience people like him are used to exoticize Africa.
LikeLike
@Abagond,
That’s the thing with the vast majority of today’s contemporary Romans. They either categorize or demonize other cultures through their collectively corrupt lens. This holds true even more so if the targeted culture is bereft of Florentine features.
LikeLike
@Poetess
That’s their greatest fear. This film wanted to capitalize on the cultural differences between continental Africans and African Americans. This film wasn’t about unity. I wish people could see this simple fact.
LikeLike
@ KP:
KP, there is an interesting thinkpiece by Chauncey Devega on Salon magazine, with Adilifu Nama, Professor of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angelos. He is the author of Super Black Pop Culture And Black Superheroes. He and Chauncey DeVega discuss the what they find problematic in BP. How the Killmonger character is especially problematic. I am an avid listenner of his podcast. I especially thought of you when i heard the podcast this morning.
LikeLike
Best low key but somewhat exemplary black super heroe was Cyborg in Justice League. He was in control of his own destiny but chose to join the Justice League. When nobody thought the BatWing aircraft could take itself further Cyborg added his reprogramming touch to take it to the limits just for him…
LikeLike
FB post by Melissa A. Ringwalt
This was the first! It wasn’t perfect, but by all means I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. There were so many layers regarding the African Diaspora. We can all admit we suffer from the effect upholding white supremacy standards. This movie at least is a great first step for combating anti-blackness. I know my kids were proud coming out of that theater, heads up high, chest sticking out, lol. We now incorporate Black Panther dap that Shuri and T’Challa greeted each other with. It was beautiful. #WakandaForever
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ lifelearner
“…Real life isn’t like that. We lose. We get hurt. So, I say this. Let people enjoy the movie. When October of 2018 comes…”
Well said, you made great points!
I would add that voting is not the only way to move forward. In fact, it is probably the least effective.
I hope Black people find a way to incorporate “that feeling, that elation” into everyday organizing of our own communities. We desperately need functional, safer, more cohesive neighborhoods. If that “feeling” is sparked by a Black superhero universe that sprang from the mind of a White man, so be it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ lifelearner: So good to read you long time no see. Great points made.
LikeLike
Personally, I’m all for teaching Black kids about our heroes of old. However, let us teach them about the REAL ones first, prior to falling to Hollywood’s fictional heroes. Moreover, I’m even for teaching our kids allegorical stories that will inspire them to the ether heights of the social stratosphere as well.
Let us teach them about General Hannibal Barca, a Black man who lead an army of soldiers riding on the back of mere elephants during the Second Punic War to cross the Pyreneess mountains and the Alps, down into Italy in order to occupy, subdue and terrify much of the Roman Empire for 15 years.
In 1862, the second bloody year of the American Civil War, a 22-year-old slave named Robert Smalls accomplished an unthinkable feat of cunning, deception, and bravery: he stole a ship. But it wasn’t just any ship that this crafty young man decided to nab. No, he knew what he needed and had meticulously planned to get it. His vessel of choice was fully stocked with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, Howitzer guns and other weapons, and—most importantly—17 pieces of Confederate property, all of which were warm-blooded human beings enslaved by the prevailing zeitgeist of the American South.
Tell them about Septimius Severus, the first Black Roman Emperor who once stated in relevant part:
“You see by what has happened that we are superior to you in intelligence, in size of army, and in number of supporters. Surely you were easily trapped, captured without a struggle. It is in my power to do with you what I wish when I wish. Helpless and prostrate, you lie before us now, victims of our might. But if one looks for a punishment equal to the crimes you have committed, it is impossible to find a suitable one. You murdered your revered and benevolent old emperor, the man whom it was your sworn duty to protect. The empire of the Roman people, eternally respected, which our forefathers obtained by their valiant courage or inherited because of their noble birth, this empire you shamefully and disgracefully sold for silver as if it were your personal property. But you were unable to defend the man whom you yourselves had chosen as emperor. No, you betrayed him like the cowards you are. For these monstrous acts and crimes you deserve a thousand deaths, if one wished to do to you what you have earned. You see clearly what it is right you should suffer. But I will be merciful.”
