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

The Currency of Black Pain

Black pain is a money maker. It makes activists rich. It makes comic book companies salivate. Burned bodies like Spawn atest to this fact. While I am a fan of the comic book, I am not lost on the fact that Spawn is the victim of a hate crime. Yes, he was killed by a close friend. Who clearly hated himself and sold his soul to the highest bidder.

Yet, that is not what this blog post is about. Instead, it is about why Black people's pain continues to be a source of income for any and everyone. I have watched videos and read comments on the first teaser trailer for the Black Panther Wakanda Forever, and I cannot help but be saddened by the whole thing. It seems to me Marvel is content with loading theaters up with young and old comic book and casual fans for a tear fest. I have tears of my own but it wont be for a MCU movie. I have tears for Chadwick's family and I have tears for Black boys who are casualties of war. They heard that their hero, Black Panther died.

Here is the truth, many of us can't separate the actor from the role. After all, the child in all of us can't. No matter how you slice it, the king of Wakanda is dead. Black boys do not have a A-list superhero character to see and identify with. As a Black man who spent much of his childhood reading and looking at comic books and not seeing myself a great deal in the books Marvel and DC comics published; I can tell you that Black Panther, when it came to the big screen provided a lift in the hearts of comic book fans like myself. Yet, I am under no illusion that we live in a whole world dedicated to white survivalism which is commonly referred to as white supremacy. Black Panther touched not only Black fans but white kids too. They wanted to be Black Panther at halloween. That was massive. People didn't have to look like us to see our humanity and even desire to identify with it! It was a beautiful thing. However, when Chadwick Boseman passed. All the excitement of the future sat in limbo. My brother and I would argue about "recast T'Challa". I, the optimist hoped that they would. Even though they, Marvel on record said they would not recast in the 616 universe of the MCU. My brother lamented and said they were not and were going to do something more horrific than that. They were going to kill him in the story. I did not want to hear it. I'm not biggest Black Panther fan, but I am a fan and I have hundreds of Black Panther books and others with him in other comics to attest to that fact. So when the new trailer dropped and we saw what appeared to be Wakanda in mourning and Tems singing "No Woman, No Cry" it pulled hard at the heartstrings. It made me sad and then mad. I couldn't help but see the capitalization of another Black man's death.

We see it and have seen it in real life, Tamir Rice, Travon Martin, Philando Castile, Mike Brown all who were murdered yes, but all whose deaths benefited people and organizations monetarily while families continue to suffer. The family of Chadwick Boseman said they were in favor of recasting. That should have been the move but instead Marvel decided to treat this misfortune to make a fortune. When Samira Rice spazzed on organizers over her son, people chalked it up to her just being hurt over her son passing. Yet, when cracks began to form and celebrities and organizations were slowly but surely being exposed. It was the Black community that experienced another level of Black pain. You see our pain runs deep in this world. It is a currency that has made nations fortunes literally. Black folks who are for reparations tend to focus solely on the US and the Carribean, however an eye cannot wink at the culprits in Africa. They moreso than any need to reconcile and recompense those children of the ancestors who were captured and sold into bondage in the transatlantic slave trade. The Dahomey tribe from which the mythos of the Dora Milaje are inspired from helped commit such acts.

While people are and will fawn over the "The Woman King" which will be in theaters in September, it behooves those to know the "truth". Zora Neale Hurston talked to the last "Black Cargo" to be shipped to America by way of the slave ship and the actions of the Dahomey. So while I love Viola Davis, I cannot blink at the truth. Inspiration has it place but in the face of truth, it dies. So for me, I have no interest in going to a movie and watch Black people cry in their 20 dollar buckets of popcorn and using napkins to blow their noses in a crowded theater. Yes, please wear a mask. It is what it is. Perhaps I am heartbroken over the image of a Black superhero being exploited for gain. Perhaps I am overthinking this thing. Perhaps I'm just tired of watching capitalists make money hand of fist on the currency of Black pain. -Richard J Wright

Luke Cage: 50 years in the making.

