Black panther: Intersection between gender, race and class

Wakanda, the fictional African Nation, the home of the Black Panther possesses great wealth, resources and technology. The nation is however shielded from the world to protect it from pillaging by colonizers. Wakanda is an example of what an African state run by Africans could represent. Black Panther offers many powerful black women characters. King T’Challa, played by the recently deceased Chadwick Boseman is guarded by an all-female Kingsguard. The commander of this streamlined, regal and dynamic group, Okoye is a woman and is always at his side.

Hollywood cinema has a tendency of representing black women in subservient roles or as sexually deviant characters. Black Panther offers the opposite and challenges Marvels other Female super hero movies, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. Shuri, played by Letitia Wright is T’ Challa’s sarcastic tech- genius sister. She is very outspoken and offers a refreshing perspective of the various facets that black women encompass. Another strong female lead is Nakia, who is portrayed by Lupita Nyongo. She serves as T’Challa’s love interest but is also a skilled and impressive fighter who dedicates her time to freeing women who are enslaved.

Black Panther embraced African culture and this was evident in the landscape, language and costumes. Wakanda, although a Utopia had issues of tribalism and internal power conflicts, which is typical of the strife on the continent. Wakanda is a society where the citizens thrive and the genders are not confined to any roles. Black Panther was a phenomenal representation of African culture and potential but did not shy away from the dynamics that permeate our humanity.