Black Panther and It's Impact
Black Panther touched a lot of peoples lives. I wanted to express how the movie made me feel, and how it impacted me and others.
By Alejandrina Avila
Black Panther came out in Feb. 2018 after the premiere of the 2016 Captain America: Civil War where we were introduced to a new character, Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman. In the movie Civil War, conflict within the avengers was caused by the Sokovia Accords, as well as the villain of the movie Zemo, who planned to see an empire fall.
As a part of Zemo's plan, he decides to break the connection between Iron Man and Captain America by implanting a bomb and impersonating James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, also known as the winter soldier, the long-time friend of Captain America. T'Challa is alongside Iron Man because he was as well after Bucky. Throughout the movie, T'Challa lost his father during a meeting with the United Nations. He promised to avenge his father and was passed the mantle of Black Panther and King of Wakanda.
Black Panther begins with an explanation of the tribes and the country of Wakanda. The following scenes reveal a child and his father in Oakland in the 90s where T'Chaka (T'Challa's father) visits his brother, prince N'Jobu, who had betrayed Wakanda by bringing Vibranium to the outside world. The villain at first appears to be Klaue, a criminal who stole Vibranium from Wakanda, but soon we come to realize that Prince N'Jobu had a son who was left behind with his deceased father. Erik Stevens (Killmonger) also known as Wakandan name N'Jadaka, played by Michael B. Jordan, made a return to Wakanda and challenged T'challa for the title of king and Black Panther.
T'challa and Kilmongor fight and T'challa was assumed to be dead. Fortunately, he was found in Jabariland, where M'Baku and his people live, along the mountains where they are known as the Jabari tribe. The people of the tribe were outsiders because the tribe leader of Jabari did not agree with the direction the other leaders and kings went with. In the end, T'Challa remains as king and Killmonger die, or so we think. In the upcoming movie Black Panther Wakanda, Forever, Michael B. Jordan is cast again, but his role is unknown.
Not only was the movie our first Black superhero it was different from the other movies. He had an impact on a lot of black people who saw themselves in that character. He is a leader, a King. it lifts self-esteem because the community now has a hero.
I recall going to Disneyland and witnessing children running up to Black Panther hugging him and saying how they wanted to be like him. The joy the kids had was unexplainable because when I was younger I wished I had Latine representation. Black Panther to me represents power and humanity where a leader puts his heart and people in the same place.
A line that always influences me is, "Show them who you are". That line itself has motivated me to be the strong woman I am, and if I seem in the wrong, I choose to follow my heart to protect my family and friends, because I know I am right. Being the King/Queen/Royal of your life and being fair. T'Challa stood for what he believed in even when his people went against him.
As a Marvel fan, I am truly excited to witness the audience and my reaction to the second film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.