Monday Open Thread | Countdown to Wakanda

Posted on February 5, 2018 by rikyrah


I can’t even express how excited I am for Black Panther.
I have my own Countdown Clock.
It’s ELEVEN DAYS UNTIL WAKANDA!

2/16/2018
Do You Have Your Tickets?

ICYMI,
The Black Panther Premiere was last week.
To say that it was utterly fabulous would be an understatement.
I have to say this..Marvel Studios didn’t scrimp on anything. It was amazing looking.

 

Black Panther: An Allegory of the World Wanting Blackness but Not Black People
Carolyn Hinds
Yesterday 9:15am

When it was announced that T’Challa—THE Black Panther—would become an official part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, social media lit up with excitement. People who were familiar with the comics were buzzing about which iteration would be translated to the big screen and how he would fit in with other characters, such as Captain America and Iron Man. Then, in 2016, Captain America: Civil War was released into cinemas worldwide and audiences went wild, as did I.

Here we had two black men who were representative of the richest and most advanced nation on Earth: the father—T’Chaka, the king—and his son T’Challa. As the plot of Civil War advanced and T’Challa interacted with the other characters, one thing remained constant: T’Challa was constantly shown respect and, in some instances, deference because of his position as a king. The only person who seemed to forget to whom she was speaking was Natasha, but she learned quickly enough to mind her manners. Yes, I cackled with petty glee when the Dora Milaje security chief told Natasha to “move or be moved.” But I digress.

………………………..

Similarly to countries like Egypt and empires like the Ottoman, Wakanda is a land unlike anywhere else because it is developing technologies advanced far beyond what the world knows, and it’s mostly because of a young black girl, Shuri, who is the head of technology as well as T’Challa’s sister. As everyone in the West looks to Tony Stark as a pinnacle of intelligence, Shuri is creating technology that would make Tony blush in shame. For goodness’ sake—Shuri made it so that T’Challa’s panther suit automatically recharges by absorbing the kinetic energy from striking bullets. Your angsty fave could neva.

There’s a saying that goes, “The most disrespected person in the world is a black woman,” so it’s quite interesting that in the MCU, the most intelligent person is a black woman. This is significant because in our society, black women are constantly denigrated while the work we accomplish is co-opted; we are insulted for our looks and fashion while nonblack people copy them without shame. And since appropriation is a trend that never seems to go out of style, we have two white men seeking to steal Shuri’s technology in order to claim it as their own and turn it into a bastardized version as a means to bring destruction for their own selfish gains.

Some articles:
‘ Black Panther’ Premier Gloriously Celebrates African Royalty

Sooo I Don’t Know Shyt About Black Panther. I Can’t Wait to See It With Y’all, Though

The ‘Black Panther’ premiere just put every other red carpet in Hollywood to shame

This is from Lupita’s father:

Black Panther: The superhero movie just about to hit Africa
Feb. 03, 2018, 12:00 am
By ANYANG’ NYONG’O @anyangnyongo

In a few days, Kenyans will be watching a new movie called Black Panther, in which three of Africa’s leading actors in Hollywood will appear: Daniel Kaluuya from Uganda/UK, Danai Gurrira from Zimbabwe/US and Lupita Nyong’o from Kenya/Mexico.

…………………..

The question is: Why did Coogler, the director of the movie, find it useful to discuss these issues through the vehicle of a film like this? My answer is very simple. A well-done movie that can hold the attention of the audience from the beginning to the end, with suspense and entertainment, is a very powerful visual weapon with which to educate people. This is one such movie. But what is the education all about?

Remember that Wakanda is not a real place: It is an imaginary place. Just imagine an African nation that was never colonised, had its own civilisation and decided to develop on her own steam by empowering her people without leaving the women behind. What would such a nation be capable of doing, especially when it discovers that it has some precious minerals that it can sell to the outside world and use the wealth to modernise society without destroying her own culture and way of life?

