6 BOCNEWS.com MARCH 2018 More Than a Blockbuster Record Black Panther, the blockbust- er, record making film that has grossed more than $244 million in its opening weekend in the US and over $400M internationally. It is the high- est-rated superhero film on record with a near-perfect 96 percent ‘Fresh’ rating. As an extraordinary film, it is commendable for more than just its box office success. This is a super- hero film with actual sociopolitical rel- evance and critical engagement with contemporary conflicts like racism. Director Ryan Coogler, and screen writer Joe Cole deserve high compli- ments for their efforts to sustain the comic books historical uniqueness to edgy political substance and unpopu- lar social consciousness. The Black Panther comic book origi- nated with Marvel creator Stan Lee who published the concept in July of 1966, but the expansion of its cul- tural substance and the development of its powerful characters like T’Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman), and his technical-diviner sister Shuri (played by Letitia Wright) were more cultivated by Black writers name- ly Christopher Priest and Reginald Hudlin. Writer, author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates was said to contrib- ute to what’s also remarkable about the film which is its historical por- trayal of a balanced leadership struc- ture with a strong matriarchy of Black women who embodied the power and nobility of Wakanda’s culture. Two of Wakanda’s fiercest warriors and lead- ership strategists were Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) who composed the Dora Milaje, an elite all-women’s protection force. But, let’s get into the substance of why the movie is seen as a brilliant cinematic display of art, thoughtful commentary and a contemporary dis- play of conscious social politics. First off, Wakanda is a wealthy, techno- logical and material wonder that most contemporary Americans could only see as a fictional reality of Africa. But wealth and technology are all relative expressions that change with time. There was a time period during the ancient dynasty’s of Kemet 4,500 to 3,000 B.C.E., that this African nation was the wealthiest, and most cultural- ly advanced technological civilization that the world had ever known. Today, what we experience as technological marvels will seem like silly putty in 100 years let alone in 3000 years. But, the scientific wonderment portrayed in this movie centers on the reality that the ancient civilization responsible for the construction of the pyramids is still a technological marvel that can- not be duplicated today. In 1978, the Japanese (Nippon Corporation) who can copy anything attempted to build pyramids with all types of modern equipment and they failed miserably. So, the mathematical or technologi- cal genius of our ancient ancestors is still a cultural reality of pre-eminence that the majestic nature of Wakanda represents. It is a historical identity of already realized potential but of course, why would White supremacy want that message attached to con- temporary African Americans. But be that as it may, the movie is actu- ally geared toward an audience that is conscious or even unconscious enough to see the realized potential. Secondly, what is the actual secret that the movie portrayed as vibranium that our ancient ancestors discovered to give them superior power over the forces of nature and their enemies. In my opinion, vibranium is a metaphor for the power of the spirit. Spirit is a vehicle of energy through which all life expressions are made possible. Our ancient ancestors knew and under- stood the quantum possibilities that existed in our realized potential to manipulate energy states which is our true identity. Our true identity empowers us and our false identity causes us to be impotent so it must be safeguarded. Our ancestors knew that our identity must be centered on our divine nature rather than our human or physical nature because that knowledge of self gives us the power to realize miraculous and extraordinary things. We know this because our ancestors documented these things in hieroglyphs on the walls of the pyra- mids and in our sacred writings such as the spiritual texts of King Unas called the Nuk A Neter. The writings stated that our iden- tity consists of three faculties that should be protected from worldly cor- ruption like vibranium at all costs. As such, our ancestors defined our true identity as omnipotence, omni- science and omnipresence. These are the three divine characteristics that God shares in degree with mankind that Christians know as the likeness of God. This identity and knowledge has always been our secret weapon and most valued asset against the enemy of truth and the opponent of realizing our highest potential. The beauty in the movie portrayal of our ancestral tradition is that they knew that preserving it maintains its incor- ruptibility and that ensures it will last for an eternity. And now, that’s the only reason why we have access to it 4,000 years later. But then of course, that all depends on who you think you are? This brings me to the next subject worth mentioning even though there were plenty of conversational gems in this film. The black-on-black violence between T’Challa and Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) is a historical conflict that in my view revisits the divide in the Black community that pits the Black man against the Negro. Killmonger was raised in Oakland, CA, which I get it is the birth place of the Black Panther Party (BPP) founded in October 1966. Killmonger seemed to reflect the radical militancy of the BPP even though, philosophically, the BPP centered more on self-sufficiency as the means of Black survival and cultural dignity. Whereas, Killmonger, seemed to be driven by the anger of victimization and the energy of ven- geance to just be a conqueror. He was trained in the art of the war machine and was determined to exercise power and control over the masses. But my question is, how is that nation- alistic agenda any different from the European conquerors? That’s brain- washed training that has eagles act- ing like chickens. Negros don’t know who they are because they accept ideas about themselves that don’t feed their true identity. So, they will eventually self-destruct just like the European Nations; Rome, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Trumps America. I can understand Black militancy as a facet of liberation but Killmonger reminds me of our contemporary Black youth who have great energy but need strategic partnerships. He was unconsciously self-destructive. His willingness to destroy the very ancestral tradition that established his birthright of privilege and capacity would have eventually been his undo- ing anyway. His reign would have just been White supremacy in black skin. What difference would that make functionally? The problem with Killmonger is similar to the problem with Black folks who don’t protect the integ- rity of the culture. The principles, laws, identity, customs and traditions that govern who we are and how we function matters because Black Life is more than just flesh and bone. T’challa’s commitment to preserve the culture through the law of Maat (jus- tice) spared his life. The message? If you live in harmony with the laws then the laws will protect you. So, how and why you become successful matters more than just being success- ful. Do it for the culture… because that’s what sustains you. Lastly, I didn’t like the quote in the end where Killmonger stated, “…our ancestors knew that death was bet- ter than bondage.” Guess what, miss me with that nonsense. If our ances- tors (Tubman, Turner, Nkruma, King, etc) decided to die instead of live for the restoration of our freedom where would we be today? Risking death for a greater good is noble but that’s dif- ferent from choosing not to live when you have the option to continue to fight for freedom and live for the res- toration of peace and prosperity. In the end, what I like most about the movie is that you don’t wait for a superhero or a savior to rescue you, you give birth to one! As long as we look outside ourselves for a deliv- erer, we will not take responsibility for delivering ourselves. Knowing who you are gives you the power to change anything. Randy Craven By Randy Craven CINEMA bocnews.com