Black Panther, Our Superheroes And The Power Of Imagery

Black Panther, Our Superheroes And
The Power Of Imagery

In the 1940s, Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Clark, husband and wife psychologists, conducted a research test concerning dolls and children’s attitudes about race. The doll study became a reference to the psychological effects of segregation in the lawsuit of Briggs v. Elliott (1952), which became one of five cases included into the civil-rights hallmark case of Brown v. Board of Education.

In the famous “doll” study, the Clarks found that black children consistently picked the white dolls because they deemed the dolls that resembled them as inferior and not as beautiful. These results had a resounding effect on the Supreme Court, which in 1954 ruled in the Brown case that segregation was not only immoral, but psychologically damaging.

Twelve years later, Marvel Comics debuted the character Black Panther — the first black mainstream superhero — during the apex of the civil-rights movement.

My introduction to the Black Panther was in the early 1990s. My brother and I used to accompany my mother to the supermarket. Unlike most errands, this one was our favorite — not because we loved grocery shopping, but because that supermarket had an aisle full of comic books. It was in that aisle where my love of comics manifested, and where I discovered the Black Panther.

Black Panther is the title of the king, chieftain, spiritual leader and protector of the fictional African country of Wakanda. According to the comic, 10,000 years ago a very large meteorite landed in the territory of Wakanda. The meteor was full of a metal called Vibranium, a substance not from this planet. The metal could be processed so that it was indestructible, making it the most precious metal in the world, and thus making Wakanda the most sought-after piece of land in the entire world.

However, unlike in real life, where Africans were overcome with colonial interest from Europe, the Wakandans guarded their borders furiously — even from other African nations. As a result, they closed their borders, shut themselves off from the rest of the world and guarded their most precious resource.

In their seclusion, Wakandans became the world’s most technologically advanced society — in secret. According to comic-book lore, they are at least 100 years ahead of modern society in terms of technology and social conditions. In fact, Wakanda had cured all known diseases, including cancer. It is a technological utopia in the middle of Africa — an Eden, if you will.

I can’t help but imagine what could have been if the real-life continent of Africa had been able to keep its natural resources, to monetize them and, in return, cultivate its many nations free of Westernized influence.

What’s most remarkable about the creation of that world is that it shows readers what an African nation could look like free from European colonization. Also, it displays what a true egalitarian society looks like. Yes, this society is led by a king, but women are in no way secondary characters. The fiercest warriors are the Dora Milaje, a group of women sworn to protect the king.

Furthermore, the smartest person in Wakanda, a society that is full of intellectual geniuses, is a young woman named Shuri, the sister of King T’Challa (Black Panther). The other notable observation about this comic is that it was created not from the mind of some radical black activist, but from the minds of two white men, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

So why is all of this important?

As the Clark psychologist team discovered more than 78 years ago, children can transfer feelings of empowerment or inadequacy based on what represents their interests. This has a profound effect on how children feel about themselves, which is why characters such as Black Panther and Wonder Woman are so important. It allows groups that are often ignored to find themselves in the middle of the superhero conversation. Superheroes, whether in real life or in fiction, help establish an imprint of positive thinking.

This is why the images of Harriet Tubman and Barack Obama are so incredibly important. Our children need to see that people who do amazing things look just like them. I like when my 4-year-old daughter plays with her Spiderman action figure, but I love how she identifies with her Wonder Woman action figure. It’s like she instinctively recognizes the importance of the Wonder Woman character. Black Panther will do the same for her, and millions of children of color.

I can only imagine the young child who will see the images on the screen and be blown away by the story and beauty of Wakanda. The best part about it is kids do not have to go with a parent to the grocery store to experience it. They just have pay for an admission ticket when the “Black Panther” film opens on Feb. 16.

Wakanda forever!

Bro. Camara Williams, ESQ.
Founder/ Managing Partner
The Williams Trial Group