In the spirit of Black History Month, I think it is only fitting to give my review of the award-winning movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film picks up after the saddening death of King T’Challa, leaving his sister and mother to deal with the principles of leadership and grief. The movie was released in November of 2022 and is now available to stream on Disney+. The film was highly anticipated yet has received mixed reviews amongst many communities.
As a Black woman, I can only give good reviews for this film. It shows the complexity of the grieving process through the eyes of a Black woman. In the movie, Shuri is found in many positions of grieving, yet she is expected to pick up and be an image of strength while internally suffering. This story is empowering, especially for a Black woman who is not used to seeing other Black women navigate positions of power.
Many argue that the movie’s plot depended heavily on deaths and audience emotions. To this, I have to say that a film like that is essential in today’s age, especially among POC communities. Minority communities have been taught a negative narrative surrounding emotions, which hinders our communities daily.
Outside of the storyline, this movie’s production process is also commendable. This movie was filmed while trying to navigate a pandemic, adjusting to the loss of one of the main actors, and changing the script to still tell an authentic story. This movie has lived up to the many awards it has received. If you have not seen this movie, I recommend you see this powerful and encouraging movie and form an opinion of your own.