I don’t know about y’all, but ever since I saw the first movie trailer of Marvel's “Black Panther” a few months ago, February 16th could not get here soon enough. We’re just a few days away from opening day, and I feel like a kid that’s been anxiously waiting for Christmas to come, and Christmas is taking its own sweet time getting here. I’ve bought my tickets. I got my outfit together. (Well, I think I do. But after seeing pictures of folks attending the world premiere of the movie, I may have to go back and tweek the outfit a bit … lol.) I am ready for some “Black Panther”.
There
has been so much excitement about the release of the movie that you’d pretty
much have to be dead not to have heard or seen anything about it. And judging from all the buzz and the records
the movie has already broken with ticket pre-sales, “Black Panther” will leave
its mark on Hollywood and will become one of those iconic films in the Black
community that everyone will quote, would have seen at least 20 times, and will
be happily passed down to the next generation of young brothers and
sisters. For real. I feel like it’s gonna be THAT big.
I
know I definitely have my reasons for wanting to see “Black Panther”.
1.
The lead character, Chadwick Boseman, is from my hometown of Anderson, SC. No, I don’t know him personally, but because
of my hometown connection to him, I will support anything this brother
does. I’ve already seen other movies where
he’s played the lead character (“42”, “Get On Up”, and “Marshall”). So there is no question that I’ll be at the
theater with bells on to see “Black Panther”.
Go Chadwick!
2. Have you seen the cast? Oh!
My! Damn!!!
A
couple of my favorite actors of all time is in this movie. Angela Bassett?!?!? Forest Whitaker?!?!? That was enough for me. But then, they had the nerve to add Sterling
K. Brown, Michael B. Jordan (with his fine self), the “Get Out” dude (Daniel
Kaluuya), and Tupac’s mama (Danai Gurira)?
What?!?!? AND … Lupita
Nyung’o?!?!? Lemme tell you how much I love
Lupita. I have a picture of her on my
Black girl magic wall at work. That’s
how much I love Lupita Nyung’o.
3. This film is going to showcase Blackness is
all its excellence. We aren’t going to
be portrayed as slaves, servants, drug addicts or dealers, deadbeat parents, prisoners, or pimps and
prostitutes. In this movie, we are kings
and queens. We are super heroes. We are warriors. We run shit.
Okay?!?!? There are a couple pictures
from the movie featuring all the Black women warriors and protectors walking
behind the king with a “You bet NOT touch him” look on their faces. Those photos literally gave me goosebumps the
first time I saw them. Those pictures
aren’t just metaphors or fiction. That’s
real. Black women have fought and
protected our kings and families for forever.
That protector spirit will be on full display on the big screen, and I'm all here for it.
5. The excitement that has spilled over in the
Black community is palpable. For months
now, we have all talked about and shared our excitement over the release of
“Black Panther” in conversation and on social media, and I love it!!! I plan on taking pictures at the theater in
front of movie posters or displays, and I can’t wait to see all the “Black
Panther” posts on social media after the movie hits theaters. This isn’t just going to be a box office
smash. “Black Panther” is going to be a
cultural event. And during Black history
month, too?!?!?!? February 2018 will go
down as the biggest and blackest Black history month EVER!!!!!
I
don’t know if I’ve made myself clear, but just in case I haven’t …
I.
CAN’T.
WAIT.
WAKANDA
FOREVER!!
