'Black Panther' and Why Representation Matters
In two years, during Black History Month, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will make its first foray into diverse storytelling with a film that boasts an almost entirely African/African-American cast - Black Panther, which is the story of the African king of a fictitious country, Wakanda, that is extremely technologically and financially advanced, who doubles as a superhero that inhibits the spirit of a panther to fight evil. Obviously, this is a pretty freaking big deal. Why, some might ask, does this matter? Why can't black audiences, or any audience members of color, relate to white protagonists? And the answer is that we can - and that we've been forced to do so for hundreds of years. There's nothing wrong with casting white actors at all. But in a case like Black Panther, where the cast is almost predominantly black excellence, a feeling of victory can be usurped. There's been a real surge of blackness this year in the media. From activism like ...