(ThyBlackMan.com) If you have not seen the phenomenon that is Black Panther, where have you been! It has been nearly a month and the movie is still making crazy moves. It has broken all kinds of records, something that many who follow the movie industry knew would happen. But more than grossing almost a half of billion dollars in the first four days of being in theaters (it’s now at $930 million worldwide), Black Panther is a masterpiece because of all the things it gets right; in particular, how it portrays black women. It is a view of the role that we play in the overall advancement of our community and the world and it is spot on.
I loved the movie because it moved me to be even prouder to not only be black but to also be a woman. It resonates with us because of that reason. From portraying us as the strong, powerhouse protectors of our families, to showing that we are powerful enough to stand alone and still make a difference, Black Panther gave and gives black women so much to lift our heads about.
Here are just a few of the things the movie communicates about who we are.
We Are the Gatekeepers
Without giving too much away, Black Panther was a clear show of the way black women fight for our families. How we fight for our men. How we fight for ourselves. From Lupita Nyong’o’s independent take on Nakia, the strong-willed, entrancing love interest of King T’Challa (Chadwick Bosman), to the warrior women who stood on the frontlines of battle, black women are everything and without us, not much would happen in this world.
We Are Smart
Shuri, sister to the king and played by Letitia Wright, is a mastermind tech woman in the world of Wakanda. As the head of all things technology in the magic kingdom of the Black Panther, she is the creator of cutting edge, state of the art equipment, devices, and more. This speaks to black women’s intelligence. We are the most educated demographic in American today, and this movie brings all of that to the big screen in a big way.
We Are Regal
The matchless Angela Bassett is untouchable on so many levels. She is the epitome of beauty in this film and her portrayal of T’Challa’s mother and the queen, Ramonda, is superb. She represents the group of black women who are meek but strong; beautiful yet humble. Black women know how to take care of family, be the helpmate, the leader, and how to pass the torch on to the offspring we have raised to be kings and queens.
We Are Worthy
If black women get nothing else from Black Panther, let us remember and understand that we are worthy. Our worthiness is seen all over the film and I could not be happier to see that important fact play out for the entire world to view with their own eyes.
Black Panther is an all-encompassing film that has set a very high standard; not just in filmmaking, but in the way black people, in general, feel about ourselves. We know all that we can be, and thanks to this movie, we are seeing exactly all that we can be.
Staff Writer; Rasheda Abdullah