Fifty years ago, Marvel debuted a character named Luke Cage. This particular character's first appearance was in his own title. Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. In the Black comic book community, Luke Cage is either celebrated or honestly, misunderstood. Which is why the promotion of his 50th anniversary has been lack luster needless to say. However, I am a collector and Luke Cage has considerable space in my long boxes. Instead of pontificating over his existence in Marvel comics, I just rather give you some reading material to pour over in your spare time. Just so you know, there are hundreds of Luke Cage stories to pull from. I'm just going to hit you with few and take my seat. 1. Luke Cage Noir by Adam Glass and Mike Benson

If Luke Cage Hero for Hire #1 is beer, then Luke Cage Noir is 25 year old cognac. Truthfully, the cognac would be outlawed because in this story; prohibition is the law of the land. This story takes place in the 1930s. No, this isn't for you MCU nerds. This story pulls you into the world of Luke Cage after a stint in Rikers Island. Its a nod to his origin story but has a few twists that make it a compelling read. You should add this to your collection because it feels original in that you could read this before you read Luke Cage Hero for Hire #1 and feel cheapened. After all, its 1930s Harlem, need I say more? 2. Power Man and Iron Fist #75 by Mary Jo Duffy

This comic book features the amazing tag team, Power Man and Iron Fist. Quiet as it is kept and as ridiculous as their uniforms were in the 70s, this duo was amazing. I like this book for its a fantastical elements. The team journey to K'un-Lun and it is a homecoming of sorts for the Iron Fist. Luke Cage supports his comrade but he is bugging on the scenery. He even experiences a little bit a racism. Black man cant even travel to distant lands and dimensions without a little hate. Nevertheless this story is quite the adventure for Iron Fist and as far as Cage is concerned. He doesn't trust no one and wont even change out his threads. This comic is a fun book and should be treated as such. You wont get something deep from the book but what you will get as you always get when comes to Danny Rand and Carl Lucas is a friendship bond that is always solid, no matter where they find themselves. 3. Luke Cage #170 by David F. Walker

This Luke Cage story is a modern tale. It was published back in 2018. The story centers around Luke Cage and his daughter. It is a simple tale of a father spending quality time with his daughter. The story is powerful in that it speaks to the misconception that all Black fathers are absent. It is a terrible stigma that Black men have had to deal with for a long time. According to research on fathers by the Pew Research Center, Black fathers at 70% are most involved in children's daily lives regardless of martial status. The story is rooted in a Luke sharing a made up story with his child. It is a powerful story where both father and daughter's imagination take them to a far away lands. Luke's daughter shapes the narrative of the made up story, while Luke "tells" the story according to her. It is simply one of the greatest Luke Cage stories ever because it highlights Luke's greatest power which isn't bullets bouncing off him and knocking fools out. No, his greatest power is his love. We rarely get to see that which is why this story is one of my all time favorites. 4. Luke Cage, Power Man #24 by Tony Isabella

This comic book is recognized as a key in comic book circles. This is the first appearance of Black Goliath. This book debuted in April of 1975. What is interesting is that this was one of the few times more than one Black superhero was featured in a book together. Cage is looking for his girl but runs into her while she is caring for her ex-husband who just so happens to be Black Goliath. The melinated was strong in this book. In fact, Black Panther, Falcon, and Power Man as well was named dropped in the issue by a fellow desiring to write about Black Superheroes. This book is significant for its key component and as well as its conciousness of Black Superheroes mattering in 1975.