Sometimes we think that we have two choices to make in Africa. Choice one: We maintain our traditions and cultures and stay backward for ever. Choice two: We modernise by becoming westernised and forgetting our cultural traditions which, by their very nature so we think, are stuck in the past. The experience of the Wakanda people teaches us otherwise. There are really no two choices. The choice is simply one. Given that we are who we are, how do we improve our life chances in this world by getting the best out of science and technology and getting to the top of global civilisation? This is a story about leadership, systems, laws, culture and succession. It is a story about legitimacy, loyalty, betrayal and the role of women. This is a story about youth and technology. This is a story about human values. It is a story about community and teamwork.

“Black Panther” Los Angeles Premiere Red Carpet Rundown

Don’t think that representation on screen doesn’t matter. Look at the joy of these young people.

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52 Responses to Monday Open Thread | Countdown to Wakanda

  1. rikyrah says:
    February 5, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    Yes, the MLK Estate Did Approve That Trash Dodge Super Bowl Ad

    Anne Branigin
    Today 1:40pm

    Updated Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, at 1:40 p.m. EST: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S., which owns Ram, has made it all too clear that Martin Luther King Jr.’s estate was well-aware of that Super Bowl ad and was “a very important part of the creative process every step of the way.”

    The statement was quoted in the New York Times and tweeted out by NBC News’ Nadine Comerford:

    The statement added that Ram was “honored to have the privilege of working closely” with the King estate. The licensor of King’s estate, which approves the use of his words and likeness, is Intellectual Properties Management Inc. Dexter Scott King, the iconic civil rights leader’s youngest son, is the group’s CEO.

    Reply
  2. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 1:12 pm

    Supreme Court won’t block Pa. ruling that state redraw congressional boundaries immediately, in decision that could help Democrats

    SIE-EYE AT THIS LEDE. how about helping voters who want to decide on who they’d like to vote for.

    The Supreme Court denied a request from Pennsylvania Republicans to delay redrawing congressional lines, meaning the 2018 elections in the state probably will be held in districts far more favorable to Democrats.
    Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who hears emergency requests from the state, turned down the petition without obvious objection from his colleagues.
    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled last month that the state’s Republican legislative leaders had violated the state constitution by unfairly favoring the GOP. Although there are more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state, the GOP holds 13 of 18 congressional seats.

    https://s2.washingtonpost.com/3e983a/5a789fcbfe1ff634eb13b766/YXdhcmVvZjQxMUBnbWFpbC5jb20%3D/1/10/3a569220054ddfca9b49a25bb24a75b5

    Reply
  3. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    I’ve been doing this.

    Reply
  4. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 12:08 pm

    Here Rik, adding to BP post

    Reply
  5. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 12:04 pm

    NEW GIF!!

    Reply
  6. rikyrah says:
    February 5, 2018 at 11:42 am

    I got more than 100 pages of internal FBI correspondence from the week of the Comey firing. It all shows one thing: the White House was lying. It also tells a fascinating story about the Bureau’s reaction. https://t.co/VBkVn1Kgiw

    — Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) February 5, 2018

    Reply
  7. rikyrah says:
    February 5, 2018 at 11:39 am

    Britain’s Health Secretary:

    I may disagree with claims made on that march but not ONE of them wants to live in a system where 28m people have no cover. NHS may have challenges but I’m proud to be from the country that invented universal coverage – where all get care no matter the size of their bank balance https://t.co/YJsKBAHsw7

    — Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) February 5, 2018

    Reply
  8. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 5, 2018 at 11:31 am

    Surprise acceptance to the Ron Clark Academy

    Reply
  9. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 11:30 am
    Reply
  10. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 5, 2018 at 11:27 am

    Ron Clark Academy dancing teacher busting all the right moves

    Reply
  12. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 11:22 am

    So Tom Brady really does not get an opportunity to visit the WH this time.

    Reply
  13. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 11:15 am

    We need to crown Bob Mueller (AKA BOBBY III STICKS) an Honorary Black Panther.

    Wouldn’t it be GRAND if Muller locks down that interview before February 16, and indicts that orange POS on opening day of the movie?

