SPOILER ALERT! This piece contains spoilers for the film Black Panther. Proceed with caution. SPOILER ALERT! - - - - The film Black Panther is quickly becoming a global pop cultural phenomenon as we round out it’s opening “President’s Day” (read Colonizer’s Day) weekend. There is so much to say about it but this isn’t an in depth critical analysis of the merits and flaws entire film, though we have our opinions about it. As Xicanxs, and non-black folks of color, we want to read, amplify and celebrate the voices and perspectives of black folks. +++ For us it came as no surprise that we identify so strongly with the antagonist of the film a character that many quickly and without hesitation labeled a villain. N'Jadaka, son of Prince N'Jobu aka Erik Stevens bka “Killmonger” is like many of us who have lost the connection to our ancestral homeland and is trying to make sense of the injustices of the colonial world we've inhabited for the past 500 years. Knowing that Wakanda exists and with it the tools he believes could change the power dynamic between the colonizer and colonized, he makes it his life long goal to become the king and use his power to help Black people around the world. Born in Oakland, this revolutionary attitude was passed down by his father who witnessed the destabilization of the Black community through the State repression and the influx of drugs and guns into communities by the US government. N'Jadaka/Erik sees another option for Wakanda, to help the world rid itself of the colonial powers that continue to oppress the Diaspora/Africans and to rise up as a power base that leads the world in a new direction. His methods can be considered problematic, but in the end it is his vision that leaves us imagining what a world where we have a champion on our side, one born in Oakland (home of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) is leading an uprising that will liberate us from the brunt of colonization. +++ Over the past decade, under the banner of Dignidad Rebelde...read more in comments. #oaklandforever #blackpanther #wakandaforgever #wakanda #killmonger
