The Superhero Traits of Everyday Black Men
By James Holly, Jr., David Brown, Uthman Olagoke, Micah Thorpe
As Black men in engineering, we have had to reconstruct our racialized and gendered identities to navigate educational and professional spaces. Because we have done so successfully despite many challenges, we have come to conceive of our Blackmaleness as a superpower. The idealism and fantasy of superheroes have long been a mainstay in Black cultural representation; we use Black superhero men to discuss humane constructs of Blackmaleness that counter hegemonic notions of masculinity. Black superhero men are not quintessential examples of Black masculinity; they become powerful symbols when their attributes overlap with our conceptions of Blackmaleness, rooted in actual Black men who have influenced us. Attending to our cultural, social, and emotional needs has enabled us to be fully human and pursue the same for others. In this piece, we highlight traits of Blackmaleness that have contributed to our successes and how some of our favorite characters embody these qualities.
Static Shock’s Authenticity
A central superpower of Black men is authenticity, which is acknowledging and embracing one’s true self. Few superheroes embody authenticity as effectively as Virgil Hawkins, also known as Static Shock. A Black high school student from the fictional city of Dakota, Virgil gains the ability to manipulate and generate electricity after exposure to a chemical called Quantum Juice. This power enables him to fly using a metal disc, create electrical force fields, and control electronic devices. With his superhero abilities, Virgil becomes Static Shock and uses his powers to combat villains and address social justice issues such as school bullying, gang violence, pollution, and racial equity.
In the animated television series, “Static Shock”, which ran for four seasons on the WB network in the early 2000s, Virgil sometimes struggles to balance his dual identities as a Black high school student and a superhero. However, in this struggle Virgil finds his authentic self by standing firm in his truth as both Virgil Hawkins and Static Shock. In “Sons of the Fathers” (S1E8), Virgil confronts his best friend Richie about his father’s prejudiced remarks and educates him on the impact of racism. This empowers Richie to confront his father and affirm his friendship with Virgil. In “They’re Playing My Song” (S1E5), Virgil collaborates with a local Black DJ to create music that celebrates Black culture, appreciating its importance to him and his community. Virgil Hawkins is a prime example of how Black men can navigate life’s complexities. Being authentic can be challenging in a world filled with competing priorities such as academic and professional success and the pressures of capitalism. Despite the complexities of life as a Black teenager navigating school, family, and superhero responsibilities, Virgil finds his voice by embracing who he is and those who matter most to him. He fights for his community, stands tall in his truth, and brings positive change to both his community and the city of Dakota.
Green Lantern’s Astuteness
The DC Comics superhero Green Lantern’s astuteness as a leader portrays an alternative depiction of Black masculinity. For instance, John Stewart, an ex-marine from Detroit, is featured as a founding member of the Justice League television show from 2001–2006. As Green Lantern, John possesses a power ring that gives him his super powers of flight, force field, and energy construction. John’s abilities with the power ring reflect his imagination and willpower, which mirrors our applications of those traits to problem-solving as engineers.
Aside from his superpowers, what sets John Stewart apart from other superheroes is his discernment and insightfulness. These attributes differ from the hypermasculine portrayal of Black men by reforming our imagination and understanding of Black men’s intelligence. In the three-part Justice League season one finale ‘The Savage Time,’ John’s ring runs out of power and he is left to his own devices behind enemy lines. Using his cunning to blend in, John eventually teams up with other allied soldiers to stop bomber planes from attacking the U.S. John leads the soldiers in finding the hidden plane hangar and sneaks his way onto the enemy bomber plane to take it down from the inside. This episode highlights John’s situational awareness and ingeniousness, which we assert is an asset of Blackmaleness that is more common than depicted in the mainstream media. John Stewart’s intelligence and discernment set him apart as a leader in the Justice League and positively redefines Blackmaleness not only for young Black men but for all who are socialized to view us through criminalization and as a potential threat. Practicing situational awareness is a critical skill for Black men navigating social and professional life and advancing as leaders.
Miles Morales’ Compassion
Inherent to the character of a hero is compassion for others. Compassion is a strength of the most masculine Black men, primarily directed toward family and friends. In the world of Marvel Comics, this compassion is embodied by Miles Morales of the Spider-Man multiverse, examples of which can be found throughout the two films: ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ and ‘Across the Spider-Verse.’ Early in ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ Miles gains his power after being bitten by a radioactive spider. He later attempts to save the Prowler, a henchman of the main villain Kingpen, who is revealed to be his Uncle Aaron. Recognition of his enemy’s humanity and potential absolution, a consequence of Miles’ compassion, complicates the simple dichotomy of good versus evil. Though inexperienced, Miles continuously risks his life, which is another testament to his compassion. His most remarkable feats are performed in service to others, and he masters his new power in the climactic final battle when needed most.
The second film, ‘Across the Spider-Verse,’ finds Miles one year after he has acquired his powers. His father arrives on the scene at the end of the first battle, unaware his son is Spider-Man, creating a moment of compassion and vulnerability for both characters. Miles struggles with hiding his superhero identity from his parents, often expressing his emotions through art, primarily featuring his late Uncle Aaron and friend Gwen Stacy. The film ends with Miles battling the entire Spider-verse to protect his father, eventually swaying several other Spider-Men to his cause. Few heroes show as much compassion as Miles Morales, a trait not often ascribed to Black masculinity. He serves as an example of one under-appreciated, nevertheless ubiquitous attribute of Black men, which benefits family and community life.
Clarion Call
We centered Black superhero men as a paradox to suggest their normalcy and realistic attributes are the most dope and compelling aspects about these fantastical characters. The scientific wonder of their superpowers is appealing to us as engineers, but their humanness resonated most. We urge Black men to reclaim our capacity to be authentic, astute, and compassionate; these are essential to our ability to truly show up as ourselves rather than who others expect us to be. As Black men, we must consistently exhibit the superhero traits highlighted here and others, lest we diminish our humanity further than by outside forces alone. Although there ‘ain’t no such thing as a Superman’ we possess the requisite characteristics needed to uplift our communities and the larger society toward liberation. Brothas remember, with great power comes great responsibility.
James Holly, Jr. is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and core faculty member within the Engineering Education Research program at the University of Michigan. His scholarship focuses on the ways disciplinary knowledge (e.g., mechanical engineering) reinforces racialized power.
David B. Brown is a Research Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is an avid consumer of science-fiction/superhero media. His research interests include materials characterization, energy transport/conversion, and thermal management of engineered systems.
Micah A. Thorpe is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. His research interests include batteries and solid-state mechanics.
Uthman Olagoke is a Ph.D. student in Design Science at the University of Michigan. His research interests include human-centered design, systems thinking, and the equitable transition to decarbonized energy and transportation systems.
