Wakanda Women Forever

The Women of Wakanda (Black Panther)

Before you haters start flapping your gums…sit down and have a bloody seat. Yes, I’m aware that Wakanda isn’t real and that Black Panther is a Marvel movie but the significance of this movie is tremendous. What this will mean for black and brown children everywhere is profound.

When you grow up in a family where the women are fierce and unapologetic you take that for granted. You think that women everywhere is like that and allowed to grow and be powerful and boss. Not bossy. Boss. What we fail to realize is that in many households, cultures and societies, women are treated as inferior. As pleasure boxes and baby makers. They are not allowed to go to school. They are not allowed to drive. They must follow behind their male counterpart and can only do what their male counterpart permits them to do. This was not the case in my household and it’s clearly not the case for the women of Wakanda.

When you see powerful portrayals of the feminine spirit take charge, it makes you want to take charge too. It makes you feel proud. It tells you that you matter. Representation matters. You’re not an angry black woman but a woman with a purpose. Our mission is to show that if you stop treating women like chattel and instead respect them, you will get the best of them, the boss in them, the loving woman…the complete woman. So take a lesson from Wakanda, and let women live to their full potential and thrive.

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In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wakanda appears to be in the region near Uganda

My Black Panther review

So, if you haven’t heard by now, there’s this Marvel movie taking the world by storm. It features a predominantly black cast, where the protagonist is a super hero and king of his nation, the uncolonized African country of, Wakanda. The country’s military force is a band of female warriors called the Dora Milaje. The genius scientist is a princess and the antagonist is a misunderstood Wakandan, raised outside the country. It’s a brilliant portrayal of black beauty and power while tackling issues of nationalism, immigration, and what it means to be African/Wakandan.

It follows the journey of the Black Panther who returns to Wakanda after the death of his father, the king. The Black Panther must now take the throne but is challenged and has to overcome infighting and betrayal while protecting his nation and saving his love. 

It’s a movie for everyone, no wonder it’s such a success. As I’m writing this, Black Panther is entering it’s 4th week in theaters. Everyone knows it will break the $1 billion mark this week.

#RyanCoogler is a genius and I’m predicting that this movie will be nominated for an Oscar.

#WakandaForever

#GirlPower

#BossNotBossy 

Addendum: another review-more details 

ALERT * SPOILER * SPOILER * SPOILER * ALERT: Do not read beyond this line if you haven’t seen the Black Panther movie as yet.

One month ago, Marvel’s Black Panther opened in theaters nationwide, to much fanfare. It opened in the number one position every week and has grossed over $1 billion.

Synopsis: King T’Challa returns to Wakanda to take the throne as king after the death of his father, King T’Chaka. (King T’Chaka was killed in Captain America: Civil War, where we were introduced to the Black Panther.) Upon his return, he faced a challenge for the throne from M’Baku, head of the mountain tribe, but wins. His initiation is completed after a ceremony in which he is buried, to communicate with his father, in the afterlife. He drinks the heart-shaped herb and is anointed the Black Panther. His first mission has him saving or rescuing his ex-girlfriend, Nakia, who didn’t seem to need saving. She appears perturbed that he may have messed up her mission. He must then go to South Korea, where Klaue is meeting CIA agent, Everett K. Ross, to buy stolen vibranium, in some sort of government-buy-from-the-bad-guy-to-keep-it-out-of-the-wrong-hands deal. This vibranium was stolen from a museum with the assistance of Erik Killmonger, the long lost cousin of King T’Challa. A shootout and fight take place, Ross is shot trying to save Nakia’s life, so he is brought back to Wakanda, where scientist and genius princess Shuri removed the bullet from his spine. Panther’s cousin, Killmonger was raised in the United States, abandoned by his Wakandan family and has returned to Wakanda to challenge T’Challa for the throne and wins. But, Killmonger is a terrible king. The queen, princess Shuri, Nakia and agent Ross flee. They end up with the mountain tribe and ask for assistance. M’Baku helps a little. Will king T’Challa regain his throne?

This movie addresses so many political issues like nationalism, immigration, the question of identity and what Africa could have been, had it not been for colonization. The best way to sum up is to say that vibranium represents the richness of the continent of Africa and how these resources were decimated and continue to be exploited…even today. 

It Is Your Turn

First, they came for the Mexicans

and I tried to speak up, but no one took me seriously

because I am not Mexican

Then they came for the dreamers

And I tried to speak up, no one took me seriously

because I’m not a dreamer

Then they ignored Puerto Rico

and I tried to speak up but no one took me seriously

because I’m not Puerto Rican

Then they ignored the Virgin Islands

and I tried to speak up but no one took me seriously

because I’m not from the Virgin Islands

Then they called my sister countries shit holes

and I stood up once again because this is too much

So I donate my time, my money, my effort and energy

I let my sisters and brothers know that we are ONE

When the racists come

brown and black are all lumped in together

So remember, we’ve been here before

this is not the first time that hate has dominated a nation

It’s not the first time that people of color are demeaned 

It’s not the first time that we’ve seen hate and ignorance in the white house…

and it won’t be the last

…

When we complained about the society’s ills

you said we were exaggerating

when we complained about racism in hailing a taxi

you said that couldn’t have happened

when we told you that we were being abused by police

you did not believe even when we showed you the videos

when we told you that elections have consequences

you continue to vote against your interest

when we told you that racism did not die with the election of Barack

you were hopeful and wanted a path forward

When we told you that 45 didn’t create racism in this country

you seem to have amnesia and forget all of the above

when we tell you that racism is the foundation that built this nation

you seem to quote some bullshit rhetoric that still proves that fact

So

Don’t tell me to get over it

don’t tell me that that was years ago

Don't tell me that slavery is over

don’t tell me I’m using the race card

My reality is different from yours

when you ask me to march

I say, nope, it’s your turn

I'm tired of marching

when you ask me to stand with women in sisterhood

I say, who did you vote for

I've been standing, oftentimes alone

So…

It's your turn to march

it is your turn to speak up

it is your turn to be hosed

it is your turn to be set on by dogs

it is your turn to understand my anger 

So go on and march

…It. Is. Your. Turn. 

Inspired by…

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

by Martin Niemoller