Black Men Protesting Black Panther 2 = Agents of Patriarchal White Supremacy
(Image courtesy of Marvel Studios)
By TaLynn Kel
I recently heard Black men were planning to boycott Black Panther 2 if Shuri dons the Black Panther mantle. They even started a hashtag movement, #RecastTChalla. I wish I were surprised or disappointed, but I’m not. People don't see Black MaGes as peers. Instead, we're reduced as tools they discard on their path to greatness; this is social cannibalism. Western culture bases progression on humanizing the few at the detriment of many; in this case, Black men are (once again) attempting to overpower and undermine Black women.
I wish I were surprised or disappointed, but I’m not. People don't see Black MaGes as peers. Instead, we're reduced as tools they discard on their path to greatness; this is social cannibalism. Western culture bases progression on humanizing the few at the detriment of many; in this case, Black men are (once again) attempting to overpower and undermine Black women.
Be they oppressed by race, gender, ability, etc., people will reinforce their societal advantage at the expense of the most marginalized. Cisgender women oppress transwomen, thin people oppress fat people, able-bodied people oppress disabled people, and, in regards to this Black Panther 2 boycott, Black men oppress Black women.
Watching Black men undermine a movie about an imaginary land where Black people not only avoided colonization but flourished, all because the mantle of Black Panther might pass to a Black woman, is incredibly disheartening. They are willing to destroy the franchise, leaving the Marvel universe with minimal representation of Black women. They don't see Black MaGe's success as a win for Black people; they see it as a loss of submission. Rather than support Blackness as a collective, Black men see powerful Black women as a threat. As far as they're concerned, they should always be at the forefront, and Black MaGes should be in the back, helping them be great.
The Type of Black Man Who Boycotts a Black MaGe Superhero…
Black people are shit on globally. Yet, interracially, patriarchy and its cousins' homophobia and transphobia rampage rather than uniting. Toxic masculinity is celebrated by Black men like Boyce Watkins and the late Kevin Samuels, while numerous Black male podcasters and YouTubers denigrate femininity. There are constant demands for marginalized Black genders (MaGes) to submit to empower Black men.
Despite Black marginalized genders building community, creating aid networks, and protesting, society constantly portrays us as the worst possible contrast to whiteness. As a result, everything we do is undermined, ridiculed, stolen, and undone by those who benefit from our invisibility and silence. For example, the Kardashians built entire collections by stealing our bodies' aesthetic and intellectual property while Black men defended them. And blamed Ma'Khia Bryant for her murder when she was protecting herself from harm. This world has taught me that, as a Black MaGe, I am an acceptable loss, and I should understand that my safety is always second to protecting Black men.
“Do you think you’re better than me,” was a question I was frequently asked on dates. It was always over innocuous things like opening my door, offering to pay for my meal, or living independently. Beating them at a video game resulted in lectures on how to be “more feminine.” My lack of deference was interpreted as a refusal “to act like I wanted a man.” I was an adult being scolded by Black men who should have been my peers. But, I didn’t stay in some unspoken role that reinforced their perception of dominance in our interactions. These men would shame me for any indication of my autonomy. It would make me so angry. I needed the audacity to fight for the right to make decisions for myself in the presence of a virtual stranger. Every date became a war zone where the right to be me was the reward.
"You will not replace us" is a common slogan for white supremacists, and this sentiment is woven into the Black Panther 2 "Wakanda Forever" conversation.
Intentionally maintained carefully cultivated hierarchal cannibalism. It's the amerikkkan way.
So, no, these calls to Black men to boycott Black Panther 2 is not a disappointment if you've been paying attention. But, unfortunately, the people upholding this ideology are acting as agents of whiteness, and all they show is that the seeds of white supremacy have successfully taken root.
TaLynn Kel is self-published author, cosplayer, and speaker located in Atlanta, GA, whose cosplay has been featured in the New York Times and on NBC. An avid cultural critic, TaLynn has published numerous essays on her intersectional identity as a fat, Black, femme geek and has been a speaker, panelist, and guest at universities and comic and fan conventions throughout the United States.
Update: This article was revised on 9/26/2022. The petition ““Recast T'Challa To Honor Chadwick Boseman In the Black Panther Franchise” was used out-of-context.