This weekend was a historic one in the world of black cinema. Marvel’s Black Panther (directed by prodigious filmmaker Ryan Coogler) hit theaters this past Thursday amid much buzz and anticipation. Sporting an all black main cast and a deep sense of ethnic pride (as the story was set in in the fictional African country of Wakanda) the premiere of this movie had African Americans running to theaters (literally by the millions) to support and celebrate. The movie, to date, has made over 400 million dollars globally in only 4 days!
For all of its critical & commercial acclaim, what has been even more impressive about this movie are the number of poignant social statements it makes throughout its presentation. From the powerful, authoritative roles of EVERY woman in the movie to the importance of reinvestment in our communities to the affluence in which the continent of Africa is portrayed, the movie is trying to be heard just as much as it is seen.
Of all the cinematic commentary the Black Panther movie has made, the one that has caused the heaviest controversy & conversation is the perspective offered by the character, N’Jadaka, played brilliantly by Michael B. Jordan. N’Jadaka is the antagonist in this movie and seeks to claim the throne of Wakanda held by King T’Challa (played with equal brilliance by Chadwick Boseman). N’Jadaka’s intentions are to assume the mantle of king and then use the resources of Wakanda to militarize people of color around the world so that they can overthrow their respective governments and begin a new world order with people of African descent at the top of it (and he, ultimately, on top of all of them). T’Challa is opposed to this view of liberation & while having a heart for the struggle of people of color around the world sees oppression as wrong (even if his people and he benefit from it).
It is this tension, the differing perspectives between T’Challa & N’Jadaka, that has resonated most heavily from those who have seen the film. For many, the long-term effects of living in, investing in and dealing with a system that has not yielded them a significantly higher station on the ladder of life prompt brothers and sisters to strongly identify with N’Jadaka & his ideology.
The exchange of viewpoints between T’Challa & N’Jadaka in the movie is not a new conversation (nor is it one that will be ending anytime soon), but among the many things that have been brilliantly & beautifully uncovered by this film is the very deep seeded rage that many people of color feel every day of their lives; the feeling that the only way to achieve goals of progress, equality, & equity is by force. The frustrations that come with “loving our neighbors” & “doing unto others as we would have them do unto us” are becoming less manageable for a great number of our people. The way of the Lord is becoming harder for God’s people to trust in as a worldview. And, if this is the case, we do good to consider what this may mean as we attempt to attain the life the Lord desires for us by means the Lord never intended for us.
What good would it be for a people so deeply marginalized to gain a place atop the power structure they once were crushed under if they lost their very soul in the process? What if every stereotype, every negative perception or bias, were made true in our ascent to the mountaintop? Would the climb be worth it?
What we are once we get to the Promised Land must be just as important as the Promised Land itself & we would be wise not to allow the tyranny and hatred we face to turn us away from being compassionate. There is nothing wrong with loving and valuing ourselves deeply, but we most resemble God when we love outside of ourselves. And when we reject compassion (even in the name of justifiable retribution), we strangle the Spirit of the Most High within us. Though our collective uplift may come with hardship & heaviness, we musn’t allow ourselves to be tempted by convenience to compromise our values. Who we stand upon must be just as valuable as what we stand for. The challenge for those of us who have been historically disenfranchised for generations is to be intolerant of this disenfranchisement while not operating apart from the righteousness God calls us to. Becoming the oppressor for a new generation of oppressed does not count as liberation; it counts as what it was and always has been… ‘supremacy’
I’ve seen the movie twice & will be going back next weekend to watch and discuss the movie over dinner with our Youth Group. I love the movie and love that there is no classic “villain” in the film. Rather, the primary antagonists are the structures that our people have to face in order to live humanely. If you see the movie and exclusively view N’Jadaka as “evil”, you must concurrently take into account the things that have happened around him (& to him) that inform his choices. If you see the movie and view T’Challa as “good”, you must concurrently take into account the things that have happened around him (& to him) that inform his choices. The climax of the movie is in two people who passionately desire the same goal but attempt different ways to get there.
Perhaps they are portrayed in the film as neither right or wrong on purpose. Perhaps the answer is somewhere in the middle. In a place between righteousness & rage. A place where disrespect is unacceptable & devaluing ourselves is uninviting. A place where, with all of our indignation in tow, we realize that as people of color on the path to overcoming, there are some things that we can live through that are worse than oppression.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”- Jesus (Mark 8:36)
One Comment
Haasan Robinson
Fantastic article. Very interesting to hear the prospective you gave regarding some of the more intricate parts of the movie. I’m going to assume by the writing that you are more in line with the ideology of the character T’Challa. I’m also going to conclude that you are not necessarily a fan of the N’Jadaka character. Interestingly enough when I read your writing, I don’t see a disdain for the character “Killmonger” as much as I see a empathy as if you can admire his promise, zeal, conviction and at the same time feel that he may be wrong in his approach. I’ve seen the movie and have identified a few items that I feel most people missed or deciphered them a different way. N’Jadaka was going to free his people at any cost. His goal, from what I could tell, was for him to liberate his people. The irony that I have noticed is that people feel that he wanted to be king so that he could feed his ego and rule which wasn’t what I got out of it at all. From the way the movie was structured and based on the information that was given in the movie, he was simply going forward with a plan that had to be executed in order for him to accomplish his goal. For him, being king wasn’t the end, it was actually a cog in a bigger wheel which would result in the completion of his mission, i.e., the liberation of his fellow Africans. His anger and disdain that came through in the movie was well deserved and had every reason to be present. From his point of view (I can only imagine), he has watched as the people that had the power, energy and resources to do something about worldwide oppression sat by for generations and their fellow Africans were slaughtered, raped, victims to systemic racist judicial systems, etc. all the while knowing that it doesn’t have to be that way if they just had some help.
Everyone ain’t built for the task. He was and had it not been for the subservient lap dog T’Challa who desired for continuance of white supremacy, our people all around the world could be free from European dominance. As stated in the movie, we could rule the world, the right way. Again, ruling is a by product. The goal, always was, is, and will be the freedom of our people.
Peace,…