Is “Black Panther” one of the best movies of the year?

We recently biked through dark cold streets late at night in Beijing to see “Black Panther”.  I want to reflect a bit on what I understand this movie to be saying.

The worst violence and criminality of the movie is Black on Black. There are two White antagonists. One of them is a completely crazy psychopath who knows about the power residing in Wakanda, is afraid of it on a subconscious level, and will do whatever is needed to obtain even a small piece of it. He dies a violent death at the hands of the Black antagonist.

The other White actor views himself as a Great White Father, who can save the world. In reality he could be compared more to an inconsequential teenager, who has a place at the table, but is basically sidelined by his elders. He is a CIA agent. (haha) He definitely is a sympathetic and good character who does his part, but he is not at all an important actor in the story line. Although certainly there are other White governments and organizations represented, they are not cogent to the action.

As stated, the main story line revolves on Black on Black violence. The antagonist has used the White system to gain his skills. He has worked to learn how to defeat the powers in Wakanda who have completely failed him. He seems to have also formed the idea that much of the current situation should be eradicated if we want a better world.  He views himself as the rightful ruler of the kingdom. He is angry, and very powerful, ….and probably crazy on some level.

Then there is another whole group of big angry blunt Black men, who live by themselves isolated in the mountains. No women here that I remember. Certainly no incredible women warriors like those who protect the main Wakanda civilization.  At first you only want to dislike them, but you realize that they will ultimately do the right thing in an overall sense: they find and preserve the king after his fall, and they come to the rescue at the end of the big final battle. They are not tactful, nor politically correct, nor necessarily want to extend themselves for others whom they view as having rejected them, but they ultimately have good hearts.

And of course there is the Wakanda citizens and royal household. These are gracious, incredibly intelligent, egalitarian, and competent people. They are very loyal to their country and have worked on preserving their home for generations. They have reaped many benefits. At the end of the movie they realize that they should have been more helpful to the less fortunate around them and commit themselves to do so. One assumes that this will change the world.

I think the point is that from the Black worldview these groups are some of the main participants in our world. There are angry, violent individuals who want to overthrow the system. There are whole groups who are misunderstood and viewed darkly, but who really are good people who mainly just want to be left alone. And then there are the powerful who perhaps are being called on to do more to advance civilization: Black and White. In my mind this puts simple things like kneeling at football games to make a quiet statement by those who have some power in a different light. 

It is tremendously presumptuous on my part to think that I understand in even the smallest way Black worldview, but I think things like "Black Panther" can at least open the dialogue so that we can all grow. 

Is “Black Panther” one of the best movies of the year? I have absolutely no idea at all. But I do think the movie can give us a deeper understanding.