Black Panther: A hero of our own

Since the beginnings of film, African descended people have been caricaturised, impersonated, and rendered invisible. From early 20th century stereotypes of the large, docile Black Mammy to the hypersexualized drug dealing heroes of ‘70s Blaxpliotation, Black people have had social roles and categories prescribed onto them by (mostly white) Hollywood filmmakers for years.

As long as these negative representations have existed, though, Black artists, actors, and directors have created films that reflect the positivity within our community. In recent years especially, we have seen a rise in positive Black representations in film and television. This week, though, the momentum that has built over the last few years is culminating with the historic release of Marvel’s Black Panther.

Directed by Ryan Coogler (Frutivale Station, Creed), Black Panther is based on the 1960s comics written by Stan Lee. In addition to its historic $200 million budget, the film is already projected to be one of the highest grossing films with a Black ensemble cast ever. Not only is Black Panther set to become a huge economic success, it has become a cultural phenomenon.

Black Panther has dominated social media and absolutely taken the world by storm. The importance of this cultural milestone cannot be overstated, especially given the aforementioned history of negative representation and stereotyping that has pervaded Hollywood. To see a majority Black casted film receiving this magnitude of mainstream support is empowering, affirming, and could potentially do a lot to encourage the creation of more diverse stories by major studios. Recent box office successes like Hidden Figures, Get Out, and Girls Trip are proof that when given a chance, stories about diverse populations can and will perform. Black Panther seems to be a beast of a different magnitude, though. Not only are people flocking to (and buying out) theatres to see the film, the stars of the film, their characters, and even the fictional nation of Wakanda, in which the film is set, are all over social media.

On Twitter, moviegoers clad in fashion inspired by traditional African attires have flooded timelines using #WakandaForever. Children, and adults with childlike excitement, are recognizing the importance of having Black representation in such a large cinematic event. Even further, people are recognizing the unprecedented impact of having a major blockbuster film that glorifies, instead of demeaning or erasing, African people and cultures. Black Panther seems to be at the centre of a huge cultural moment; one that is uniting and uplifting the identities, experiences, and cultures of Black people throughout the African Diaspora.

Costume designer Ruth Carter told Refinery29, “Our aesthetic was always to bring about positive visuals to the African diaspora in this country,” “And to dispel stereotypes. To be about a forward-thinking community that empowered the Black community, women, and even natural hair.”

Particularly given current social movements that encourage and embrace the expression of Black and/or African cultures, it is so important to have them reflected on the silver screen. Though generations of Black people have been subjected to the monolithic, stereotypical views of larger society, Black Panther is finally giving us our own superhero.

Dominque Brodie