meta ab erik's life in harlem and his time at MIT ?<333
Oh shit, my first meta. Iâm pretty fucking excited, so thank you for this. Real quick clarification though: Erik was actually born and raised in Oakland, California ( which is funny because its actually referred to as the âHarlem of the Westâ due to the influence of black music/art/culture )
Growing up, Erik learned that there were 3 types of black folks that lived in West Oakland:Â
The first, the blissfully ignorant, were the group most often seen portrayed in the media ( worldstar hiphop culture ) They were all about â that life â, glorifying the hood lifestyle and expressing little to no desire to ever leave. They didnât seem to realize or even care that they were trapped in a downward spiral of oppression and reappropriation.
The second were the â lost souls â, the brothers and sisters sort of drifting through ghetto Limbo. They were the ones that knew exactly what sort of hurdles and walls stood blocking the path forward, but didnât know how to clear them â they were the ones that loved the hood that raised them but knew that there were more opportunities in the world outside. This group spent a lot of time prepping for the future, doing what they had to to provide a way for the next generation. These were the trappers, strippers and single moms working three jobs ( or sometimes all of the above ) that did it not necessarily because they wanted to, but because sometimes there was just no other way.
Erik was in the third camp with the rest of the enlightened â those that woke up every morning and looked out the window and felt that ACHINGÂ sensation that something wasnât quite right. They were the ones that questioned their place in life. In society. The ones that fought tooth and nail to educate and elevate themselves â to arm themselves with the weapons necessary to fight back against their oppressors, and show others how to do the same.
Erik had his father to thank for his inhuman drive and unquenchable thirst for knowledge â even as a young boy, NâJobu did everything he could to teach his son about his rich heritage. Despite his actions, the wayward Prince expressed nothing but pride and love for Wakanda â for ALLÂ their people across the world, really. While he clearly adored the alight and awe in little Erikâs eyes when reciting the marvels and wonders of their homeland, he spent equally as much time instilling Erik with a love for Black/African culture as a whole.
This made it somewhat difficult for the boy as he grew older and began to witness firsthand the sort of atrocities his community suffered on a regular basis from both internal and external sources. Black on black violence ( gang warfare. drive bys. home invasions. ) Police brutality. Hate crimes. So much toxic bullshit that it made him sick to his stomach, sometimes. It just ATE HIM UP, knowing that there was all that suffering and hardship â knowing that Wakanda could make it all go away in the blink of an eye.
It used to keep him up at night, the anger. Gnawed at him like a dog chewing an worn down bone. It seeped into his muscles, into his fibers.
And it only grew when his father died.
Erikâs time at MIT was surprisingly uneventful, if you could believe that. While he got into a college a year late ( did some time in juvenile detention in Maryland. Got held back a grade. ), he would end up graduating summa cum laude with a Ph.D in Engineering and a MBA ( Master of Business Administration ) â meaning your boy was smart as fuckÂ
He went through those years with a laser honed focus, only occasionally allowing himself a distraction or two. The idea was to learn everything he could about the USAâs pending technological advancements, as well as give himself a better idea of how to utilize Wakandaâs own futuristic treasure trove.
( There is alot more to say here considering the culture shock factor but im tired so im gonna shut the fuck up )
