We Need To Talk About Black Panther

 

Hey everyone. You good? Have a nice weekend? That’s nice. Pull up a chair for a minute.

We need to talk about Black Panther.

We need to talk about it because the film is a cultural juggernaut with no signs of slowing down.

We need to talk about Black Panther because per Box Office Mojo, this film made $192 million during a three-day weekend, had the fifth largest three-day domestic opening in history, the largest February opening of all-time, the largest President’s Day weekend opening of all-time and is Disney’s 8th highest domestic opening of all time.

Let’s talk about Black Panther for a minute, because it’s shattering ALL the myths about us (read: Black folks) not selling overseas. That whole ass lie about our art not making money has been further eradicated. Can’t wait to see what we do next. (Hello there, A Wrinkle in Time!)

We absolutely need to talk about the way Black Panther is giving Black youth a chance to see themselves as heroes, scientists and warriors, and that is more valuable than Vibranium.

We need to talk about Black Panther loudly because, as we long anticipated,  it’s agitating the very people who’ve been catered to for far too long, or have a flare for the dramatic and demand the spotlight because “HOW DARE THE COMIC DUDEBROZ NOT BE CENTERED!”

We should continue to talk about Black Panther because it’s inevitably not going to please some folks, and that’s okay. It’s sparked certain in-depth discussions that no other film based on comic material has.

I want to talk about it because it has replaced Captain America: Winter Soldier as my top Marvel film of all time, something that I never thought would ever change. 2018…what a wild year.

We need to celebrate Black Panther because Angela Bassett played a queen. (Nothing else, just wanted to point that out.)

Can we talk about Black Panther? Because it shows how important representation is behind and in front of the camera. Between Coogler’s direction, Cole’s script, Ruth E. Carter’s costume design, Hannah Beachler’s production design, Academy Award nominee Rachel Morrison’s cinematography skills and the melanin-blessed ensemble cast, it creates an immersive experience that probably (definitely) needs to be experienced more than once to get the full impact.

We need to chat about Black Panther because Ryan Coogler did the damn thing AGAIN and should be given free rein to do what he wants in the inevitable sequel.

We should discuss Black Panther ad nauseam because it’s a Black Blackity Black ass movie that should really make some white folks think about the impacts of colonialism on the world today.

We need to talk about Black Panther because the word “colonizer” is used in such a way that made us all literally laugh out loud.

Let’s talk about Black Panther because wigs…every warrior should have a disposable one.

We need to talk about the way Black Panther tackles some relevant political, sociological and diaspora arguments via T’Chaka, T’Challa and Eric – quality work from Joe Robert Cole and Coogler.

We should to talk about Black Panther because it’s a wonderful glimpse into Afrofuturism and we need so much more of it in our entertainment.

We should celebrate Black Panther because Shuri  stole the damn show and we need a meetup between her, Miles Morales and RiRi Williams in the future. It’s what we deserve.

Actually,  can we talk more about Shuri? A young, Black princess is THE face of STEM and the smartest person in the world. I stan. We stan a young Black genius. Young Black girls will, too, and her potential impact is undeniable.

We need to talk about Black Panther because women were front and center and it was a glorious sight. Warriors, defenders, spies, scientists, all with agency and their own unique power. Women…we get the job done.

We need to talk about Black Panther and we will on our next episode of Nerds of Prey…coming very soon!