By ELIZABETH LIU
Staff Writer
The groundbreaking Marvel Cinematic Universe released “Black Panther” a year ago, this month. It was released in theaters in the United States on Feb. 16, 2018. The film has been well received by both critics and fans alike. While in theaters, “Black Panther” had finished (within the first week of release) with a total gross of $630.9 million, and is one out of seven films to make over $600 million.
Black Panther Fans have another reason to rejoice. In the collective spirit of Feb. 2019 being Black History Month, theaters across the nation are offering (for a limited time from Feb. 2 to Feb. 9, 2019) for free in 250 AMC locations. There is a list on the website of locations compiling with this offer.
The screenings will take place twice a day for the first week in Feb. 2019.
CEO of Walt Disney Company Bob Igner has also announced that money received from the screenings later in the month will be donated to United Negro College Fund instead of collecting the Box Office revenue. The United Negro College Fund gives scholarships to minority groups across the college desiring financial assistance across the country. They are a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to encouraging black people as well as minority groups to pursue their dreams of higher education, but may need financial assistance in order to do so.
“Black Panther” has received numerous awards nominations, both by cast members and for the film overall. Rap artist, Kendrick Lamar’s song“All the Stars” was nominated for Best Original Song for the 2019 Golden Globes. It is also the first ever superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture at the 2019 Oscars.
Wakanda itself is a fictional country that hides from the rest of the world as an effort to not risk exploitation for their most precious metal on Earth, vibranium from different nations and countries. The film “Black Panther” explores different issues such as loyalty to your government, and nationalism – which is the pride for your country – is reflected in the film as well.
The film is about Wakanda, a small monarchy in Africa, and follows the story of T’Challa (played by actor Chadwick Boseman) and his journey embarking on to becoming King of Wakanda. With threats of an overthrow of his throne, T’Challa must combine with unlikely non-Wakandian allies and Wakandans alike to take back his throne from a common enemy.
The story of Black Panther has themes of justice, heroism, diversity, immigration, what it means to be black, and love of country. These themes are often popular lessons during Black History Month. It is an excellent way to celebrate historical black figures such as Harriet Tubman, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, and other black historical figures represent this symbolism and have before as well as after their death. It is the perfect film to celebrate Black History month both on and off screen.
My personal favorite concept of the film is seeing black women in leadership roles and invested in the field of technological science. The film itself showcases members of the black community in a positive light, which according to production team member, Ryan Coogler, a “rare thing to see in Hollywood today.”
Behind the scenes, for the black community, “Black Panther” is a historical superhero film. Chadwick Boseman, is an alumni from the historically black university, Howard University. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Directing in 2000.
Critics have also informed fans that “Black Panther” is the first black cast that Marvel Cinematic Universe has utilized since it’s debut with Iron Man 1. The film also uses an all-black cast, a black director, and on top of it all, it utilizes popular black artists on the soundtrack as well.
This is one of many reasons of why “Black Panther” is the perfect film to start Black History Month with a bang.
