******Spoiler Free******

Black Panther is probably the Best Black or Superhero or Action movie I have ever seen.

I say this because it’s probably the only movie I have seen where every single BLACK Character was sooooooo Black, Strong, Intelligent, Passionate, Reasonable and a fawking bad ass. I mean everybody is an inspiration from the Villain (Killmonger) down to the Kings Guard (Dora Milaje). Everybody is passionate, fierce and very authentic. It’s a Joy.

Have you ever watched a movie that gets better after you’ve seen it?

Well that has been my experience with Black Panther. I just keep realizing all kinds of things I miss. It is great.

Having said all that, this post is less about the movie and more about the inspiration that I drew from each character. I will try to describe these with no spoilers. Although some may slip out…

Wakanda:

Yes, this is indeed a character in the movie. The fictional Nation stands in as that beacon to what we should strive to be as a people. It’s a community that began as fractionalized tribes that have been united under a king with a true community Identity.

It also doesn’t hurt that it’s probably the richest nation in the world. That’s been sitting on technological marvels for centuries. Just black excellence personified.

It’s inspiring because the only time I’ve seen a black kingdom depicted nearly to this extent was in “Coming to America”.

Coming to America was a big inspiration to me as a child. But Wakanda is an entirely different beast. The music, the colors, the outfits all were amazing and felt authentic. The culture is on full display and I loved it!

Dora Milaje:

Man o Man first of all the idea of a King or Boss being guarded by women has been seen in other movies, shows, etc.… But when have you ever expected that to be effective?

Well these women not only are extremely dangerous, fierce and disciplined they are also loyal, effective and extremely beautiful.

I cannot wait for our kids to see these women in action. They are Black Girl Magic personified and I love them.

That leads me to their Commander

General Okoye (Danai Gurira):

Michone killed it. She was perfectly cast as the leader of the Dora Milaje. And her strength was apparent as soon as she entered the frame.

What I liked about her character the most is that she screams strong black women without the stereotypical angry black women angle. She respects her king and country and is extremely loyal to both and it shows. I imagine our little girls and woman will gain inspiration from her. She is a superhero without powers.

M’Baku (Winston Duke):

This man manages a people who are isolated within an isolated/hidden country. He has immense pressure on him and you can tell that he is eager to usher his people into the light. Hence his challenge for the throne.

I admire his courage. He tried it, failed and then made the adult decision to do what was right.

Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o):

She reminds me the most of a bunch of the women in my life. That one women in your city who is independently waging war against social justices. I’ve known women in every city I’ve lived in (Around 7).

That’s Nakia and she is a beast at what she does and has sacrificed much to do so. She finds strength in her independence and you never feel like she’s disloyal. Probably the most “Human” character, very relatable.

Shuri (Letitia Wright)

Show Stealer. Not only is she arguably the most intelligent person in the Marvel Comics Universe (MCU). She is extremely funny. Provided the most comic relief in the movie.

She is inspirational because it shows kids that you can be Smart, Different and Proud whilst also being black. Its a beautiful thing and executed perfectly.

Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan):

We have had a lot of villains in our movies…

…There’s Shonuf from The Last Dragon, Simon Caine from Meteor Man and Stephan from Django. But man I doubt there has ever been a villain like Killmonger in the Black Panther.

As a black man I don’t know of a more relatable villain. I mean it was extremely hard not to empathize with him because everything he said in the movie was REAL. The only thing that kept me from rooting for him in the movie were his harsh actions throughout the movie. But man you can’t fault him for that either considering the circumstances. His performance was fantastic and just black. I loved all of the Oakland references too.

I was extremely inspired by his focus. He worked his way all the way from the bottom and almost reached his goal. And Michael B Jordan has inspired ya boy to hit the gym.

Also I loved the interactions between his character and T’Challah. Just imagine a kid from the hoods in Oakland growing up to challenge an all-powerful African king and all that entails. The slang, swagger all that. And then consider T ’Challah’s Regalness it’s just fascinating stuff.

T’Challah (Chadwich Boseman):

The Glue that makes it all fit. Most people will walk away from the movie thinking that some of the other characters outshined the main protagonist Black Panther. And they may be right. But….

