WaCoinda vs. Marvel?

by Kendrea Camacho

Kendrea Camacho
Sep 3, 2018 · 4 min read

Does Marvel have the right to lay claim to a similar sound or better yet; a MOVEMENT of a people?

Marvel Characters, a subsidiary of Marvel Comics has filed an extension for discovery over possible trademark infringement believing that the WaCoinda name may infringe their trademark and impact their brand equity. Because the names sound similar.

Could there be a storm brewing in the universe between a corporate giant and group of people committed to uplifting a community and provide a viable solution that hopes to eradicate economic disparity and oppression through technology, education, shared resources and unity of purpose?

There are research articles that suggests that there is a 237-year wealth gap between the Black community and that of our European descendant counterparts here in the United States. It is upon that premise that led me to the Black Coin Group. The Black Coin Group was the initial Facebook creation of its co-leaders and founders Lamar Wilson and Lafe Taylor. The concept was and is still very simple. How do we leverage, financial literacy, technology and our shared resources to eradicate economic disparity within our community?

As with any great movement, it quickly evolved to a community whose power base became decentralized from its two main leaders to a people who through transparency, patience, consistency, and togetherness would become empowered to leverage our gifts and talents into a collective to elevate our community and begin find ways to close the wealth gap as one family.

From that basis and on a very organic Facebook Live that “WaCoinda” was born. It was a humorous greeting from one of our members that resonated within the group and by a collective vote, the Black Coin Group found it’s rally cry of a movement. “Wealthcome to WaCoinda!” A sound and a phrase that would herald a MOVEMENT of a people years long and still often closed out of the economic prosperity of a numbered few and far fewer of African descent.

WaCoinda is one of the fastest growing economics group on Facebook. Its focus on collaboration and financial literacy has empowered and often provoked its members to “be better and do better.” A MOVEMENT that is pioneering a blue print for all those that would listen and lend their hands to a plow to create generational wealth and opportunity for our respective families and for all those who would follow.

So where does Marvel fit into this story? Great question. It doesn’t. Now I’ll be the first to tell you I was enthralled, excited and challenged by the movie Black Panther. It was amazing to finally see the affirmation of strong Black people in leading roles as heroes, heroines and positive influencers.

However, as the credits waned, and the music subsided; we as a community were no better off then than we were before we spent the $20 to indulge in a few hours of fantasy.

One would be delusional to argue the point that WaCoinda and WaKanda off the tongue doesn’t sound similar. But does one have the right to object to a similar sound when the connection of the two begin and end there? Wakanda a mythical place, gives no direction on how to collaborate together to eradicate economic oppression within the Black community or offer a blueprint that through financial literacy and a shared common goal could uplift a people from financial obscurity through hard work, patience, consistency and togetherness.

Marvel, while I appreciate your need to protect your brand; this endeavor seems fraught with peril and the possibility of a public outcry of miscommunication.

Why would the monolithic giant Disney/Marvel find it necessary to destroy a MOVEMENT of people that helped you garner an estimated billion dollars within our community when WaCoinda only seeks to serve these very same people by leveraging a shared purpose to eradicate the economic oppression that has long run rampant in our country?

Again, I ask the question. Does Marvel have the right to lay claim to a similar sound or better yet; a MOVEMENT of a people? From this VERY loyal WaCoinda member my resounding answer is NO.

Marvel what side of history will you find yourself on in this story? Will it be affirming the spirit of a MOVEMENT to empower the population base of the people that has made your movie a juggernaut by simply choosing to stand down OR will you pursue and risk your brand and goodwill within the community over a sound?

Marvel, I hope you choose the former than the later.

Want to find out more about this thriving Community? Check us out on Facebook!

#IAMWACOINDA #WEAREWACOINDA

Kendrea Camacho
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