Shedding Light

Yesterday I had the chance, finally, to see the Marvel movie Black Panther. I cannot recommend it highly enough, for both the way its crafted, and more importantly, for the messages it contains. Super heroes fight for the best way to preserve their African heritage – coincidentally having escaped colonialism – and share their advanced technological knowledge for peaceful purposes – or not.

The best analysis of the film was written here by Jelani Cobb : https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/black-panther-and-the-invention-of-africa

And there is some in-depth discussion of the religious background as well as the historic struggle for black liberation here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/03/07/the-surprising-religious-backstory-of-black-panthers-wakanda/?utm_term=.c6ce4bff0688

Marvel made me marvel, as simple as that, since its film spoke to the strength of women ( today is International Women’s day) just as much as the issues of division in the black community and the potential of hope for a more peaceful desegregated future. It was also a visual feast from landscapes to costumes to theatrical make-up, my eyes were hooked. Go see it, if you have not already.

The music was written and partially performed by Kendrick Lamar, our current most brilliant (and successful) rap artist whose music I have featured before. He is a deeply spiritual as well as religious contemporary artist, who does not shy away from expressing his thoughts on, doubts about and consolation through religion, most notably on his album Damn.

https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/jpzppp/kendrick-lamar-damn-spiritual-reawakening-religion

Film as well as music together provided a window to glimpse into possible worlds and towards a better understanding of culture(s) that have been artificially separated from us white folks in the pursuit of retaining the spoils of slavery.