    Reply
  17. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 10:47 am

    Constitutional Crisis in Slow Motion
    Charles Blow
    Donald Trump will destroy this entire country — its institutions and its safeguards, the rule of law and the customs of civility, the concept of truth and the inviolable nature of valor — to protect his own skin.

    We are not dealing with a normal person here, let alone a normal president.
    This is a damaged man, a man who has always lived in his own reality and played by his own rules. When the truth didn’t suit him, he simply, with a devilish ease, invented an alternate reality. There were no hard and fast absolutes in his realm of rubber. Everything was malleable, and he had an abundance of gall and a deficit of integrity to push everything until it bent.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/04/opinion/constitutional-crisis-in-slow-motion.html

    Reply
  20. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 10:05 am

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlbY1tGARUA

    Reply
    • Liza says:
      February 5, 2018 at 11:34 am

      Interesting.

      When I first heard about this commercial, I thought it was disrespectful. But now that I see it, I would have to say it was not intentionally disrespectful. It is obviously a high end production.

      However, it is ill-conceived. You do not use the words of Martin Luther King to sell cars. Period. We cannot allow our American culture to disintegrate to the point where absolutely nothing is sacred. And that is where this commercial goes, perhaps unintentionally, but the end result is the same.

      Reply
  21. Ametia says:
    February 5, 2018 at 10:02 am

    Loving every thang about this Black Panther post, Rikyrah. Hubby & I are counting down with you.

    Reply
  23. Liza says:
    February 5, 2018 at 9:07 am

    Ha ha ha… I didn’t watch but I love it that the Patriots lost.
    https://twitter.com/RVAwonk/status/960365479524216833

    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      February 5, 2018 at 9:58 am

      Congratulations Eagles! So happy for all Eagles fans,
      HA HA HA HA Seriously, like they were the only three that every play the game, sans the other Patriot players.

      Reply
  26. yahtzeebutterfly says:
    February 5, 2018 at 8:52 am

    Please take a look at this GIPHY page of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. I think its great!
    https://giphy.com/nmaahc

    https://media.giphy.com/media/xUOwGkthdo6QXT2g7e/200.gif#1-grid1

    https://media.giphy.com/media/xThtamwaamwi6TrUnS/200.gif#12-grid1

    Reply
  27. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 5, 2018 at 8:51 am

    In Loving Memory of #TrayvonMartin. We honor his life. A hateful racist system denied this child justice. We will NEVER forget how the American justice system failed him badly.

    Happy birthday, Trayvon!

    Reply
  28. rikyrah says:
    February 5, 2018 at 8:44 am

    New letter shows Trump adviser bragging about advising Kremlin
    02/05/18 08:30 AM—UPDATED 02/05/18 08:34 AM
    By Steve Benen

    As part of the coordinated Republican pushback against the Russia investigation, Donald Trump’s GOP allies have become heavily invested in Carter Page. That was almost certainly unwise.

    …………………

    Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page bragged that he was an adviser to the Kremlin in a letter obtained by TIME that raises new questions about the extent of Page’s contacts with the Russian government over the years.

    The letter, dated Aug. 25, 2013, was sent by Page to an academic press during a dispute over edits to an unpublished manuscript he had submitted for publication, according to an editor who worked with Page.

    “Over the past half year, I have had the privilege to serve as an informal advisor to the staff of the Kremlin in preparation for their Presidency of the G-20 Summit next month, where energy issues will be a prominent point on the agenda,” the letter reads.

    Reply
  31. rikyrah says:
    February 5, 2018 at 8:40 am

    OMG someone overlayed that ridiculous Dodge/MLK ad with what King actually said about capitalism and car commercials pic.twitter.com/9IB528mCyt

    — Astead (@AsteadWesley) February 5, 2018

    Reply
  32. rikyrah says:
    February 5, 2018 at 8:38 am

    Black people cant kneel and play football but MLK should be used to sell trucks during the super bowl. Unbelievable.

    — Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) February 5, 2018

    Reply
  34. rikyrah says:
    February 5, 2018 at 4:39 am

    Good Morning,Everyone 😄😄😄

    Reply

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