Wakanda Forever.

One day I walked in on my nephews having a conversation about superheroes. I wasn’t paying close attention because they have a tendency to perseverate and I was on the verge of hangriness. But one comment stopped me in my tracks:

“[Insert classmate name here] told me that Spiderman from Spider-Verse isn’t a real superhero because he’s black.” 

I whipped myself around, fully triggered, nearly scaring my nephews in the process, “Whaaaaaaaaat?” 

“Listen, I don’t know your [classmate], but let me tell you something. Spiderman from Spider-Verse is ABSOLUTELY a superhero. Matter of fact, he is one of THE BEST superheroes. Don’t you EVER let ANYONE convince you that he isn’t. Got it?” 

With shocked looks, they responded, “Got it, auntie.”

Fast forward a few months later. I was in the mall with my mother, headed to see one of our favorite Mac Makeup store employees who has a knack for picking out things that both of us like. Riding up the escalator, we passed two young black men. After the standard black people head nod, I went back to reading something on my IPhone when my mother tapped me on the shoulder, and prompted me to look back. 

The two young men had crossed their arms on their upper chest and yelled “Wakanda!” Instinctively, we crossed our arms and yelled back “Forever!” 

Black Panther wasn’t just a film, its living history, its a movement, its a dream, its a safe space, its hope, its celebration, its legacy.

And if it didn’t strike a chord with you, that’s ok. Maybe that’s because you’ve always seen yourself in superheroes. Maybe that’s because no one has ever vilified your skin tone. Maybe that’s because the world has never told you that you couldn’t be royalty. 

Thank you Chadwick for being a hero amidst your life storm. You showed the world that we have always been kings and queens. 

Wakanda Forever.