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| Black Panther |
“So why do we need a Black Panther?”
By Glenn Peppers 2-19-2018
Over the past two days, I've been reading and seeing video clips of white people protesting and causing disturbances at movie theaters showing the film, Black Panther! One movie theater in Maryland shut down it's theater that was showing the movie, claiming technical difficulties. Whereas another theater switched movies on it's movie goers. Showing instead that new 50 Shades of Gray sequel!
I hate to say it but, things like this is perfect proof that there is a good portion of white america out here that is just not happy unless it is vexing or terrorizing black folks, in some way shape or fashion! It's like there's some perverted need to do so!
As Author James Baldwin once said...
"What white people have to do is try and find out in their own hearts why it was necessary to have a nigger in the first place, because I'm not a nigger,"
James Baldwin
Even if it's just a movie (so I’ve heard it put), such a movie like Black Panther essentially will and does boost black pride! It's as if the whites who oppose a positive movie like Black Panther are saying, "How dare you have any sort Pride about yourself! How dare you know, believe and realize that are intelligent! How dare you believe that you are unique, and are cultured, and majestically beautiful!
In the minds of many racist in america, black folk are not, and were not suppose to be anything but slaves and mindless work-horse punching bags, and sex slaves! Thus again the James Baldwin quote noted above!
Hollywood for far too long has depicted black folk in such a dull dim light! And also for far too long we've tolerated it! The barons of hollywood have from the start of cinema's history in america projected a boatload of negative and demeaning images upon us; showing us to be a people, and a culture that was never really us... At ALL!
Further more, I know personally, I've never known anyone in my family, nor any of my friends, or any black adult in all my cultural lexicon of human spirits around me who looked or acted anything like any of the negative characters hollywood created as their idea of what black people were and are and should be to them, during and before the Jim Crow era of america!
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| Stepin Fetchit Jim Crow era actor |
All the while, at the same time, hollywood was socially engineering black culture to be just what racist hollywood, and all those in power who shaved this country a drunken goatee wanted us to be! Many times in the process, Violently Holding us Down and Back when and if necessary! Never missing a turn at Pulling the Raines of Power, and flexing their muscles by revealing their cruel nature through all manner of punishment and pain! Even to the point of killing us! Can you say Greenwood, Oklahoma, 1920?
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| Greenwood, Oklahoma. Black town destroyed by Whites |
If this one movie of Black Panther (based on a comic book character) can make anyone this angry and resentful that black people are (and have most always been) aware that we are intelligent and cultured, worldwide. Then hold on to your seats!... There's more to come!
Look around you! See the many achievements and the advancements (that barely get an honorable mention in media) of my brother's and sisters, despite constant discrimination, and the endless abject cruelty and all the untold murders; along with all the untold decades of denial of our basic Human Rights! Yet despite all this, "Still we Rise!"
Some may see Black Panther as a small accomplishment in the raising of black pride and awareness, saying “It’s Only a Movie!” Though in essence, in being a movie, Black Panther in all actuality is a huge step forward in Self-Awareness through media! Especially for our youth, and for our culture.
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| Afrocentric, Poised, Confident |
It is a movie that shows us in a much truer light than the one that rest just outside of hollywood's century long string of bullshit treatment of blacks in cinema! This longtime negativity in mass media concerning blacks is one of the main reasons america has remained so polarized! So defiantly divided! We reflect what we see and hear in Media! We all become and are what we see and hear on TV, in the movies, and by the music we let into our heads!
Despite the monsters who sit upon their butts in these divisive record and film companies, releasing this endless array of sensory overloaded garbage. Chock full of negative stimuli; calling what they produce, music and cinema. Our children watch and listen to this rot for the better part of the day and night.
Positive film-works like Black Panther is a start as far as how the world should be viewing us as a people! And how we should being viewing ourselves! It is a Turning Point!
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| Black Panther in action |
Film projects like Black Panther is that very starting place on a heritage road map that can lead to a clearer direction, and more defined path for other film makers to follow. Reverting and/or turning our children's brains from pulp brain drain, into Great Thinkers!
Hey, I'm like this! If it takes a Sci-Fi comic book hero come to life to raise the consciousness level of Black America, than so be it!
Two Jewish guys did the same thing, around 75 years ago at DC Comics with Superman! In 1933, Writers and artist, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster still in high school created a comic book hero they named, Superman! In 1938, they sold the Superman concept to DC Comics (Then Detective Comics)!
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| Superman from the 1950's TV show |
And as the intro dialogue to the Superman television series in the 1950‘s goes, as read by expressive voiceover man, and former actor from the 1930's and 40's "Bowery Boy's and Eastside Kids" movies; and former Detroit afternoon movie host from the 1960’s and 70’s, actor Bill Kennedy read these lines, which became iconic.
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| Actor, Voiceover man, and former Detroit TV Movie host of "Bill Kennedy at the Movies." Bill Kennedy |
Bill Kennedy made it sound like Superman was a really big deal! And to be honest about it. For many people back then, Superman was a really big deal!....
The Superman Intro Voiceover:
"Faster than a Speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to Leap tall buildings with a single bound!...
...Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a Plane! It's Superman! Yes it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands. And who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and the American way!"
During a most oppressive time for Jewish folk in America, and in Germany back in the 1930's, on into the 1940‘s, this intro on print, and then later on made famous on the television show in the 1950's, and in the movies. The Superman Intro became somewhat of a mantra, and apart of americana!
The very idea of a Superman was something Siegel and Shuster fantasied about! So they created him! And in so doing, this built their pride and set a precedence with themselves, and with people!
Superman made two young Jewish high school kids feel inclusive with an america that didn't look favorably upon Jew's, Italian’s and Irish folk, as well as many other immigrants coming into Ellis Island, looking for their american dream!
Be it only a comic book. Superman was someone on a dream and fantasy level that Siegel and Shuster, and eventually their children could believe in! Someone who could be impervious to pain! Someone who could fly! A Superman who was also someone who could by just putting on a pair of dark rim glasses, hide in plain sight, and at a moments notice, turn into a Superhero hero all at the same time!
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| First edition of Superman under Action Comics in 1938 |
Superman was someone who'd make a difference in not only Siegel and Shuster’s lives, but the lives of other Jewish kids and many other people of all walks of life, worldwide who felt left out, yet dared to believe that they could be more than what society told them they could be! Even if it was all only on the pages of a comic book!
Black Panther brings this same sense of Cultural Valor and Pride to black folk that Superman did for those two young disenfranchised and seemingly powerless Jewish youths back in the 1930's!
To Siegel and Shuster, and Especially to Stan Lee, and that wonderful Marvel Artist who first created (along with Stan Lee), and actually drew Black Panther back in 1966, Jack Kirby I say thank you!
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| Wakanda Forever! |
And to everyone reading this article I say to you, Wakanda Forever!... Long Live the King!
Glenn Peppers 2-19-2018
