The Cultural Impact of the Black Panther Movie on the African Diaspora
Say it loud (I’m Black and I’m proud)
Say it loud (I’m Black and I’m proud)
One more time, say it loud (I’m Black and I’m proud)
The above lyrics from James Brown’s Say It Loud perfectly captures how I’ve felt since seeing this marvelous display of black excellence.
This year, I decided to choose a theme, instead of making resolutions that I ultimately fail at keeping — like most of us do.
With themes, instead of focusing on a particular goal, you focus on a framework or mindset that you live the year by. This year’s theme is root.
My main goal this year is to fully know where I’m from; as far down the tree as possible. To understand my natural abilities, tendencies, traits etc, and then own them completely.
So, what does this have to do with the cultural impact of the Black Panther movie?
The release of Marvel Studios’ first black superhero film could not be more timely for this year’s theme. Seeing it brought a sense of African pride in me that I can’t fully explain, and I strongly believe it will have the same effect on others with African ancestry.
These are the reasons why I believe the cultural impact of this movie will be felt for many years to come:
Representation Matters
Spider-man was my favorite superhero growing up. But I always had a feeling that I could not fully relate to him. Peter Parker looked nothing like me, and his origin story was foreign to me, an African boy.
Not seeing many figures who are like you to look up to (real or not) is not the most empowering feeling. But fortunately, this certainly won’t be the case for the next generation of kids with African ancestry.
This is the first mainstream black superhero movie since the Blade trilogy, and certainly the first of this scale of mainstream success with a black superhero, African story, made by blacks and with an almost entirely black cast!
Seeing people you admire who look like you can change the way you see yourself and the world. Here’s a great Ted Talk by the brilliant Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on this idea.
Knowledge of Self
Whether through Killmonger’s character, or statements like Shuri‘s “Don’t scare me like that, colonizer!", several historical facts about black people were subtly sprinkled throughout the movie.
So many historical events that happened to black people were covered within 3 hrs. From the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and the colonization of African countries to more recent events like the BLM movement and the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping in Nigeria were referenced.
Not everyone will catch these references, but the observant few who do will most likely go on to learn more and gain better knowledge of self in the process.
The disconnect between the 2 types of Africans — Africans in Africa (T’Challa) and those in diaspora (Killmonger) was also touched upon. The reality is that they are really 2 sides of the same coin. And this movie helps develop some empathy for both sides.
Rewriting the script
“If you can control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.”
― Carter G. Woodson, The Mis-Education of the Negro
The afro-futuristic setting of Wakanda will do a lot to change some of the negative perceptions of Africa as a whole. It’s a breath of fresh air to see Africa as a technologically advanced place for once in mainstream culture.
The movie will do a lot towards empowering African women as well — The Dora Milaje is based on the Dahomey Amazons who are the only documented all-female official frontline combat arm military unit in modern history. They were a Sub-Saharan band of female terminators that many never heard of until now.
In Wakanda, there are no women waiting to be saved. Instead, they are the ones doing the saving! Queen Ramonda is there to counsel her son as he grapples with the responsibilities of a leader. His ex, Nakia, is a spy who balances her love for her country with her duty to help the vulnerable. T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, is the genius behind many of Wakanda’s inventions. And Okoye is not only the leader of the Dora Milaje, but also the general of the nation’s army and intelligence.
It’s exciting to see what this will do to the psyche of young African girls. Talk about the power of representation.
Real Cultural References in Black Panther
The level of attention to detail towards representing the whole of Africa in this movie is truly astonishing. So many of the African traditions, rituals, languages, outfits, slang, etc., were represented.
Some examples:
- The main language was Xhosa, predominantly used in southern Africa.
- T’Challa could be seen wearing different outfits inspired by different regions — one of which was a Kente scarf from the Akan people of Ghana.
- Costume inspirations were taken from the Masai people of Kenya and northern Tanzania
- The ceremonial lip plates were inspired by the Mursi and Surma people of Ethiopia.
- Queen Ramonda’s headdress was Zulu-inspired.
- Killmonger could be seen wearing a Mgbedike mask of the Igbo people of Nigeria. And the bumpy, ritualistic tribal markings on his chest are from the scar tattoos of the Mursi and Surma tribes.
And so many other fascinating examples!
Companies like African Ancestry will certainly have a spike of customers looking to find their own African roots after this display of African beauty.
Setting Precedent
Just like The Hunger Games proved that female-led action movie could be a hit, and set precedent for Wonder Woman’s historic box office run last year — Black Panther has shattered the idea that movies starring black actors, made by black filmmakers, and telling black stories are niche projects incapable of achieving mainstream success
The director - Ryan Coogler, the costume designer Ruth Carter and the production designer- Hannah Beachler will certainly be in high demand after this.
All the stars are closer
The fictional world of Wakanda is not that far from reality. We may not have vibranium, but Africa is truly blessed with so many natural resources. And we did have ancient civilizations that attracted the rest of the world to us at some point.
T’Challa’s mission to protect his nation’s resources mirrors the current plight of people in real-life Africa – which has been exploited, mined, and colonized for centuries.
What if the slave trade never happened and so many of our talents weren’t killed? What if African countries were never colonized? What if ancient Egypt had remained? Wakanda is what a world like that could have looked like for Africa. And this gives reasons to dream again.
African Unity
“More connects us than separates us — but in times of crisis, the wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one tribe.”
Without giving much of the movie away — Towards the end, something happens that will hopefully change the way Africans all around the world see one another. And will inspire us all to come together in the face of common adversity.
A cast that features actors from different parts of the African diaspora like the USA, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago was definitely a start. Hopefully, we can build on this momentum, and use this as the start of the long-overdue African renaissance.
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