Friday, Februrary 16th has come and gone, and Black Panther is playing in cinemas across the United States. Big whoop. I’m not going to be seeing it.
“But Admiral, don’t you want to see Black superheroes on the big screen?”
Sure, that would be great.
“Then let me aks why isn’t you going to the movie to see Baleck greatness?”
The answer is simple: I’m not into capeshit anymore. Superhero movies don’t really move me. I am glad that there is a powerful Black male image on the silver screen. I hope that anyone watching the movie enjoys it, and I hope that all your dreams come true (provided, of course, that they do not interfere with mine).
Although my reason for not seeing Black Panther may be simplistic, it wouldn’t make for much of an article, now would it? To give you, dear reader, something to ponder, I will go into some other thoughts on Black Panther and the phenomenon surrounding it.
Black Panther is Power?
Certain elements of the Black community are losing their minds over the release of Black Panther. Finally, they can have something to be proud of and take their kids to see. Finally, there is a movie to fit the niche of overgrown nerds in the Black community just as there are countless capeshit movies for members of other races to enjoy. Cool.
Acting as if the release of a Black superhero flick is the second coming of Barack Obama and Black RaptorJesus however, is foolishness to the nth degree (no pun intended). If Barack Obama, a real person that held what many believe is the highest position in the world did not dig us out of our shitty circumstances, what makes you think that a single fictional character can? What makes you think that dusting off your daishiki and cosplaying is going to benefit the Black community in any way?
“If Brad and Suzie can dress as Superman and Princess Leia, then why ‘cain’t’ Tyrone and Shaunquita dress as Black Panther and Storm?”
I am not saying that they can’t. All I am saying is that thinking that dressing as fictional characters one day out of the year and taking money out of your pocket to buy expensive snacks and overpriced movie tickets is power, then you have another thing coming.
Law 6 of the 48 Laws of Power tells us to court attention at all costs, but in today’s society, hooping and hollering is not the way to go about it, at least not as Black people. It is better to be felt, not just seen. The preceding laws 4 (always say less than necessary) and 5 (regarding reputation) also come into play.
Constantly running your mouth without anything of substance behind it is a violation of Law 4, and after deeper analysis, a violation of Law 6. Law 6 states that we should court attention, but the same banal displays time and again grow old, so we will have to change up the game eventually (Law 25 applying within Law 6). In the particular case of the Black American, we have also built a reputation for focusing on figureheads and trinkets rather than having substance or even developing substance from images when possible.
In other words, Black Panther is yet another distraction that will prevent you from becoming real Black heroes.
I will be going to the gym developing my real muscles, looking at charts to put money into my pockets, and studying to improve my real abilities. There is nothing wrong with being entertained or enjoying a movie; sometimes we need to take a break. However, I advise you not lose sight of reality.
Every Black person that is seeing Black Panther should also take time to do something in their lives to improve their condition, even if it is only on an individual level.
I will be working as an individual. The pact that I have made with myself forces me to do something productive every day. Some of you are probably more social than I am, however. Maybe you will meet some of your fellow Black nerds or Wakandan cosplayers in the movie crowds. Given the current atmosphere and a certain thing that happened back in Aurora, Colorado in 2013, I’d be cosplaying in SWAT gear, but I digress.
Perhaps you can network with your fellow Black Panther viewers. Maybe even start a company that makes custom toys, a lucrative business, so I have heard, or better yet, begin utilizing your talents to create and promote original Black superheroes and media. I just hope that whatever you create is not rife with feminism, brokebackism, or the glorification of non-Black “people of color” (unless it’s hot Northeast Asian women that the Black heterosexual male protagonist scores with, of course, and in that case, contact me once you get the movie rights and I’ll audition for the role of said protagonist).
Pour Conclure
I hope that everyone going out to see Black Panther has a good time and a safe time. Please do not lose sight of what you need to do in real life to better yourselves and your communities. A single movie will not change the world. It will take a constant barrage of real success to truly better our stations in life.