This is Episode 22: Afrofuturism, Colonialism, and Facing Down Grief
Topics of Discussion
Before we go in, I want to note that this film felt very strong in its meta-engagement with the audience where it mourns the loss of the Black Panther, we mourn Chadwick Boseman. This heightens what we see play out, the message in the story as well.
There are two elements at work in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that stood out to me in particular. One is a carry-over from the first film, which is Afrofuturism.
In an article entitled “The Rhetoric of ‘Wakanda Forever’: Afrofuturism in Black Panther”, Poojil Tiwari states that the term was coined in 1994 by Mark Dreary and it:
“is a technique of Black speculative fiction that uses science fiction and futuristic imagery to imagine a future for Black people rooted in the African diaspora.”
Tiwari notes that “Black Panther borrows heavily from authentic African tradition to create the wonderful amalgamation of African culture–that is the country of Wakanda. It is a reimagining of a history that never really panned out. It is the story of a nation untouched with colonialism and slavery which therefore has been successful in preserving its cultural practices.”
Second is the struggles of Indigenous peoples:
Jean Guerrero, in an opinion notes that ‘Wakanda Forever,’ did a great job in its handling of Indigenous peoples. Speaking of the cursing of Namor by the Spanish priest when he comes to bury his mother, Guerrero points out that,
The filmmakers don’t intend for viewers to concur with the priest’s hatred. Like Killmonger in the first “Black Panther,” Namor is a cautionary tale against embracing the colonizer’s amoral tactics, but he isn’t evil. He’s driven by trauma and a noble desire to protect his people.
The ending has Shuri not destroying Namor, like some colonizer, but recognizing him as an equal in a common struggle.
*The Marvels touched on this a bit with the Kree needing to survive and going to other worlds and simply stealing their resources to keep themselves alive.
Premise of Discussion
Looking at both the concepts above, Afrofuturism and issues faced by depictions of Indigenous peoples vs the outside world, how do we feel these issues are represented in the film and how do they reflect back on us as the audience?
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