Afrofuturism

Most of what is known as pop-culture is an arena, not largely rid of passive white superiority.
The comics scene has been the same, with one major exception that has shot into full global view
lately - Black Panther. In a comic book world dominated by white superheroes (and
superheroines), Black Panther stands out in having its chief protagonist as a black man from the
fictional African country of Wakanda.
This is part of a larger ideology/genre called Afrofuturism, a way of reimagining the future with
the black man at the centre, subverting racial norms. The movement originated around the 70's
with popular African American artists and musicians adding a futuristic touch , along with a mix
of mythology and vivid colors that represent the culture of Africa. Black Panther the movie is the
latest and most popular work in this long line.
[[As a brown man, I further felt troubled due to lack of representation in either cinematic
universe - but the truth might just be that the racial spectrum as such in not fully respected in the
world of popculture and the 'black' panther must be understood to be representative of all 'other'.
Thus, a resistive reading is that pop culture creations like Black Panther do take the focus away
from the White man, but only to the extent of a biploarity being created - with nothing else in
between. ]]

Just to know how powerful a statement the movie is, I'm enclosing two of my favourite dialogues
from an earlier, 2010 Black Panther animated series.

"...an annual meeting of the world's top economic powers. Third world countries aren't normally
invited to real meetings like these. That's what the UN is for, a place for the powerless to whine
about the white man."

"..I understand your frustration in dealing with a black man who cannot be bought with a
truckfull of guns, a planefull of blondes and a Swiss bank account."

_Abhijith Menon