Black Panther Appreciation 2019

[Gessela]

I hate to deviate from the topic a bit but I'm still in Nigeria for the holidays and a friend invited me to a public lecture being held at the National Open University of Nigeria. It was being given by Prof. Horace G. Campbell who is a scholar, "academic activist" and Professor of African American Studies and Political Science at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The topic was on African universities, pan-African liberation and scholarship, and reparations.

The gist of it all was that African universities and schools need a change in curriculum which teach students of their own history, as well as African science and mathematics, that African countries need reparations for the millions of stolen African cultural artefacts which contain secrets of African art and science, and Africa needs to be liberated from colonisation both past and present, economic and mental subjugation. Campbell talked about a whole lot which was new, inspiring, uplifting, and rooted in the beliefs of Afrofuturism and African science and mathematics which I still really need to digest (I have a recording of the lecture that I need to listen to again) and I will try to discuss with you all ASAP. It is very relevant to what we talk about sometimes here and of course it is knowledge for all.

I also should add that the Black Panther movie got a shout out in his lecture both directly and indirectly. He asked around for those who watched the film, and part of his lecture definitely recalled Killmonger's museum scene and T'Challa's "One Single Tribe" message, and he also briefly talked about Wakanda and what made them so special. Shuri (and Letitia Wright) in particular he talked about, talking about how she as an African girl operates with the best technology in the world, and the movie intentionally was meant to entice the minds of young Africans to go into scientific fields and know more about African science and math.

I just wanted to share that. It was one hell of a lecture even without the BP references. But really for us and for me, this is what it's really about. So many things he said just resonated with me as an African, a Nigerian, and a BP fan. And that movie was really all kinds of special.

Appreciate the share, if you get that audio, please throw it up on the HEF as well.

[Ezyo1000]

So who would y'all want to pen and draw agents of Wakanda if you had the choice? Assuming JA doesn't do it later on

[Cville]

So who would y'all want to pen and draw agents of Wakanda if you had the choice? Assuming JA doesn't do it later on

Espionage, politics, and action. Give me Priest and Deodato

[DigiCom]

So who would y'all want to pen and draw agents of Wakanda if you had the choice? Assuming JA doesn't do it later on

For writers: Greg Rucka and/or Eric Trautmann (their CHECKMATE had the perfect vibe).

For artist: Denys Cowan or Tom Mandrake.

[rpmaluki]

I can't speak for other African countries, but in Nigeria most schools (I think a lot if not ALL schools) don't really teach Nigerian history. It was banned by the government some time ago. He also asked if anyone in the audience knew about the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale which no one did. It's one of the most significant events of African liberation and most people don't know it.

Here in South Africa, we were taught our history but it was mainly from the coloniser's POV, with a lot of black history was devalued intentionally. It's only post 1994/democracy that some, if not most history was revised to reflect a more accurate historical landscape encompassing all of SA.

[KOSLOX]

So who would y'all want to pen and draw agents of Wakanda if you had the choice? Assuming JA doesn't do it later on

Ideally for me: Greg Rucka and Tom Coker.

[DigiCom]

For writers: Greg Rucka and/or Eric Trautmann (their CHECKMATE had the perfect vibe).

For artist: Denys Cowan or Tom Mandrake.

On second thought (for artist): David Aja or Andrea Sorrentino.

[XPac]

So who would y'all want to pen and draw agents of Wakanda if you had the choice? Assuming JA doesn't do it later on

My first thought would be Priest, but I'm not sure he'd want to do it.

After him I'd say Ewing or Waid. With Deodato on art duty.

[Rumble]

[Rumble]

[ArsonoptiX]

Always love Kev Walker art!!!

[MindofShadow]

I thought that was M'baku the whole time lol

[FLEX HECTIC]

Worldview 101-


Thanos: "I know what it's like to lose. To feel so desperately that you're right, yet to fail nonetheless. It’s frightening. Turns the legs to jelly. I ask you, to what end? Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now, it's here. Or should I say, I am."


Speaking of African nations...


As a black man married to an African woman the biggest problem with black folks/Africans is our worldview!


There are only a few dominant worldviews on planet earth that masses of people will bow down to...


1. The Judeo-Christian Worldview

2. The Islamic Sharia Law Worldview

3. The Godless Socialist Communist Worldview

4. The Monarchy For King or Queen and Country Worldview

5. The Democratic Republic One Man One Vote Worldview

6. The Tribal Nationalist Cultural Worldview


If you carve up the globe most nations and borders are divided up by these various worldviews so you have to pick one are a combination of two but rarely more than three!