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Septimius_Severus
I could go on and on and on, …. however, I do not think it’s necessary because by now, you should’ve gotten my drift!
LikeLike
I have just returned from seeing the film Black Panther and I enjoyed it. I was entertained immensely. There was much to unpack after hearing so many reviews and talking points, and reading so many think pieces, some with contrarian viewpoints and some with positive viewpoints and perspectives. After having my own viewing experience i can say that the viewpoints that were contrarian and the positive viewpoints all had merit and gave me much food for thought.
The Killmonger character was a sympathetic villain who was African but lived in the United States as African American raised by his African father. His father murdered by his uncle and he is left alone in Oakland, California. Just like many black Americans who are descendants of slaves we don’t know our roots from Africa or our tribe or language. The chasm between Black Americans and Africans from the diaspora is presented. There are many things that have happened in our political landscape and events that have happened in the diaspora that were introduced in the film as well.
The beautiful costumes and the beauty of Africa and the continent were exquisite the beautiful natural hairstyles and costumes were extraordinary. Great action and the amazing technology of the hidden kingdom of Wakanda was a treat for me as well. I think Ryan Coogler is securing his place as a talented director and is establishing himself as a major contender in Hollywood.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I loved that the women were beautiful and resilient especially the fierce women warriors known as the Dora Milaje. Letitia Wright as Princess Shuri the brilliant, technology wiz was T’Challa’s kid sister. Lupita N’Yongo is the love interest of T’Challa she is beautiful and graceful and the conscience who wants to serve African people to help them have better lives. Dani Gurira is beautiful and fierce as the General of the fierce women warriors the Dora Milaje. Angela Bassett is beautiful and regal as Queen mother Ramonda. I did have an issue with the gorilla tribe known as the Jabari. Black people and primates are an ugly stereotype. There are quite a few things that can be pointed out that are problematic but there are lots of things that are done right about the film. Everyone should view the film first before drawing any negative conclusions.
LikeLike
All black Americans need to study and learn our history.
LikeLiked by 3 people
@ Mary Burrell
You were on quite a roll there. Well said!
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ blakksage
Thanks for the story and image of Robert Smalls. That was some feat of bravery on his part.
LikeLike
“Let us teach them about General Hannibal Barca, a Black man who lead an army of soldiers riding on the back of mere elephants during the Second Punic War to cross the Pyreneess mountains and the Alps, down into Italy in order to occupy, subdue and terrify much of the Roman Empire for 15 years.”
How do you know that Hannibal and Septimius Severus were black?
African doesn’t always mean black.
LikeLiked by 2 people
In the film BP one of the characters Princess Shuri calls the white CIA agent “colonizer”. This tickles me. I like calling white Europeans “colonizer”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
In another scene W’Kabi played by Daniel Kaluuya from Get Out tells T’Challa he is just like his father “No change has been made just like with your father.” It brings to mind former President Barack Obama who was black in image but no change had been affected for Black Americans this was a sobering to come to this realization.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carthage/Africa/Tunisia (i.e. both Hannibal and Severus) generally means not black – about as much as Zinedine Zidane (with origins in neighboring Algeria).
LikeLike
@abagond
One of the movie’s executive producers, Nate Moore, is African-American. He is responsible for Black Panther being introduced in Captain America: Civil War.
LikeLike
Update: On March 10th “Black Panther” became the first Black film to gross a billion dollars.
LikeLike
@ Infamous
I thought it was produced by Kevin Feige.
