5 Things You Should Know About the Black Panther Movie

The Black Panther movie was released a few weeks ago and has since grossed over a billion dollars at the Box Office. It was not surprising that many people found the movie to be uplifting. However, there were some things that were concerning about the movie.

1. A VILLAIN CALLED WARMONGER

By calling the villain warmonger, the movie wants us to associates the ideas of the villain as wrong. In fact, the ideas of Warmonger are actually the ones that promote black emancipation and justice for black people. In the end, the movie by giving him this name conditions black people to just seek peace for the sake for the sake of peace. The truth of the matter, however, is that if African countries hadn’t fought colonialism through war we would still be living under colonialism. War for the sake of war is not good. However, as black people we must not be conditioned to just love peace even when we are being oppressed. There is a time that is appropriate to wage war. That’s how colonialism was defeated.

2. PROMOTING WESTERN STYLE FEMINISM

Once again, Hollywood is promoting a vile kind of feminism. One that pits black women against black men. In the movie, female warriors are used to guard the King and to fight for the kingdom, even against their own husbands as portrayed by Okoye (Danai Gurira). This kind of ideology is only sold to the black community. No major war in the history of mankind has ever been won by female soldiers only. Yet, in a movie that is supposed to portray the best of African society, we are sold this buffoonery.

3. THERE IS NOTHING GOOD IN AFRICA

The producers of the movie missed an opportunity to use actual African cities to showcase the good parts of Africa. Instead the movie perpetuated the myth that there is nothing good in Africa. At several points in the movie, the actors keep referring to refugees on their borders and people who want to come in to contaminate their country.

4. AFRICANS ARE WARLORDS

When the movie begins, Africans who don’t live in Wakanda are portrayed as warlords. Again the movie helped to perpetuate the myth that Africans are warmongers and warlords yet most African countries have not been in any kind of war in the recent past. In fact, America has probably started and been involved in more wars in the past 50 years than all of Africa combined.

5. NECROMANCY AND DIVINATION IS NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH BEING AFRICAN

The movie implies that being authentically African means you practice necromancy (communicating with the dead), divination (communicating with ancestors) and witchcraft. Africa as a continent has more Christians than Europe or the US. Necromancy, divination and witchcraft are more commonly celebrated in Disney movies. Necromancy and witchcraft are NOT synonymous with African authenticity. After all being African is not a monolithic experience. In fact, most African countries have vastly different cultures. Most African cultures shun witchcraft not celebrate it because it is actually very detrimental to societies. Disney, and westerners like them are the ones that consistently promote witchcraft as something to be admired (Maleficent, Harry Porter, Narnia).

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