America is basically at it's core a Judeo-Christian Democratic Republic nation and it's extreme advantage is that it has Disneyland and the option to make that cake (cash money) and the freedom to do what you please as long as you don't puff too much second hand smoke in the baby's face thus nullifying your political and legalistic gains!


Africa generally has a more Tribal Nationalist Worldview which leaves it vulnerable to conquering nations due to it's habit of waiting around in divided ideals and theologies to be colonized by oppressors who have their act and agenda more cohesive moving forward!


Also... Most black folks are rarely if at all on the same page in their worldview therefore it's far easier to enslave and seize natural resources with little repercussions!


Thanos: "Dread it, run from it. Worldviews arrive all the same."


Thanos: "Undying. You should choose your worldviews more carefully."





(quickly runs out of thread as others process that spoken Truth To Power)

[ArsonoptiX]

As a black man married to an African woman the biggest problem with black folks/Africans is our worldview!

I have always found that concept interesting...although I think at one time we did have a worldview. Thanks to colonialism it has been shattered/mutated/morphed. Eurocentric ideals...have wrecked havoc. This is especially true for us living in America. We aren't American (and generally NOT wanted here) and we aren't African ("anymore" and generally aren't wanted there either).

There are only a few dominant worldviews on planet earth that masses of people will bow down to...


1. The Judeo-Christian Worldview

2. The Islamic Sharia Law Worldview

3. The Godless Socialist Communist Worldview

4. The Monarchy For King or Queen and Country Worldview

5. The Democratic Republic One Man One Vote Worldview

6. The Tribal Nationalist Cultural Worldview


If you carve up the globe most nations and borders are divided up by these various worldviews so you have to pick one are a combination of two but rarely more than three!

What interesting is that out of the three: the Judeo-Christian worldview...despite what people say, biblical movies/paintings show, and many churches teach...is unabashedly OURS. Black people are ALL OVER the Bible. I think if people had a deeper connection to that...other things would fall into place.

Africa generally has a more Tribal Nationalist Worldview which leaves it vulnerable to conquering nations due to it's habit of waiting around in divided ideals and theologies to be colonized by oppressors who have their act and agenda more cohesive moving forward!

Truth! Historically Africa hasn't been united. It probably never needed to be as it was one of the most powerful nations at one time. So they got complacent...and the (arguably) weaker opponent changed tactics and here we are today.

This makes BP extremely interesting...because on the one hand we have Wakanda that is head and heels above everywhere else and will make short work out of anyone...YET there is still tribal infighting. No other comic has been truer to life. When we are unified we are unstoppable...the problem is...we are often stopped from being unified (internally and externally). Not trying to highjack your post/distract from the primary topic...just what you said got me thinking

[FLEX HECTIC]

The cool thing with Black Panther is that it is science fiction and very subjective as an intellectual property and that makes it so much fun btw!


It's like a Marvel What If where colonialism did not ruin something special keeping the pure escapism factor in play for Afrofuture cosplay!


However, I wouldn't say all the main persons in the Bible are black because that would exclude many other nations and cultures from their divine blessings so let's agree that many of them were racially mixed depending upon which chapter, verse or land they were in at any given time!


Some of the 12 tribes of Israel had obvious black members but then again no one took enough selfies or lived long enough to use ancestry.com to confirm that DNA for a fact!


I also forgot to mention the Capitalism Worldview in that "money answereth all things" capacity but for the sake of trading 2 goats for 3 sheep money is a medium of exchange that needs to be used for trade value!


Mathematics which is one of the best universal languages so to speak allows for one to calculate and quantify the past, the present and the future transactions and how they affect the stability of any worldviews vast endeavors!


The freedoms and the liberties enforced for any potential civilizations dictates how creative or oppressed citizens can or will be on the world stage!


You might see a certain degree of socialism in public schools, public police, public fire department etc. etc. but trying too hard to turn a nation like America too socialist would turn the fabric of society upside down!


Wakanda is a For King and Country Worldview where whomever is the king can practically do as he pleases at least up until "Challenge Day" but if he were a really beloved king that somehow lost the Warriors Falls fight you could have a kingdom run by a Beasts of No Nation type leader!


If Killmonger were a pedophile or an R Kelly type inappropriately harassing underage Doras (Coates treehouse rape camps) that overall worldview would not be safe nor healthy for Wakanda's political class!


At least in some nations the corruption is not so bad that you could put your headphones on and jog at night but that requires a trusted and tested worldview!


Laws are the key and how you enforce them or make halftime adjustments during game time accordingly...


Age of consent... Sex, drugs and alcohol


Marital values... Adultery, polygamy and side chick allowances


Curfew... ???


Declarations of War... Parliament, Congress, National security emergencies etc. etc.


All that can be the difference between a super power or a third world country with poop on the street and no plumbing!