{"id":10118,"date":"2018-03-11T16:11:06","date_gmt":"2018-03-11T20:11:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/everydayblackmatters\/?p=10118"},"modified":"2018-03-11T16:13:58","modified_gmt":"2018-03-11T20:13:58","slug":"want-learn-learn-women-wakanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/everydayblackmatters\/2018\/03\/11\/want-learn-learn-women-wakanda\/","title":{"rendered":"If You Want to Learn. Learn from the Women of Wakanda"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

When my husband and I saw Black Panther a few weeks ago, it was with eager expectation to see black women represented wholly different than the tired baby mama, Aunt Jemima, or slave narrative typically offered.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d heard great things<\/i> about how black women in the film were portrayed as strong, intelligent leaders\u2014and it did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

But I saw something even greater that I didn\u2019t expect: black women as key stakeholders in the call for peace.<\/h3>\n

Not just peace in their homeland of Wakanda, but in the entire world set in the Marvel universe. Their voice in the film, held a clear message: preemptive love. (Be forewarned, there are a few spoilers ahead).<\/p>\n

The diminished voice of women has always been clear to me. Even as a little girl, my intuition told me that something wasn\u2019t right. And especially as a little black girl, the feeling ached deep in my soul, that my voice and perhaps even my life didn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

My sneaking suspicions proved true over and over throughout my teen years. And now as I land solidly in middle age, I can acknowledge this reality: women\u2019s pain isn\u2019t taken seriously. <\/b><\/p>\n

Our claims of harassment or rape are often met as just that\u2014claims to be proven. We are typically guilty of our own abuse until we can prove otherwise.<\/p>\n

Women are often the peacemakers, probably because the damage of broken families falls heaviest on our shoulders.<\/p>\n

Women are often the voice of empathy, probably because we know its worth, given how little we receive it.<\/p>\n

Women often lead the charge at protests begging for peace, probably because we are most often the recipients of gender-based violence.<\/p>\n

Women are often the ones speaking out, raging to have our voice heard, probably because our opinions are the most disregarded, opposed, and tabled.<\/p>\n

In Black Panther, some of these subtle yet dangerous mindsets against women were not only flipped on their head, but redeemed. The women are somehow simultaneously the peacemakers, the voice of empathy, the protesters, and the (s)heroes!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Marvel Studios\u2019 BLACK PANTHER..L to R: Ayo (Florence Kasumba) and Okoye (Danai Gurira)..Ph: Film Frame. \u00a9Marvel Studios 2018<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fictional country of Wakanda is untouched and unknown by the outside world, let alone colonized. The country is rich in vibranium, a powerful resource that can be used for weaponry, but most importantly helped secure Wakanda\u2019s place as the most advanced civilization on the planet. For years, its people have lived in complete secrecy, known globally only as a small, desolate third-world country in Africa.<\/p>\n

Wakanda has no immigration policy. There is no immigration. Period. Wakanda does not #WelcomeRefugees.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

For as much as we might love to throw up our arms across our chests and throw up #WakandaForever on Instagram, the truth is Wakanda wouldn\u2019t let any of us in. Not a single one.<\/p>\n

Wakanda has secured its borders. They built the wall. They refuse to un-<\/i>build the wall. Wakandan leader T\u2019Challa flatly refuses to share their seemingly unlimited supply of vibranium or Wakandan technology with the world, even if it means evil can be eradicated.<\/p>\n

Until the women suggest they do so.<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
Marvel Studios\u2019 BLACK PANTHER..L to R: Okoye (Danai Gurira).Ayo (Florence Kasumba) Ph: Film Frame. \u00a9Marvel Studios 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The women of Wakanda aren\u2019t arm candy who are pushed to the periphery. Okoye is T\u2019Challa the King\u2019s general and head of the military. Nakia (his love interest), Shuri (his sister), and his mother & advisor Queen Ramonda all fully realized people who all have a say. And they use their voice to convince T\u2019Challa that Wakanda is better off\u2026shared.<\/p>\n

At first, T\u2019Challa doesn\u2019t listen\u2014an accurate portrayal of living in the tension.<\/p>\n

The storyline is brilliantly left open for further development of Wakanda\u2019s future impact, as they begin to cautiously reveal themselves to the world.<\/p>\n

If you want to learn how to wage peace with strength, dignity, and honor, look to the women of Wakanda.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\/\/<\/p>\n

This post is shared with permission, from Preemptive Love Coalition<\/a> where it first appeared. Written by: Grace Sandra.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\/\/<\/p>\n

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You can SUBSCRIBE HERE<\/a>. Don\u2019t forget to head to your email box & CONFIRM your subscription. Here\u2019s to many days of health and wellness as the WHOLE women God created us to be.<\/p>\n

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#AlwaysHope<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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