African Tribes/Cultures Featured in Black Panther (on Twitter) by @diasporicblues, Mursi and Surma Lip Plates. Lip plates or disks are a form of ceremonial body modification. While many cultures use them they’re best known by the Surma and Mursi tribes in Ethiopia.
Black Panther’s respect for women by @spacerenegades, I’ve now watched Black Panther three times and each time I come away with another part that’s really struck me. What I really appreciated this viewing is the full agency the women in Black Panther were afforded. There was none of this male protector bullshit we always see.
Black Panther Thoughts: T’Challa and Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane by @whistlingwindtree, As an immigrant living in the US. There is so much for us to unpack and analyze in Black Panther, however, one thing that really affected me was the stark difference between T’challa’s journey to the ancestral plane, compared to Killmonger’s.
It’s hard for a good man to be king by @akadefenders, ‘You are a good man with a good heart, and it’s hard for a good man to be king.’ The first time you hear this line, it seems profound. It sounds like good advice from a loving father. And in many ways it is, but upon further reflection, you realise that is actually is a manifestation of T’Chaka’s guilt. He led his nation for many years and he believes that power corrupts.
Killmonger is an American invention in every possible way by @widewonderworld, A lot of people are saying that Killmonger functions more as an antagonist than a villain and I disagree with them mostly because I feel like they’re forgetting the moment when Killmonger had zero qualms about killing his own sixteen-year-old cousin (a direct contrast to Nakia defending the rebel soldier in the beginning btw). Killmonger is very much a villain.
MCU M’Baku is honestly one of the greatest aspects of Black Panther by @perfumeofsighs, He respects and honors the customs of his people and of the crown. He was defeated and accepted the outcome, and even when he was offered the throne, he honorably declined because T’challa is still alive. When Ramonda, Shuri and Nakia give T’Challa the heart-shaped herb, he turned around…. This has to do with the crown of Wakanda, and it’s not something he should be privy too, and he respectfully turns away (unlike Ross who was wide mouth gaping at the ritual of it all).
Nakia is T’Challa’s Mirror by @lilacblossoms, I love that there was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment during T’Challa’s coronation establishing that Nakia is a princess of the River Tribe, and – from what I understand from that scene – the current heir.
Pan-African Flag Colors in Black Panther by @darkdamiaknight, “The Pan-African flag is red, black and green, so when you see Okoye, T’Challa and Nakia in their covert looks, you’re seeing the Pan-African flag.” – Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther.
The real women who inspired the Dora Milaje by @smudgemark, Did you know that the Dora Milaje all-female army in “Black Panther” was based partially off of a real all-female army in Africa called the Dahomey Amazons? The Dahomey Amazons, who would have existed in the present day Republic of Benin, were once considered the most feared women in the world.
Three approaches to injustice in Black Panther by @andarthas-web, “How do you deal with injustice in the world?” Three approaches I see in Black Panther.
T’Challa’s arc from Civil War to Black Panther by @shieldspatriot, I love how well T’Challa’s arc from Civil War leads into his arc in Black Panther and how what he learned from Civil War is actually vital to how he responds to Killmonger and ultimately drove so much of his action in the film.
T’Challa is a Good Male Protagonist by @muchymozzarella, T’challa is a Good Male Protagonist ™ mainly because he is humble and without the ego you see from so so many other male protagonists in blockbuster films.
T’Challa: Not Your Prince of Denmark by @wintergaydar, Like many other humans with senses watching Captain America: Civil War, I was captivated by T’Challa. It wasn’t just Chadwick Boseman’s general dreaminess and excellent performance – T’Challa gets a satisfying, well-developed arc, with loss and growth. But what struck me the most, watching an orphaned prince chase revenge for his father’s death, was, “This is Hamlet.”
Unlike other Marvel superheroes, T’Challa is allowed to cry by @miilkncharms, A lot of Marvel superheroes and superheroes in general are allowed to be sad, but they’re not allowed to express their sadness. Tony Stark may tear up. He won’t actually cry. Steve will get that look in his eye where you know all he wants to do is break, but we know he won’t. It’s American masculinity at work stating that it’s completely unacceptable for men to cry, and Erik is a victim of it to an extent.
We did a totally Afrocentric, natural hair movie by @akajustmerry, “We did a totally Afrocentric, natural hair movie,” Ms. Friend said. “There was not a pressing comb or relaxer on set. That wasn’t happening. We’re in a moment when people are feeling empowered about being black. And that’s one thing you see when you watch ‘Black Panther.’ The hair helps communicate that.” – Camille Friend, the head of the “Black Panther” hair department.
Why Everett Ross has a vital purpose in T’Challa’s story by @shieldspatriot, I was talking to a friend about the movie and how every single character serves a purpose in the narrative but they mentioned that they couldn’t figure out what Everett Ross’ purpose is because he didn’t do anything really and this really made me think.
Why museum professionals need to talk about Black Panther by Casey Haughin of The Hopkins Exhibitionist, The seminal film Black Panther has become an international sensation in the week following its release. Notable for its impeccable dialogue, witty banter, and nearly all POC cast, Black Panther provides a platform to discuss a multitude of topics on a national scale. With issues such as police brutality, the ever-present effects of slavery in Western society, and black identity approached in the film, it is easy to gloss over one of the more exposition-driven scenes of the film that engages with the complicated relationship between museums and audiences affected by colonialism.
Why T’Challa is unlike any other Marvel hero before him by @blue-pointer, I think we can all agree that T’Challa is awesome. His emotional core, his capacity for compassion and human understanding is unlike anything we’ve seen in the MCU so far, and I was thinking about one of the reasons today.
Why W’Kabi sided with Erik by @lj-writes, On my second viewing, I definitely caught a hint of his expansionist leanings early on when he just casually told T’Challa he and the Border Tribe would be happy to “clean up” outside if T’Challa ordered it. I think he’s seen a lot of things at the border, interacting with the outside world, and he’s come to see preemptive Wakandan intervention as the answer to both outside threats and outside disorder.
L.J.'s Obsessions 