Wakanda Forever: Significance of Minorities in Films
On November 11th, 2022, Wakanda Forever was released in theaters. Initial lovers of the first film, are clearly hyped for the sequel. The trailer doesn't disappoint in the slightest. This is a tremendous win for minorities (specifically black people), who are under-represented in film.
The movie first opens up with a tribute to the actor, Chadwick Boseman, and his funeral. Not only do the other actors do a great job at connecting their own personal grief but wove it in with their characters. Additionally, we get a glimpse of African culture and traditions in regard to funerals and death. Unlike European and western civilizations, which wear black to mourn, it seems like African culture is accustomed to pure white garments and joyful celebrations. Continuing on with Wakanda's vibranium exposure to the new world, the queen and Shuri (T'challa's sister) try to fill in the shoes of their late king.
However, the opposition is presented when a weird, unknown species of merpeople appear. And most importantly, the man called Namor with winged feet. These merpeople seem invincible and are opposed to Wakanda due to the fact these merpeople also have vibranium in their civilization. The queen's choice to protect an innocent human from Namor caused a war between Namor and Wakanda. From there, the story unfolds with a message of peace, love, and perseverance through loss.
At first, when the merpeople are introduced, viewers get a stunning tour of their underwater kingdom: Talokan. Clearly, their people are inspired by ancient Mayan and Aztec traditions, such as ancient Mayan ball games, Mesoamerican greetings, and royal attire.
But what's the big picture?
Undoubtedly, the popularity and adoration for superheroes have existed since the comics and developed through the modern film with the Marvel franchise. When Black Panther was announced back in 2018, it was monumental. Black Panther busted through the doors of Hollywood with an astonishing film. The whole cast of Black Panther was African; this was unprecedented. There was an incredible impact on black people who loved Marvel. Representation is a huge topic in media. As previously mentioned, minorities were never the superheroes of the story, but now they were the stars.
Black Panther flipped the narrative.
Especially in western media, minorities are often pushed to the side. Luckily, the times have changed, and major companies like Disney note the importance of the film's representation. Every kid deserves to see someone like them on the big screen.
Western media (especially those in the states with huge diversity) should be inclusive to everyone, and display people of all races in their movies. With this burst of representation now, audiences feel seen, heard, and appreciated.
Princesses and superheroes are major roles for minorities, roles that only belonged to white people before.
I highly recommend seeing the movie; it was enjoyable from start to finish and really had you feel deeply for each of the characters. Everyone's stance was understandable. Namor, himself, has you rooting for him in some way after hearing his tragic backstory. Overall, Wakanda Forever has fulfilled the legacy of Chadwick Boseman, Marvel, and the original Black Panther.