_This column contains Black Panther spoilers_
After seeing _Black Panther_ on opening night, I have to say it’s one of the best movies I’ve watched in a while. It has elements you want in an action film — car chases, explosions, amazing fight choreography and heroic sequences. As much as I love those elements, I think what really got me is the fact that the movie tackles a few social issues while still being a superhero movie.
The film addresses the lack of representation of minorities, specifically African Americans, in Hollywood. From the director, to the cast and even the artists on the soundtrack, the film features a group of amazing African-American artists and gives them a platform to show the world what this group of people is capable of and what they can bring to the table. In turn, it also shows Hollywood that there is an audience for predominantly black movies. I am hoping that with how this movie has been performing at the global box office, Hollywood will invest more of its resources in producing films that depict representations of people of color who are not subjected to the “white savior” mentality.
The film also addresses feminism. I love the fact that the elite soldiers of Wakanda are women. Not only is the king’s personal guard made of an entirely female army while the men are regulated to border duty, but we also see female empowerment in the form of T’Challa’s sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), being the lead scientific mastermind of the entire country. The film also emphasizes that women can have a heart of a warrior and be willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good. This idea is depicted in the scene near the end where Okoye (Danai Gurira) is willing to kill her partner W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya) in order to protect her country and its throne. With these ideas regarding feminism sprinkled all over, the movie successfully conveys its message that your gender does not determine your worth.
I want to go back to the idea of the “white savior” for a little bit, which is addressed in the film, but not as much as other issues. This is addressed in the scenes where Black Panther, along with the Wakandan spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Okoye are in South Korea to try and apprehend Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), a black market arms dealer who stole vibranium from Wakanda. During these escapades, the three Wakandans encounter FBI agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), who is also after Klaue. In one of the scenes, Ross tries to tell T’Challa that the FBI will take care of Klaue, but T’Challa shuts him down and tells him that Klaue’s crime is primary to the Wakandans. This, to me, is symbolic because it shows a minority standing up to the “white savior” and telling him they did not need him to get the job done.
On the positive side, Ross represents what a great ally should be to minorities. After the Klaue incident, Ross is very open to listening to the Wakandans and is willing to do whatever they need. I think that is how a great ally should be. A great minority ally should be open-minded, be able to listen to the people of color’s experiences and do whatever they can to help out by giving them the platform to voice their experiences. Having Ross just being in the background and lending consistent support to the Wakandans is a great message to white people on how to be a great ally.
Last, but definitely not least, the most important theme in the movie is the theme of silence. The Wakandans watch the world as it devolves into war and they do nothing. They offer no aid to refugees and make no attempt to bring peace. They hide away with their wealth and their technology and claim that it’s for their own protection. This is a direct commentary on the state of affairs in the world today facing minorities, women, the underprivileged and the impoverished. The wealthy sit in their mansions, sit in their seats in government and send their thoughts and prayers and do nothing as the world continues to suffer. It is a commentary on how those with the power to affect change are too selfish to actually step up and do so.
The writers and director could have just made a stereotypical superhero movie, but the fact that they didn’t made me happy. They chose to address important issues through this medium, which proves even fictional characters in fictional settings could be a vehicle for societal change. With the current administration trying so hard to silence its critics, I hope Hollywood continues to resist and keep using their platform as an avenue to start conversations for social justice and equality.
_Edited by Claire Colby | ccolby@themaneater.com_
