In recent years, the national political atmosphere has been characterized by flared-up social tensions. From the midst of the morass of identity politics, a positive, pan-African social movement has emerged. A major catalyst in this movement was the 2018 film Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler. Set in the fictional Afro-futuristic kingdom of Wakanda, Black Panther follows the conflict between the prospective heir to the throne T’Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman) and the spiteful outsider Killmonger (played by Michael B. Jordan). Featuring almost an entirely African-American cast and amassing a tremendous 1.344 billion USD in the box office, the film was a trend-setter and a record-setter alike. However impressive Black Panther may be, it was far more than just a blockbuster. It has empowered African American people by providing them with role models, breaking stereotypes perpetuated in the movie industry, connecting them to their African cultural roots and setting an example for great success and excellence within the community. For the bulk of American history, the African-American community has been alienated from their rich West African cultural heritage. By presenting to the audience an inspiring African-themed world, the Black Panther has shown a way forward in pursuit of a unique, redefined social identity drawing from their rich ancient heritage.
Perhaps one of the greatest takeaways from the public reception to the Black Panther is that representation pays, literally. After an incredibly successful first week at the box office, Black Panther was thrust into the limelight and became a topic of prolonged national discussion. It was especially popular amongst the African American community, which is noteworthy because they seldom go to the movies. According to a 2016 survey conducted by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), less than 15% of African Americans consider themselves regular movie-goers, which is considerably than the number of Caucasians who consider themselves regular movie-goers. Many African Americans who had never previously gone to the theaters went to see the Black Panther on the big screen. According to the movie distributor Walt Disney Co., theaters playing the Black Panther located in cities with large African American populations reported startling increases in revenue; revenue was up 56 percent in Atlanta, 31% in Washington and a whopping 81% in Memphis. Some people even went to see the movie multiple times, presumably to relive the incredible experience which the movie delivered to the audience.
One of the most overlooked aspects of being a minority in America is the startling lack of representation in leading roles in film. According to a 2016 report released by Ralph J. Bunche Center of African American Studies, the number of minorities playing lead roles stood at 13.9% despite representing nearly 40% of the US population. This figure is up 2.4% from 2011, according to figures from an earlier study released by the same institution. Although strides have been made in increasing the number of minorities playing lead roles, there is a long way to go before they are adequately represented. This lack of representation has detrimental effects on the way the majority views minorities, and more importantly, the way minorities see themselves. This effect is exacerbated when minorities like African Americans are constantly portrayed in stereotypical roles. In a Texas Tech University study titled “The Perceived Realism of African American Portrayals on Television”, it was determined that undergraduate students (including black students) attending the university believed the African American occupational and behavioral stereotypes portrayed on television to be accurate. Furthermore, the findings suggest that these stereotypical roles can affect the way people view African Americans.
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Within the African American community, outrage over underrepresentation isn’t anything new. In 2014, for example, the release of the movie Cleopatra created outrage and spurred a national discussion on the “whitewashing” of movies. The Black Panther was revolutionary in this regard; the director, lead characters and most of the side roles were played by African Americans. It empowered black people by showing a world where race was not a limiting factor in the roles that they were “fit” to play; you didn’t necessarily have to be white to be a hero. This was a valuable lesson for young black people to learn, in a country where the film and movie industries usually perpetuate negative stereotypes. When individuals are able to relate to lead characters, they can more easily see themselves exhibiting the positive traits that the lead character does. In many minority communities, the cultural disparity is such that it is difficult for them to relate the predominantly White main characters. Characters playing lead roles are usually role models, exhibiting positive qualities worth emulating. T’Challa, the main character in the Black Panther, was an exemplary individual on many fronts; he was a doting brother, a good son, a hard worker, and righteous future leader of an advanced society.
For generations, African Americans have been curious about their origins in West Africa. Due to enslavement, African Americans lost touch with most of their ancestral cultures, languages and customs. After the outlawing of slavery and their eventual emancipation, many schools of thought which promoted the reconstruction of an African cultural identity rapidly emerged. Paul Cuffee, an early black leader and intellectual, held that African Americans should seek to return to Africa and work towards the creation of a free state. W.E.B. DuBois believed that strength in the African American community was predicated on the ability to form an identity which draws from ancestral African cultures and customs, stating, “Armed with the knowledge of the past, we can with confidence charter a course for the future. Culture is an indispensable weapon in the freedom struggle. We must take hold of it and forge the future with the past.”
The Black Panther movie did just that, giving African Americans a glimpse of an advanced, African-themed world and encouraging them to embrace their ancestral roots. And Embrace they did: It became popular for African American movie-goers to wear West African and Bantu attire to the cinema. Many business owners selling African-themed merchandise have noted that more people than ever before are interested in wearing African attire. According to Kutula, a large Los Angeles based clothing store which specializes in clothing from West Africa, sales of clothing such as dashiqis (a unisex West African garment) has skyrocketed. Alexandria Alli, the owner of Studio One Afrique has spoken to customers and attributes this massive spike in sales with the premier of Black Panther. For the first time, African Americans from all walks of life are demonstrating widespread interest in reconnecting with their roots and incorporating African cultures into their lives. Becoming a full-blown social phenomenon, it is no longer merely an idea held by a small number African American community leaders and scholars.
To most unassuming outsiders, the movie Black Panther registered as just another successful movie and blockbuster hit. To African Americans, it meant much more: It challenged harmful stereotypes, provided role models and showed them what a world where Africans ruled could look like. It encouraged African Americans to dream big and strive for excellence. It showed the world that representation pays, literally. In what can only be described as an incredible social movement
