A Black Panther Lives in All of Us
Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows. We cannot. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we, as brothers and sisters on this earth, should treat each other. Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.
- T'Challa - King of Wakanda (in Black Panther's final sequence)
It has been a long time since I first read about Black Panther in the comic books of the 70s and 80s. Like many of my friends and colleagues in education, I had kept up with the buzz on the movie since the early previews over a year ago. And yet, I was not quite prepared for how to process what I found so inspiring in the movie until recently.
There's so much to reflect on in terms of our roles as educators, and I wanted to write about it honestly and with a sense of emerging curiosity that I think any educator can emulate as we seek to understand the imagery, history, bias, and equity design needed to unpack the film.
Therefore, I decided to write this 5 idea listicle as a set of emerging ideas and key lessons for the Black Panther in all of us that I hope will get the conversation started in schools, universities, and workplaces that support education + equity across the globe.
Note the Previews Compared to the Film - In all of the previews I viewed at the movie theatre before the film started, the contrast of white male heroes and actors in the previews compared to Black Panther is astounding. Black Panther's all-black cast made me think a lot about my kids who were seeing the film for the first time as well. How often do they read about multi-cultural heroes? See films cast that way? Listen to music and see images that depict multiple archetypes? What is my role as a parent in ensuring that happens? Well, luckily I've got a blended family and a very equity-focused wife who makes sure that is a part of our home programming, experiences, and visits. "And", I left the movie in deep reflection on my role as a white male to do more in this arena with the work I do in education. Simply put, more kids of all backgrounds need to see images like these from RCA in Atlanta after the movie.
Black Panther Lesson: Choose and seek counsel on content for your students and staff that is rooted in diverse imagery, characters, and perspectives. Here's a helpful link that has gone viral since the movie. Want to debate it? Improve it? Build your own? Do it now.
The Role of Women - this past week in conjunction with seeing the film, I also had a chance to participate in a great equity design collaborative workshop with the Next Generation Learning Challenges team. The session was led by Carolina Hill, also a big Black Panther Fan, and I was amazed at how she helped shape our group's understanding of bias, gender roles, and equity-based design of all kinds. I found myself throughout the film reflecting on her session. Women as scientists, leaders, and protectors were all new imagery for me at scale and via their impact in the movie. It made me think a lot about my daughter and her role in the world. Am I doing enough to expose her to all kinds of women, literature, and experiences?
Black Panther Lesson: Read and share research about how boys tend to get more attention in classrooms and in organizational settings. Develop protocols to share air time, group norms, and leadership roles. Think about your power to populate boards, teams, and committees as well.
Empathy for Kids + Kilmonger - One of the movie's most powerful characters is played by Michael B. Jordan. While incredibly easy to dismiss him as a psychopath, you have all the tools you need in his story progression to intervene right now on his development with the children you serve. School leaders who are not sensitive to race-based discipline bias, or who have not led their teams through communication and restorative justice strategies will be hard-pressed to escape responsibility for the trajectory of the young Erics of the world. Do other factors play a role such as parenting, the environment, society, etc.? Of course. But as educators, we must continue to be vigilant on attitudes, biases, and practices that can help turn the tide for a sense of belonging, community, and a child's connection to a significant adult.
Black Panther Lesson: Learn about resources for what makes for an effective culture, inclusive practice, and protocols that can be life-altering to a child. Moreover, work with the adults in your charge to understand their life experiences, unique talents, and contributions to your workplace. Here's a toolkit for workplaces to optimize in 2018.
A Focus on Activism - from the early images in the film in Oakland to Nakia's liberation work with communities in Africa, the film fuels the tension of protection of our tribe versus activism on behalf of others. I could not help but think of the #neveragain movement and the recent speech by Emma Gonzalez. I think coming out of the film it is important to both discuss and structure learning around civic discourse, activism, organizing, and our Democracy. Talk about real-time teaching and learning for relevance. Now is the time. Don't miss the chance as an educator or leader to wrap it back into your workplace and connect with the "why" on the reason we all do this work.
Black Panther Lesson: Lead from your seat, with others, or with your organizations. Blog, speak, message, share on social media and decide to do programming on civil discourse and action towards the things that will make the world a better place. Simply put, have a take and stand on it. What type of organization will you be? An old Wakanda or new Wakanda choice is within your purview. Act on it.
Cede and Act in Terms of Privilege + Power - The movie's characters are all managing their history, culture, and their sense of what is right and wrong. The movie is incredibly human on this level from the King and his father, to relationships among warring factions, to the potential of the possible from stepping out of the shadows. Those of us who have immense privilege should listen more, cede our time to others, and cede action when needed to form a better outcome. In addition, we should mind our privilege and use it to uplift, engage, hire, structure, and organize opportunities that previously went to family or friend tribe members only.
Black Panther Lesson: We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe - The Black Panther is in All of Us.