LikeLike
@ Mary Burrell
I loved that part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@abagond
The movie had multiple producers. While Kevin Feige is the head of Marvel, it’s important that we don’t overlook the contributions of African-Americans in less visible positions that helped make the movie a billion dollar success.
https://theundefeated.com/features/marvel-nate-moore-black-panther/
Hannah Beachler, production designer and frequent collaborator with Ryan Coogler will likely be nominated (and win) an Oscar for her work.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3k7aj9/meet-the-woman-behind-the-african-utopia-in-black-panther
Costume designer Ruth Carter
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now for a grownup review written by a black conservative. I have no use for his politics, but, here, the man makes more sense than Abagond: https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/02/black-panther-overhyped-race-fantasy/
LikeLike
@ gro jo
“…a grownup review written by a black conservative.”
Gawd! You have got to be kidding. It was just another “serve his White masters” / self-fetishizing bit of wordplay by yet another Negro sellout. A Negro sellout who had the nerve to invoke Malcolm X! politricks indeed.
There were a number of inane comments in that piece, including:
Does Mr. White (how appropriate) know anything about the Black Panther Party? They were the recipients of violence by the State, not perpetrators of violence.
He really needs to re-read Oedipus Rex…
Uh, a lot of other folk were the “primary” market for the film. It is silly to think that “emotionally damaged ghetto youths” pushed the box office receipts past the billion dollar mark on their own.
Gratuitous Tarzan reference to please his masters….
Huh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
“He really needs to re-read Oedipus Rex…” Really? Break it down for me. I thought that play was about the son getting rid of dear old dad to get with mom. A. W. just pointed out that sons have conflicting feelings toward their fathers. They must step out of the shadow of dad to become men. The film’s males only have positive feelings toward their progenitors.
“Does Mr. White (how appropriate) know anything about the Black Panther Party? They were the recipients of violence by the State, not perpetrators of violence.”
You. are. funny. They fought each other, Karanga’s people and others. The East coast vs West coast wasn’t just a Hip-Hop schism. I recall a street boxing match between a member of the Panthers and Young Lords. They were heavily infiltrated by the police like any other organization in the land of the brave and the free.
“Gawd! You have got to be kidding. It was just another “serve his White masters” / self-fetishizing bit of wordplay by yet another Negro sellout. A Negro sellout who had the nerve to invoke Malcolm X! politricks indeed.”
A.W. sings for his supper, like everybody else, but, in this instance, he is more right than wrong. The fact that the movie made so much money stems from the fact that Blacks aren’t used to being the protagonists in movies, so they went more than once to make sure it was real. If Obama was a movie he’d be “Black Panther”, a slick corporate product that promises nothing and delivers less than nothing. The only thing I enjoyed in this movie was the gorilla tribe joke when the white CIA guy wouldn’t shut up. They threatened to eat him, only to remind him, after he shut up, that, like the gorilla, they are vegetarians.
“Gratuitous Tarzan reference to please his masters….”
Let’s be frank, people with advanced technologies don’t hide their light under a bushel, they go forth and conquer. I may not like the people A. W. serves but I can’t deny his erudition.
” faux-naïve
Huh?”
“a person who pretends to be naïve. Word origin of ‘faux-naïf’ French: false naïve.”
“Utopian Wakanda, hidden behind clouds and mountains away from European colonizers, resembles the faux-naïve heaven of the 1933 negro musical Green Pastures. But the old-timey Christianity in that film is now replaced by faux-naïve Afrocentricity, including clichéd tribal customs (T’Challa must fight challengers to his throne).” An apt description of Wakanda, in my opinion.
The real history of Black people provides better material for films.
How about movies on Malik Ambar, Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan a/k/a The mad mullah of Somalia and his Dervishes, the Sultanate of Ajuran, or the fact that Somalis managed to trade successfully from the Horn of Africa to China from the days of ancient Egypt to the present without a script of their language until 1972! Their navy defeated the Portuguese navy in the 16th century.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was particularly interested in learning about the “Ancestral Plane” depicted in the movie. Agabond, can you give me more information on that in an upcoming post?
LikeLike