Why Black Panther Matters!

Black royalty graced the world on Monday night when Black Panther premiered in the sunny Los Angeles. Actors, actresses, and attendees were decorated in various African patterns and outfits. The red carpet was a true celebration of Blackness.

With the beginning of Black History Month among us, the world premiere of the film set Black Twitter ablaze. People were planning out their outfits and the perfect theaters to see Black Panther. So you may be wondering why it appears that Black people everywhere are speaking about a fictional action hero as if he is their relative. And I’m here to tell you that Black Panther and the other characters are our brothers, fathers, uncles, mothers, sisters, and even, a representation of ourselves. Black Panther allows us to see ourselves as being capable of saving the world at a time when negative images are still seeping through the storylines of films and television shows.

So, no Black Panther isn’t just another superhero film. It’s a bold statement to the world. Before actually hitting the screens of thousands movie theaters, the film has become “Fandango’s top-selling superhero of all time, outstripping the ticket sales of Warner Bros/DC’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (opening B.O. of $166 million).” And it’s only up from here because the movie doesn’t come out for two more weeks.

Congratulations to Ryan Coogler, Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and the rest of the cast for their success on this groundbreaking movie.

BRB. I’m heading to Waanda… And of course, Happy Black History Month!