Thursday, March 15, 2018

Black Panther Movie: NB Commentary (VIDEOS)

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.

"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)


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Thanks for your comment. Peace, NB