Black Panther Movie: NB Commentary
In this video, I
wish to present to you, my commentary on the movie, Black Panther. Many of my thoughts presented in this video
have been derived from my initial impressions, articles that I have read,
videos I have watch pro and con and a host of other comments from folks in the
comment sections under articles, videos and reviews pertaining to this movie.
My commentary will
present an alternative view. I think that it is important for alternative
voices and commentary to be heard for the purpose of balance and
introspection. Indeed, it is clear that
the vote is in, and Black Panther has taken the world by storm and has
surprised even its makers. The amount of
support, particularly from the Black community has been astounding which
implies that more folks are geared up to support this movie than there are
those who wish to present an alternate and maybe a somewhat counter perspective
on the benefit of this movie to Black folks in general and the image of Black
folks, particularly here in America, in general.
Let me begin by
saying, now that Africans have a fictitious super hero show, akin to Superman,
Batman, and the Green Hornet, please show me how even the slightest correlation
will help elevate black consciousness. I.e., how many of these movie goers will
boycott during the scandalous Christmas season, starting with Black Friday. In
fact, what have the super heroes done for white folks besides give them the
"illusion" of grandeur. I don't think we need any more super heroes.
We have enough Real ones to celebrate. Malcolm X birthday, almost became a
national holiday, now folks at the movies are giving the white man they money.
Feeling empowered by fiction. Am I being a kill joy or what?
I really don't care
about the celebrity engagement.
Or the celebrity
involvement.
Or how much money
the actors will make, or even how much the movie makers, movie houses, movie
concession stands, movie ticket sellers, movie uber drivers, movie
dress makers, movie drummers and stilt walkers, movie advertisers and
pundits. I don't even care about the fact that people feel that the closed
shows were seeped in racist fears that black folks may riot or feel empowered
or both.
I don't care if
people literally call me a Hater for spreading this hateration.
What I care about is
that this is science fiction. And what I would like to know is how does science
fiction seep into the consciousness of white supremacist and change their
minds.
I want to know how
science fiction will stop cops from killing black children, Monsanto from
poisoning our food, big oil from poisoning us with plastics, and
pharmaceuticals from poisoning us by selling us legalized drugs.
How will this hype
over shadow our true hero's who lost their lives fighting for freedom and
justice like Malcolm X.
Our children are
resonating with comics but hey, they don't know who Stockley Carmichael, Marcus
Garvey, Huey Newton, Sojourner Truth, Dr. Ben, Ivan Van Sertima, Benjamin
Banneker, and a host of real people who made real changes.
I would also like to
add a comment that I found in the comment section beneath a video about the
Black Panther movie. Unfortuanately, I
do not remember which video it was but I think it is important to share these dates
with you.
And I quote "Philly Phil" here.
And I quote "Philly Phil" here.
"The movie was
strategically released smack dab in the middle of Black History Month for the
end game of DISRUPTING the study by 40 Million Negros of REAL Black
superheros.
2/7 death of Anta
Diop,
2/15 birth of H.
Sylvester Williams,
2/17 birth of Huey
Newton,
2/20 death of
Frederick Douglas,
2/21 death of
Malcolm X,
2/23 birth of Amos
Wilson,
2/23 birth of WEB
Dubois,
2/25 death of Elijah
Muhammad.
The comics
present a false reality. It's the fallaciousness of this whole thing. Even
the movie "The Butler" about that guy who spent decades working in
the white house was more historically correct. We don't need more fantasy, we
need the real truth, that's all I'm saying. Do the young folks know that there
are Black Panthers languishing right now in federal prisons. Do they know about
Assata Shakur?
I mean seriously,
doesn't it say something that finally Marvel Comics can give a nod to a Black
Super hero? When there are African comics and animation creators who can get no
backing, but this will?
They knew exactly
how to pull this wool over the eyes of the masses for sure.
And if
imagery is everything, how can one Black movie change the massive amount of
imagery that has been spoon fed to the masses depicting white supremacy? I'm
confused. On the other hand, we just came through a season where white
supremacy was at its zenith, i.e., a white Jesus born to save the entire world,
and not one person, except me, said anything about that image. White Jesus in
black churches still tells black folks, that white is supreme and savior, and
one movie cannot change what has been indelibly placed in the minds of the
people, white and black. White folks have had a ton of white super heroes.. are
we saying that their super heroes have and will have the same impact, that is,
they will continue to see themselves as superior? It would follow logically
that they would if we are going to assume that the imagery in a movie has the
effect of changing the image of a people, real or contrived.
It is
truly unfortunate that a people has been relegated to such a level of self
esteem that they would need a fantasy movie to boost their image of themselves.