….They are definitely wrong. Chadwich Boseman was able to play a superhero who’s every decision cannot really be questioned. He plays a king who has character and the respect of his people in a world where the African Kings on the forefront are portrayed as corrupt and heartless.

The strength of his acting allowed the other stars to shine next to him and I think he just made everybody better. Everybody hit their marks and Bozeman was in practically every scene. And just the Honor and Integrity that he showed without was just an inspiration.

Of every Character I personally most identify with T’Challah. Because I feel like a man burdened with the responsibility to help his people. And if you are reading this I think you probably feel the same.

In Conclusion folks I loved the movie (if you couldn’t tell). I also love the event that we have made out of it. Not because it’s a black movie but because the movie actually deserves it. I cannot see any reason why you and your family won’t enjoy this movie so please support.

Lets continue to get better together! #Being a Better Black Man

P.S. Go ahead and listen to the Soundtrack for Black Panther it is FIRE and sooooo appropriate.

This weekend I watched an excellent News Expose by VICE called “A World in Disarray” (Link Here). It’s a special report aimed at showing you those regions in the world that could spark WWIII and how the U.S. is involved. Needless to say we are close to serious conflict on many fronts and shit could pop off at any moment.

What you also see in this documentary is the extreme loss of civilian life during these conflicts. You see cities and families destroyed and it made me realize something…

… If WWIII were to pop off and the conflict lands on U.S. soil I would have ZERO idea what to do. I haven’t the slighted idea how to survive during a war. I would be just as hapless as those Rwandan/Sudanese/Syrian refugee. And I would also be relying solely on the government/military to survive.

I don’t like that and you shouldn’t either.

I also came to the realization that as a whole folk don’t have the skills to survive in a post war world. What if there was a nuclear war? What if your state was besieged? What if half the population died in a year from a Virus and civilization as we know it ends?

Yeah I don’t know if id survive either. All of the skills I have are mostly only useful in a modern society where conflict doesn’t exist on the level of the Middle East for example. I imagine that most of us don’t have those old world skills of survival and that’s a problem.

Here are things you need to know in order to survive if the world ends:

Step 1: Take Everything into Consideration

1. Know the area.Is it safe for you move into a different territory? Does it have fallout shelters or reliable sources of supplies? Of course, planning ahead can be most reliable because if a person knows everything about a place, it can be an advantage point. The following are the two common environments of survival, urban and rural. Both are discussed in the following steps.

2. Be aware that urban cultures prove very difficult living conditions during prewar, wartime, and postwar times.The huge population living in a city can’t always run from war. Sickness, disease, low supplies, and no food or water make conditions terrible to live in. However, there is an advantage to being in an urban area; empty homes and buildings provide concealment and cover, and they can hold large camps for soldiers or civilians caught up in the violence. You can also build anything from materials found or recycled from homes, which can protect a city or build more camps when the area is under siege. Disadvantages include:

Panic is obviously an issue, and while ridiculous and unorganized, it happens. (Applies to early hours.).
There may be hundreds, possibly millions, of dead people; this presents a problem for health, and it smells too. (Applies all the time.).
The place is a magnet for survivors. (Applies after things have settled down.)
The debris left behind is a recipe for a very noisy day. (Applies after things have settled down.)
Looters are everywhere. (Applies all the time.)

3. Know what to expect in a rural environment. This is where food is made, raw materials are produced, military bases are built, and the greatest weapon mankind has made, nukes, are in the rural zone, one of the most safest places you can be (for a while). The low density makes it ideal for survival, but the skill and knowledge that people know in the rural zone makes it difficult for urban survivors, unless, you can match that. The advantages include:

Food is produced here, thus allowing a source of food. (Applies depending on conditions).
Bombs have very low chance of hitting here, unless a nuclear silo is present. (Applies rarely, depending on conditions.)
The raw materials are usually produced here. (Applies depending on conditions.)
Somebody is bound to know some sort of skill that aids survival. (Applies depending on area present.)

