Black Panther opened to record numbers. Everybody on the planet has seemingly succumbed to the magic of Wakanda and barring a couple of sex-tape related distractions yesterday, it has been all that we have been able to focus.
Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama even posted a tweet, praising the movie. On Sunday, Feb 19th she tweeted:
“Congrats to the entire #blackpanther team! Because of you, young people will finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen. I loved this movie and I know it will inspire people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes of their own stories.”
Congrats to the entire #blackpanther team! Because of you, young people will finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen. I loved this movie and I know it will inspire people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes of their own stories.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 19, 2018
Hollywood’s excuse for not delivering more movies with a full Black cast and Black directors is simply that people would not want to see them and that they would not make any money from them. Well, things have taken quite a turn, haven’t they?
Speaking to NPR about representation in the film industry, he said:
“There was a time in sports when black people weren’t allowed to play on professional teams, you know what I mean. You go down the line in every sport, there was a time when it was like a crazy idea to let a black person run out there and put a jersey on. You know, it was a time when professional teams would say, “We won’t make any money if we put a black person out there.” You know, it took that one to happen and then they looked around and was like, “Wait, we’re making more money — we gotta do this more. Oh yeah, people will cheer for a person who doesn’t look like them.” I mean, I know I watched superhero movies and did all the time.”
