Black Panther - Uniting the African Disapora
We don't know if you guys caught the wave but the African Diaspora is uniting day by day by engaging in this continuous conversation of the Black Panther movie and we love it! The energy that is being transferred from country to country is showing the desire we all have to unify and celebrate our diversity. We no longer want to keep this topic under wraps. It's time to reveal the hidden secret and pull up a seat for discussion.
If you haven't had the opportunity to check out the amazingly directed and well written film "Black Panther" you are doing yourself a disservice. The movie, costumes, and acting are all complete perfection. While in the theater there were moments where we thought the scene may fall short but no. There were absolutely no disappointments throughout the entire movie. Ryan Coogler could not have cast a better group of actors to execute his work. We loved every second of it. Especially the women who were all the effortless combination of smart, gorgeous, sexy and strong.
Let's highlight the Top 5 scenes that captivated our hearts during the movie:
African vs. African-American (Black People)
We overall love how this movie really played off the separation and disconnect of the African and African-American (Black beings). It played off that longing African-Americans have to connect with our ancestry but do not know exactly where we come from so we're lost but we also are upset that our motherland (family) did not come back to save us. They just let us stay put in order to protect their own sacred land.
Black People Being Leaders
The creation of technology, architecture, food, medicine and more were all put in the hands of black entrepreneurs. They normalized us being smart pioneers, speaking well, confident and walking within our power. It was not one token smart guy or girl. Everyone had their own special skill and were experts within that field. One of the main characters to highlight was Shuri. She was amazing in all of her innovative designs and creations of protective gear and armor. She would tell everyone how to use it and the powers that each piece possessed and no one ever questioned her abilities for they were quite evident. There was always a pure understanding for her craft.
Respect for Women
They uplifted the women and saw them as equals. Just as smart or sometimes even smarter. These women were very skilled, strong, sassy and confidently sexy in their own right. Arguably just as much of a hero throughout the movie as the men. There wasn't a battle between the sexes like how it is now. No need for feminist rallies and marches for the respect was solid and found. Men honored the right that women had their own independence and strength and were not intimidated by that. They respected it and actually were more intrigued by the women's confidence and passion in what they believed in. There was a genuine respect and love for the Black woman.
Stolen People/Stolen Property
In the British museum scene there was an understanding that Eric Killmonger played by Michael B. Jordan was learning a lot from the white museum employee who was snobbishly feeding Eric with historic facts of each piece. We soon all grew to know that he was very knowledgeable a lot about these artifacts, he was just entertaining her since she wanted to follow him around the museum due to him looking like a black urban guy. He questioned her about one of the weapons that she got wrong. To where she was startled that he knew about the artifacts and weaponry more than she. He then told her if she would have read a little more as to how these items got to the museum, she wouldn't have a need to follow him around the museum and would be more informed.
This is something that goes on in America all the time as well as in other countries when it comes to black people. They label us as thieves if we look a certain way. Typically a way that reminds them of something they saw on television. It's always quite odd when that happens for we don't see them following young white kids around there store thinking they will blow it up. We don't see teachers patting down white children thinking they will shoot up the school. We have seen these things happen very frequently over the past few years. Yet, when it comes to black children and adults (if you look a certain way) they will follow you... just in case.
We loved how it he was very passive aggressive in that approach to her for it's exactly what they do now.
Assimilation
We loved the scene where Lupita N'yongo (Nakia) and Danai Gurira (Okoye) was walking into the casino and Okoye mentioned how she couldn't wait to take the wig off of her head for it felt ridiculous to her. Did you catch how it was a slight gesture of how she loved her own natural hair texture/bald cut so much so that she felt crazy having hair on her head that wasn't hers?
In America, we a force a western standard of beauty where is straighter more fine hair. Anything outside of that should be pressed, straightened, dyed and fried to get it that way. Okoye mentioning how she couldn't wait to take it off was a shot at that standard to say we can love what grows out of our head as well. The wig she was wearing was a wig/style a lot of African-American women wear today. Hair is quite the topic in the states as well so although it seems like a minor subject to black women it was a huge piece to connect on.
Overall this movie is a gem! I mean literally just go ahead an mail Ryan Coogler his Oscar now along with every actor who played within the film. We appreciate all of your talents and can't wait to see more movies that reflect the true essence of the African Diaspora.
**BONUS**
Favorite line:
We loved the ending where T'Challa extended an olive branch to save Killmonger yet Killmonger refuses by stating this epic line:
"Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, because they knew death was better than bondage."
There is so much strength in this line for what we took from it was that he would rather die in what he believed in that to live in a way that is not living at all. This speaks to how we live today. We all are still living in an unjust world that has yet to give us our freedom, our reparations or our respect with equal pay and equality as human beings. We are no longer fighting... we are existing... and this was something he was not willing to do.
Message received loud and clear! Let's talk more about this. If you went to go see the movie. What were your favorite highlights? Were there any parts you did not like? Let us grab our wine and before you dig in!
- Sun Gods