What I
am trying to say here is this. If one black superhero can change the mindset of
a people toward empowerment, than surely all the tons of white heroes and
saviors in the media, have certainly done their job in promoting and sustaining
white supremacy. So to me, this movie is just a drop in the bucket compared to
the avalanche of white themed movies since movies even became something to
watch. And we are gonna need more than one black movie to change the
predominance of white supremacy in the culture and minds of people globally.
Why can't they
tell true stories of real heroes who really did something. Like the Black
inventors who's inventions were co-opted to the point that nobody knows who
invented simple things like the stop light. During black history month, we need
real history, not a fantasy. I don't care if the fantasy was created by a black
man and directed by one.
Make a movie showing
Africa for real, this movie is fantasy. If folks go to Africa looking for what
they saw in this movie they will be sorely disappointed.
Black people need
reality after being brainwashed for hundreds of years. They need their real history not a made up
fairy tale of "could be some how might have been". If we were not such a broken people, we could
take the risk of a few fairy tales, but we are, and we need to heal, mentally,
emotionally and spiritually.
This movie will only lure more and more people
into some pseudo empowerment, but when they are looking down the barrel of a
gun held by a police officer trained to see "black people" as
dangerous, even if they are unarmed, they will not be able to pull
"vibranium" out of their pockets.
We live in real
times that are dangerous, and being socially engineered to sleep through a
movie such as this one, is like pumping massive amounts of sedatives into the
hearts and minds of a people who can not take the risk of even blinking much
less, going off to sleep.
If it truly mattered
and would actually make a difference in the consciousness of African descendant
folks, it would not have gotten past "go."
Think about it. When
have they lauded any real freedom fighters.
Superman ain't real.
Batman ain't real.
Ninja Turtles are
not real.
But the Matrix
is.
And this is social
engineering and a major distraction that people are actually in national TV
fighting over.
Once they mainstream
it, it loses its power, like how they mainstreamed Mandela. People don't see
how they do this over and over again. It's their way of rewriting history.
Where is this done except with Santa Claus and the tooth fairy? When the babies grow up will they know about
the Real Black Panthers or believe this fiction?
I have always been
one to wonder about the hidden agenda. Storytelling since the beginning of
human experience on this planet has been used to mold and shape or socially
engineer the masses. I proceed with great caution when it is mainstream.
Time will tell what
the impact will be, however, the "escape" to the movies and this one
in particular, will certainly line some pockets.
Will they simply be
inspired to wear the Black panther costume and purchase memorabilia that I am
sure they have all ready, and lined up for sale.
We need
discretionary spending, and less unwashed consumerism. Can we get these folks
to study African History, read books about Africa's real contributions. Or will
they just fill their houses with more fanciful junk!
One thing's for sure
this movie is bringing forth a lot of dialogue and that's a good thing.
I love sci-fi,
however I realize that it's the imaginings of a mind guided by a creative
spirit.
I also am aware that
movies and the media, just like ancient story telling have design and
purpose.
I simply don't trust
Hollyweird.
There's a serious
and nasty underbelly that paints a skewed reality over the lives closely and
not so closely connected to Hollyweird.
To me supporting it
needs to be done with knowledge of the true intent. Are these folks really
about empowering black folks and divesting the hundreds of years of racist
overtones that have been injected into the film industry thus far?
Are they really
about taking that step towards equanimity or is this being used to pacify the
masses? As they have done time and time again. Give the "darky" a
little limelight here and there but never enough to release him from mental
slavery.
Why do people, like
lemmings, buy into stuff that is put forth to exploit them. Is there no
resistance to the con? All of a sudden after decades of ridicule, harassment
and abuse, now Black Panther is something to celebrate.
This is how they
normalize and trivialize threats, especially those of Black Empowerment.
I just shake my head
and wonder why. Then it comes to me, clearly we are in a matrix that is
constantly remolding and shaping us to remain, blind, deaf and dumb to the
mockery.
Did they use an all
black starstudded cast to reel in the unsuspected? Or was there a sincere
intent?
It certainly has
some revealing overtones but again, I just don't trust Hollyweird, I don't
trust Disney and I don't read comics. I also am a very round peg who does not
fit into a square hole too well.
But I thank all of
you for your comments.
MORE READING:
Pan–Africanism
Minkah Makalani –
Rutgers University
THE
ADVENTURES OF A VICTORIAN TROUBLEMAKER: HENRY SYLVESTER WILLIAMS
Dr. Amos N. Wilson
CULTURE: IN MEMORY OF HUEY P. NEWTON
BLACK PANTHERS – VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION
Here
Are The Black People Behind The Scenes Who Made ‘Black Panther’ A Reality
The Black Panther and African Sovereignty
Marvel’s
Black Panther: A Comicbook Biography (EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW)
