Don’t Say, “Black Panther died,” Say He Returned to the Ancestors Instead
Yesterday, we received the news that Chadwick Boseman, the actor who played Black Panther, passed away due to colon cancer. Since then, parents have informed their children that Black Panther died. Instead of saying Black Panther is dead, we should tell our children Black Panther returned to the ancestral plain to be with his father, T’Chaka, and the other ancestors. Let them know that because he is a superhero, and an ancestor, he left us a legacy to uphold. Thanks to Chadwick Boseman, we have an immortalized Black superhero; who gifted us with important lessons to teach our children about what it means to be strong, to fight against colonization, and to uplift Black women. These lessons are ones that should hearten us in our grief over Boseman’s passing.
Black Panther taught us that we can be strong and compassionate. He was merciful to his enemy. He dealt Kilmonger a fatal blow. Yet, he also made a fairytale come true for the kid from Oakland by carrying him into the Wakandan sunset. T’Challa fought colonization; he shared resources without being colonized by the Americans. For example, Captain America’s shield is made of Vibranium even though Wakanda was never colonized.
Remember, when Black Panther disappeared in Infinity War? He was avenged in End Game when he returned and rescued Captain America. King T’Challa was bathed in moonlight flanked by two powerful Black women, his sister, Shuri, and Warrior General Okoye. It was the first time in cinematic history that Black superheroes; Shuri and Okoye are superheroes too; rescued white ones. In addition to giving us our Black Avenger, Chadwick Boseman refreshed our memories of other Black ancestors including Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and Thurgood Marshall. Boseman’s films are instructive because they teach enduring lessons for us and our children. Below are four lessons from Black Panther:
- Superheroes return to their ancestors. And just like the other ancestors, they leave us a legacy to uphold.
- Recognize the strength and power of Black women. Know it is impossible to win any war without us.
- Share your resources but continue to fight against colonization.
- Show compassion to our enemies once we have defeated them.
There’s a scene in the film Black Panther, in which King T’Challa visits the ancestral plain and meets his father, T’Chaka. Below is the dialogue that ensues after T’Challa tells his father that although he was prepared to be king, he was not ready to lose him.
“I am not ready, to be without you.”
“A man who has not prepared his children for his own death has failed as a father. Have I ever failed you?”
“Never.”
Just like T’Chaka prepared his son for his eventual passing, Chadwick Boseman has prepared us. He has left us with important lessons to share with our children. Please tell the children that Black Panther has returned to the beautiful splendor of the ancestral plain with the other ancestors. Let them know that he will always be our powerful Black king who gifted us with a legacy to uphold.
