God I love Black Panther. It’s so African, it’s such a good allegory for America, and it’s got every ounce of hope that Between the World and Me didn’t. I think/hope it’s because Ta-Nehisi Coates knew the comic would reach younger audiences, and hope is what we need more than anything.
His reference to Wakanda exceptionalism is an obvious parallel to America. We are exceptional, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be hard, or it won’t take struggle. We will have to fight against wrong, but we have to keep hope, we have to each do what we think is right. And the long arc of history will bend towards justice.
Coates uses terrorism as a reflection of modern worries. Comics have a strong tradition of being influenced from our current national mindset. Where Radiation gave Spiderman and the Hulk their powers, it also gave to rise to the threat of nuclear war.
The Fantastic Four got theirs from exposure during space travel as we ourselves reached for the moon and looked beyond.
The bomber strikes a public space using themselves as a weapon. The interrogation of the captured suicide bomber reveals his history, fanaticism, and subsequent self-rationalization because of anger. This deeply resonates with how disenfranchised fringe members of society get radicalized/indoctrinated [imagine your brother got killed/hurt in a drone strike], but also how African Americans in the country come to fear and loathe police [imagine seeing your father stop-and-frisked]. When their families and role models are humiliated, or when they themselves feel discrimination, it’s easy to become angry and violent.
[Side note, NPR published some current research on discrimination, it’s fascinating to read through and very important stuff, so I suggest everyone check it out [link below]. But to add to the conversation beyond the well-done research NPR puts out; their survey says a majority of white people also feel discriminated against and many FB warriors were quick to deride them and their privilege, but let me point out that that it’s simply a self-reported feeling. It is thousands of times easier to see and empathize with your own scenario than with an other. That’s something we’re all flawed with. So let’s not make the same mistake and instead lend them empathy. It’s hard to be a person, regardless of your skin tone. It’s harder/easier for others based on a strange mixture of socio-economic class, gender, race, sexuality, luck, and randomness but it’s hard for you too. We’ll all working on it.]
T‘Challa response is regal, understanding the brother’s pain with the depth of his own. That’s how a commander should respond to a lost citizen.
Fuck Donald John Trump.
The wise Changamire also has to reflect on the duality of his ideas. Where the terrorist was once his student, he's now applying, quite radically, his teachings.
But Changamire embodies the deeply academic nature of Coates' discussions, although admittedly when he comes faced with the reality of his student using his teachings for terrorism, he is paralyzed. I would guess the philosopher’s nature seems to reflect Coates’ truer opinion. Changamire is accepting (or resigned?) to the violence that his words brought. An opinion I think Coates shares, judging by the honest explanation of how he cannot see change without violence, both Changamire’s words and the tone of Between the World and Me.
Also the hair. Ugh so nice. The old guy Changamire looks like a wise old lion with this enormous mane. The sister came back with longer hair. The mother. All the big hair seems to equate wisdom or power. The villain has his hair covered, one of the few. I guess to hide his true power? The female villain had it so frizzy and large, unlike the mostly braided/dreads styles the “good guys” had.
I’m concerned I didn’t get a lot of the references, especially to African American culture. I definitely got the Kanye West Power reference. No One Man. T’Challa is the King. His Sister and the Meta Human as Gods and the people, the Ursuper, and the Midnight Angels as nonbelievers.
A Nation Under Our Feet is also a reference to Steven Hahn’s book of the same title. What was that book on the table? American Slavery, American Freedom? Definitely need to read. Both are added to the GoodReads
I saw the Black Rosie the Riveter panel, which was great. Intersectional feminism!
I really enjoyed reading a graphic novel. It wasn’t my favorite medium before. I don’t know if it’s the quality of this particular novel, but the graphics added a lot of depth to the storyline. The drama played out before, it’s stakes emphasized by the magicalism. The culture though the colors, the emotion in postures. And it all gave this really coherent story, a nation of millions in a conflict raging on so many sides, against odds that defied belief of an easy end. It mirrored our struggles as a nation. And the philosophies of so many great writers.
Small other part that really blew me away for its care. The primary colors were so vivid and bright, but also came from culture. The Green of The People seemed just like the Arab Spring green. The purple royalty that not only reflected T’Challa’s powers, but also his heritage, especially in his dashiki.
The tribal tattoos gave a really strange angle and emphasis to different people and their thoughts.
Even just being this colorful, in an age that has move to minimalism and striking whites and blacks.
So many strong women characters. Shurai literally looked like a god. Her journey through Purgatory was fascinating. Having her taught by “God” taking the face of her mother, I think was purposeful. They learn history, with the stories from the past being lessons for the future and magical powers. [I don’t know how true the second one is.] With 100s of billions of human stories, no one is unique. A strong understanding of history will grant you better understanding of the patterns that we inhabit, in our daily, political, and societal lives and they aren’t that different from the struggles of before.
The Midnight Angels’ relationship was touching and personal, especially with the expansion from the prologue. It gave great weight to their struggles in forming a new nation themselves. Their obstacles echo the enormous burden women face in developing countries all over the world. Rape, forced marriage, strict gender roles all are features of many nations today. That these women would steal, fight, kill, negotiate, and play politics to achieve some protection and freedom is inspiring. Coates has also mentioned that it’s meant to give some modern penance to the anachronistic idea of having this personal royal guard of scantily clad single women be expected to marry the King, by having them rebel and challenge the tradition.
Roxanne Gay doing the prologue was, I thought, very important. Not only for authenticity in the plot but for representation and opportunity, particularly in the comic book industry.
All these conflicting parties from different backgrounds offer an awesome conclusion, where people of all types passionately argue all different agendas in building a new nation. It gives weight and importance to the meeting and offers a fascinating peek into both the populations Coates understands, and what type of nation he would build. I think it’s so amazing that he’s got such great diversity ingrained into his thinking and his comics. It’s also reflected in the staff that is behind the creation of the books, very diverse.
4.59/5.00 Great Graphic novel, also very representative in a field that could use it. Worth analyzing and pouring over. Beautiful all around