Ebony and Ebony: Wishful Thinking

Back in the early 80s, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney recorded a song called Ebony and Ivory. It was considered to be an anti-racist message song. Critics however, thought the song to be a little too sappy. It is interesting that both songwriters were then and are now legends. Stevie Wonder was apart of the creation and foundation of Motown records and Paul McCartney was a member of the Beatles. At the time they recorded the song; It was a welcomed hit for both. Some may even say that they both needed each other. But why? Both were stars in their own right. McCartney did a couple of songs with Micheal Jackson as well but his legend was already cemented. Stevie Wonder had a catalog that stacks up against any artist today. Yet, it looked like they needed one another? Maybe they wasn't firing up the charts like they use to but needing one another, well that is another thing. In comics, team up books are cool. You get to learn about not one but two or more superheroes. Yet what is it about the Superhero team up or pairing that does not allow two Black Superheroes to come together? Truthfully, I think the concept is just Chinese arithmetic to comic book companies. We can put two Black heroes in a team but we cannot put two Black heroes on a book together? My question of course is why not?

The funny thing is pop culture loves duos. Starsky and Hutch, Crockett and Tubbs, Murtaugh and Riggs, Mulder and Scully, Benson and Stabler, etc. However, the list of duos I identified have one common theme, none of them are two Black characters. Ask someone to name a Black duo in television or movies and you will hear crickets. The vast majority of people would struggle to even think of a such a casting. They may manage to pull Amos and Andy out their backside, but that is about it. Sadly, that is all people know or remember. However, I would be remiss to at least help some of us out and invoke the names of Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed who were created by Chester Himes and depicted in the movies Cotton Comes to Harlem and Come Back Charleston Blue.

Why don't we have Black Superhero duos in comics? It's not like it is something hard to think about. Or is it? Black Superheroes have been around a long time and only couple of Black heroes have been apart of a duo. Falcon who teams with Captain America and Power Man who teams with Iron Fist. Now to be fair both pairings are for the most part good. They work well together and they compliment each other. However, what is stopping Marvel or DC for that matter or any other comic book company from pairing a couple of Black Superheroes together.

I do understand that for whatever reason it is good to see people who are different working together. We all enjoy the Lethal Weapon movies and the family bond that Riggs and Murtaugh seem to have. We enjoy Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson beating the breaks off of villians. However, I cannot help but wonder what two Black Superheroes could do in a book? Surely it would not be boring. Icon and Rocket from Milestone Media shows us this. They are different but they have the same goal and they are not contentious. One little note that some may not even had notice is the fact this is a young Black Woman and an older Black Man working together. They bump heads but not to the degree they need therapy and referees. They realize without verbalizing it that they need one another and no one is struggling with whether they are worthy or not. They have it together and its beautiful.

Could you imagine if Black Panther teamed up with Blade for a series? What if Black Lightning got a chance to team up with John Stewart or Steel? What if Ironheart and Shuri had a 12 issue run? While we have seen glimpses of these groupings in books; ask yourself what kind of story could you tell? There are gazillions of ideas but I cannot help but to think if Marvel or DC in particular would venture to do such a daring thing, it would automatically be thought as woke and some may not even give it a chance. Either way, it will not me stop from thinking that it just would be a cool thing to see a couple of Black superheroes get together and kick some butt. -Richard J. Wright

A Soldier's Story

"...who do the fighting for these rich white folks and their wars?" - Paris from the song 'Sheep to the Slaughter'

The Black American soldier is a special soldier. While he or she isn't better than any other soldier, the truth of the matter still sides on the reality that the Black American soldier is a special soldier. Why is the Black American soldier special? The Black American soldier is faced with the reality that there's two Americas, one white and one Black. The Black soldiers know they serve in a military where the history of Black soldiers is one of noblity as well one of bias and racism. The soldiers of yesteryear held on to the promises of a better life. They believed that their service in the military would yield to them opportunities for their family as well as their people. Unfortunately, history has shown us that was not the truth. The promises made often left many bitter and disillusioned. Some were able to create lives for themselves in the military and later on in civilian life but for many others, not so. Historically, our people fought in every war in America. The first soldier to die in the revolutionary war was Cripus Attucks. Black people fought on both sides of the civil war. We have seen war in all of its bloody forms.

In comics, the history of Black soldiers is depicted and told. You can find comics and graphic novels that show the presence of Black Americans fighting for freedom. Our people made an investment in blood in securing its roots in the history of America. While our citizenship came courtesy of the slave ship and cotton and tobacco fields, it was cemented in our willingness to pay the ultimate sacrifice in battlefields all over the world.

The Harlem Hellfighters graphic novel grants us a view of history long forgotten. They were decorated soldiers who faced the enemy outside and within.

The reality facing many Black soldiers is the truth that you face criticism regardless of your heroics. You have those people among you who will not accept you regardless of your skin color. You have those people in your own people who think you are foolish because you choose to align yourself with those who despise you. You even have those who serve with you who have become bitter because of their experiences. These viewpoints are certainly valid but at the end of the day you have to decide where you are going to stand. One may choose to try and be the change you want to see or just grab the "goodies" for yourself. Those "goodies" include access to good healthcare, free travel, education finance, etc, etc. One has to be able to look themselves in the mirror. The limited Disney series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" looked at the life of Isaiah Bradley. He was the first super-soldier and he was scarred by the whole experience. He went as far as to say that "... no self respecting Black man would ever want to be". Captain America, that is who is the symbol of the American soldier.

No matter what side of the aisle you may stand on, one must admire the resolve of the Black American soldier. It can be argued that Black soldiers are the most patriotic in that they defend and fight for a country that does not see them as equals. They serve in the face of criticism and the hypocritical; trusting to believe in the hope that is America.

There are dozens of comic books detailing stories of Black soldiers fighting and dealing with racism. It is the original American sin. These soldiers are constant reminders that America has to keep her promise. Though she renigs, dances around, bait and switches one must remember who and what a soldier is. A soldier serves, a soldier is loyal, a soldier is solid. Black American soldiers served to prove their loyalty and their worthiness to full citizenship. These stories contained in these comic books and others have shown that the Black American soldier is a special soldier.

On September 14th 1984, a movie was released to the viewing public about a military lawyer sent to a military base to investigate the murder of an Black officer. He is greeted with all sorts of resistance and has to confront some painful truths about white and Black military servicemen. It is heartbreaking movie dedicated to the history of Black G.I.s serving in World War II. It serves a symbol of the hope and hell a Black soldier historically has had to face. So pick up a few old military comics and learn some deep lessons. It is worth it because it is apart of our history. - Richard J Wright