Black Panther made history as being the 33rd film to gross over 1 billion dollars at the global box office (Yamout). It is possibly the first mega budget film directed by a black director and featuring a predominantly black cast. (Smith). While the movie is fictional, and features a fictional African country and superheroes, it confronts many real-world issues regarding race, power, gender, and politics. This film made history with the cultural impact that it created.
As stated by Jamil Smith in Time magazine, the character of T’Challa represents more than a superhero, he is a black hero. In the media and the world we live in today, there are few black characters portrayed as heroes. (Smith). As someone who is white, I never really considered what it might be like to not see people that look like me in positions of power or as protagonists in films. We all need role models, and this film changed the narrative by providing a black lead who is both strong and in touch with his emotions. The character of T’Challa is relatable and shows kids and adults alike the possibilities of who they can be are endless.
Not only does the film portray a black male lead, but also several female supporting leads who portray strength, independence, and intelligence. The fiercest warriors in the film are women and they fight fearlessly for their country. T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, is the smartest person in the country and is the mastermind behind the technology that protects them and supports them. (Silverstein).
Black Panther made history by proving that a film does not need to have a white, male lead to be successful financially. But the success of the film is so much more than money. When people can see themselves in the characters they see on screen, they feel both empowered and inspired.
Works Cited
Silverstein, Melissa. “Wakanda Forever: The Overt Feminism of ‘Black Panther’.” MarketWatch, MarketWatch, 22 Feb. 2018, www.marketwatch.com/story/the-overt-feminism-of-black-panther-2018-02-16.
Smith, Jamil. “How Marvel’s Black Panther Marks a Major Milestone.” Time, Time, time.com/black-panther/.
Yamout, Dania. “The Cultural Impact of ‘Black Panther.’” Medium, Medium, 6 Apr. 2018, medium.com/@DaniaAtHome/the-cultural-impact-of-black-panther-80ad3afdea66#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWakanda%20Forever%E2%80%9D%20a%20rallying%20cry,modern%20day%20American%20hip%2Dhop.
Hello, I also agree that it is very important that black people including myself to see other black people being represented in the media in a positive way. Growing up I did not have many black people on shows and movies to look up too. I also thought the film did a wonderful job showing a women in science in technology. That is a very hard field to get into for girls in the real world and seeing a young black girl being the best in that field can inspire a lot of black women. Nice post