They said the revolution would not be televised. They were right. The revolution is streaming through Netflix and cinematic art. Ryan Coogler’s version of Wakanda transports us to the Africa of our fantasies. Uncolonized. Undivided. Unencumbered by colonial mindsets. Free of the self hate and tribalism that’s crippled the diaspora since our forced exodus centuries ago. It’s not a utopia by any means, it still has its share of xenophobes, but it’s a vision many in the diaspora don’t see outside of our community. It’s self determinant. Wankanda doesn’t need your help and isn’t shy about letting you know it. They don’t need a white savior which, ironically is the source of its pride (and ours) and it’s greatest challenge.
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| We are home |
The MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe for the non-comic book literate) Wakanda perceives itself to be an African paradise, one maintained by a fierce devotion to its ideals and a rejection of any and all outside influences. Now before we start making comparisons to North Korea or our current American regime, it’s important to remember that even in this fantasy Africa, colonialism and slavery are very much are the forefront of Wakanda’s decision to isolate itself. The result is a society more technologically advanced than any western power so maybe they were on to something. As the story progresses, however, it becomes clear that the world has changed since that philosophy was adopted. The price modern Wakanda pays for its devotion to its isolationist policy is the death of one of its princes at the hands of his own brother. A prince who could not turn his back on the suffering of black people outside Wakanda’s borders. It also creates a monster in Eric Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), N’Jobu’s (Sterling K. Brown of NBCs “This is Us”) orphaned son. It’s obvious he’s meant to be a conduit for black suffering but he’s also an ugly reflection of T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) privileged upbringing. One royal son raised to rule and kept ignorant of the price of his privilege. The other, given nothing, abandoned by his people, denied his royal station, and forced to literally kill his way home. As T’Chaka (Bonisile John Kani) said to his son on the spirit plane, “It’s hard for a good man to be king.” Both T’Chaka’s and N’Jobu’s solution was, shortsightedly, to keep their sons in the dark.
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| Our sons die from lack of knowledge |
Ironically, white supremacist doctrine relies on the same philosophy, keeping its people in the dark about the true price of their comfort and privilege. “Westward Expansion” instead of “conquest,” “liberation,” instead of “invasion,” etc etc... And much like those educated in white supremacist doctrine, T’Challa may know who his cousin is but is unprepared for what he is. This is made brutally clear with the ease that Killmonger takes T’Challa apart during the challenge. The rage that consumes him is something no Wakandan has ever faced and collectively they are at a loss for how to combat it. The lone exception being W’Kabi (Daniel Kalyuua) who shares Killmonger’s desire to place Wakanda at the top of the colonial food chain. It’s a sentiment that appeals to our darkest desires and why I suspect Killmonger has endeared himself to so many, even though he supposed to be the villain. To finally flip the tables on white people, to give them a taste of what they inflicted on us, to sit in a seat of privilege in a culture molded to suit us and force them to adapt. The logical conclusion of that line of thinking, of course, is that you’d have to be willing to do what they did. Subjugate, lie, break treaties, dehumanize, and kill until there’s nothing left of your own humanity. But what’s kept us alive through all the years of brutality and oppression is a staunch belief that we are above that. That if the tables were turned, we wouldn’t be the brutal oppressors that they were. We haven’t been suffering and bleeding and dying across the world simply to become what we hate. These are the seeds of a better tomorrow. A hope that we would never go back to our brutal past and the broken bodies of our ancestors would serve as a living reminder of the price of hatred. That’s what Killmonger never understood and that’s what T’Challa finally realized after learning the truth about his father. Black liberation across the diaspora cannot come using the same methods the colonizers used to subjugate and enslave. Nor can the privileged among us turn their backs on those of us that could not walk that path.
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| Even in our fantasies, women are the bedrock of our strength. |
Nakia (Lupita N’yongo) Okoye (Danai Gurira aka the Walking Dead’s “Michonne”) are a constant reminder to T’Challa of the ideals his people are supposed to live by. Like N’Jobu, Killmonger, and W’Kabi, Nakia believes Wakanda should be doing more to help the diaspora but chooses to put herself in harm’s way as one of Wakanda’s “War Dog” spies rather than start a whole scale war by becoming an arms dealer like N’Jobu. She understands she doesn’t have to choose between her duty to her country and her calling and ultimately her example is the blueprint T’Challa uses to begin his Wakandan outreach program. Okoye is the consummate patriot. (And bad ass) Even with someone as vile as Killmonger on the throne she refused to waver in her duty to her country, initially serving him as she would T’Challa even though she deeply mourned his death. Even when she and the Dora Milaje turned on Killmonger it was because he broke the rules of the challenge. She represents the rule of law when applied fairly and justly, not given to extremes, emotion, or sentiment. W’Kabi found that out the hard way during the final battle of the film when she stood ready to kill him when faced with choosing between her fiancé and her country. T’Challa’s little sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), is Black girl magic personified. She’s by far the smartest member of the royal family, seemingly taking that role from the printed version of T’Challa (who’s on par with Tony Stark and Professor X in the comics.) Her intelligence precociousness, curiosity and compassion are the heart of the Panther clan. She clearly represents where education and self-confidence can take you. No Hidden Figures here as Shuri is behind the baddest tech in Black Panther’s arsenal and my newest favorite word, coloniza!
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| Wakanda Forever |
Many have said that the reason our country is so divided now is because of a lack of shared experiences. This movie is a game changer not just because it’s a shared experience for all Americans, but it gives us a rare shared experience with those on the continent who may finally understand their American, West Indian, and South American brethren just a little bit better. Our American cousin’s especially have been forcibly cut off from their roots for centuries. There have been many attempts to reconnect but most of them end in futility. For those of us not fortunate enough to be able to afford a DNA test, art like this may help deliver a sense of connectedness that we haven’t felt since before we were taken. This is truly an event that has been felt across the oceans and back to the ancestors. Maybe this will help inspire future generations to create their own Wakanda and we would no longer be wanderers. That would really be something. Wakanda Forever!
This is the Wanderer’s Voice.