4. Be aware of the disadvantages of the rural situation too. These includes:

Living near a nuclear silo. (Just get out of there.)
Looters that may or may not have experience on the rural zone. (Applies depending on conditions.)
An ideal place for any sort of survivor. (Applies all the time.)

5. Consider the population. The population, or pop. for short, is an important factor. Start studying the people who live in your area. Are they psychopaths? Kleptomaniacs? Survivalists? Extremists? Whatever they may be, learning the nature of the people is important. You never know if they have some sort of skill you don’t know or maybe they have a history of something that can be potentially lethal.

6. Plan things out. History shows that a well thought out plan often has success. Through demonstrations, it is proven true. It holds true to this day. So start planning for the incoming war(s). Take in everything in consideration. The following are examples:

The resource is abundant in the pre-war phase, so you need to take this while you still can. Find as many people you trust as you can.
So little can be found in the war zone. You need as many supplies as possible to survive, but don’t focus on just gathering supplies; focus on finding a reliable source of supply production too.
Somebody needs to have a skill on something, otherwise the group can’t survive enough.

Step 2: Arming Up

Good, now for some reason(s), your area is fit for survival. You need to start hiring somebody to get started. This section will help you benefit from early preparations.

Start hiring. You need people to help you survive a war. Sometimes you need someone who has a survival skill you need.

1. Adopt brand new skills. Skills that can give you invaluable survival abilities are very important. The following recommended list of skills are useful to learn:

For Home: Maintenance, management, first aid and construction.
For fighting others: Gun knowledge, close range experience, and tactics mastery.

2. Get your weapons. A weapon is essential for the war. Remember these words: Simple weapons are better than paramilitary weapons.

3. Be aware! Anything can happen, for example: Russia and U.S. have territorial disputes over the Antarctic Ocean. Even the tiniest thing can trigger a World Wide War that spans over Europe.

Step 3: What to do in The War

The war has just begun and you have successfully managed to put together a team of survivalists. Now, but the question is: Do you have what it takes to survive?

1. Get out of the way. The war begins, shots and screams fill the air, and death begins raining upon all like arrows shooting down to Leonidas and the 300 Spartans. The first hours of chaos shall be marked with mass looting and shooting. The best way to escape such madness is following Survival Rule 3 and eventually, you would be V.I.S. of chaos.

2. Survive! Surviving the first hours is just the beginning, the real chaos ensues when the enemy versus your country begins, and there is almost no telling if the war will end until then, survival is a must.

Form alliances. Whether friends, family or enemies, forming alliances will help your survival, they will help you in times of need and you must help them in times of need.
Keep in contact with your guys. Your country will do as much as possible to help you, and your team when they occupy the area. Take as many resources with you before they are pushed back by the enemy.
It is the most riskiest attempt to gather resources, it is the most likely way of you getting killed by a man/woman/child and worst of all, it can put your head on a “Wanted” poster.
Resistance against the enemy. The most likely way to be killed by a machine gunner of your enemy. Resistance can be deadly if you’re living in an area occupied by the enemy.

Step 4: After the War

You survived. The war has been won or lost, either way, it is the best time for you to start a new life somewhere. The aim of this section is to restore your sanity, and help you survive in a brand new harsh terrain.

1. Make sure of it.Is the enemy really gone at all? Before you raise your hopes up, try checking it first. Many people who thought the war was over often were met with death. So try to check first.

2. Restore your sanity. Restore it by doing things you did before the war. Such as reading a book you liked before the war started, limiting your stress, having some fun with the surviving members of your group, having alone time and overall, having some fun. Anything that can help you calm your nerves after long fought war.

3. Make your decision. Although you may have survived, it is not yet over. Like WW2, some soldiers of your country or your enemies are still combating the survivors (For example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_holdout) on the destroyed terrain. You need to choose whether to stay and fight or run and hide. You could consider the benefits and problems that might/may occur but it’s your decision, and you must choose one.

Make your plan, again. Depending on your choice, a plan is required to pull your action to battles. Just be careful. You’re not the only veteran.
You did it! You survived the war! Rejoice! A war of a magnitude this large may never happen again, or will it?

Courtesy of Wikihow – How to Survive a War

Month: February 2018

Lets Talk About Black Panther (The Movie)