Abby Coney-- Wakanda Forever

In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the untimely death of King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) leads to the nation of Wakanda facing the threat of invasion and resource exploitation by other countries in search of the rare metal vibranium. The main antagonist, Namor (Tenoch Huerta), threatens war with Wakanda after discovering that the country is protecting Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), an MIT student who's invention of a vibranium detector threatens the security of Namor’s underwater civilization, Talokan. As the film follows these conflicts, it also pays tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who pioneered the Black Panther role.

A mural of King T'Challa and drummers at his funeral

Shuri in the ancestral plane, surrounded by fire

Film Significance

Aside from paying homage to Chadwick Boseman, Wakanda Forever emphasizes many important aspects of African and Mesoamerican (in this case, Maya) cultures. The film showcases the physical aspects of these cultures through clothing, music, etc; while also showcasing metaphysical/spiritual traditions and their impact on the characters. The film also represents the impacts of colonization through Wakanda and Talokan, with much of the film revolving around Wakanda’s fight against other nations' attempts to pillage their stocks of vibranium. For the antagonist Namor, his actions are spurred by his desire to protect his people from falling victim to violence from colonizers in search of resources (namely vibranium). In its entirety, the film's message is that in order to move forward, subjugated groups must avoid being pinned against one another and instead develop an understanding of one another in order to reconcile and heal from grief and generational trauma.

Discussion Questions:

What are the tangible impacts of colonization on our society today, and what do you think is the best approach to take when presenting them in media?

Based on the trailer, what elements of African and Mesoamerican cultures stick out to you the most? Did anything in particular resonate with you?

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