Bark at the Moon

"Well, that did not take long". "Long, you say?" "What choo talmbout?" So glad you ask. So, Marvel recently debuted Moon Knight the limited series on Disney+. Guess what? It is very very very good. Folks are talking about it. Which is a good thing. Moon Knight is one of Marvel's most underrated characters that they have on their roster. He has a great back story and the comic books are pretty incredible as well. However, Moon Knight comes with issues. What issues? Well, its a character who considered to be an avatar for an Egyptian deity. So what's the problem with that? Well, the historical people from Northern Africa were Black people. Yes, Black people. (not, people of color) We aint using made up words, politically correct terminology to state a fact. All one has to do is research the history. If you want to learn about how stories like Moon Knight get the historical accuracy wrong you can go a check out "Stolen Legacy" by George G.M. James. This particular book deals with historical evidence that Greek philosophy stole its knowledge from Egyptian philosophy. Now, that is just one book. The point can made that Europeans who studied at Egypt or Kemit (for the hoteps out here) took the education that they were given and began over the scope of time to claim Egyptian or Kemetic science.

Now over the course of time white folks including Nazis from Germany began the this "claiming" by white washing the images of the Northern Africans or explaining away the accomplishments of this global dynasty. It has been this effort that has caused many Black people to have this weird or awkward relationship with all things Egypt. Biblically speaking Egypt is a symbol for the world system and its oppressive practices like slavery. Who knew? Historically, it was a place of higher learning and technology that Greeks and others were allowed to learn from. Facts. Which brings us to Moon Knight. Now Moon Knight is a Marvel comic book character. His first appearance was in the Werewolf by Night #32. Doug Moench and Don Perlin created the character. Now I cannot conclude that Doug and Don are Greeks stealing from Black writers and artists. However, it does not me from giving them the side eye. Honestly, they probably wasn't thinking anything like that. Funny as that is, that is what you call a perfect and masterful job of colonization. Take things that did not come from you, make it your own. Shoot down anything that has an inkling of guilt attach to it. Reintroduce said thing and voila. You have successfully stolen that thing, especially if that thing is history. Right now, phrases like "ban Critical Race Theory" are being invoked. Let's not make the children of the slavemasters feel "bad" for what their ancestors did. We gotta put a stop to white guilt!

Moon Knight is a fictional character that in theory could have been Black. So, some might say what is the big deal? If you are going to use Egyptian mythology regarding its pantheon, welp you might want to stay true to the historical narrative. The problem is that the narrative was rewritten. A few years ago a movie was made called Gods of Egypt which was met with a lot of Black folks being very irritated. It was like dude, its 2016 and yall still got the nerve to claim ownership over something that is clearly African. God bless our brother Chadwick Boseman who was the only Melinated god on screen as Thoth who is an associate to Khonshu. Khonshu is god of the moon who Moon Knight gets his powers from. Boseman made a point in being in Gods of Egypt because he wanted to show someone of African descent playing an African god.

So what is a Blerd supposed to do knowing the truth? You tell it. Remind yourself the truth but remember its fiction as well. In a perfect world maybe all the fandom looks like you. It doesn't and it shouldn't. You can find contentment in Celtic origins of middle earth where aint no Black people in Lord of the Rings. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Shout out to scamazon. You can read manga and not hope and wish to shoe horn Black people in a Japanese experience. Just enjoy it for what it is. Do not apologize for speaking the truth but there is no need to die on a fictional hill. There are enough real ones to die on. You could be like me, a Black kid in school hallways in 1983 listening to Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon. Methinks I'm still hearing Ozzy in the background still barking at the Moon Knight.

Be Your Own Hero No Matter What

In life, you are going to deal with people who are not going to believe in you. You are going to deal with people for whatever reason will seem to just doubt what you do. Some people are naturally pessimistic. It is what it is. However, I charge you to not fall for that. Be your own hero if you have to. In whatever you do in life, you have to be your own cheerleader, advocate, fan, encourager, ect. You can win titles, snatch wigs, bulldog all competition and someone will still doubt your abilities. What matters most is that you do not doubt your abilities. In issue 16 of Delta Dogs. Quan, the leader of the Delta Dogs finds himself not fully believing in his cousins to fight their enemies. Some of his cousins are confused by his lack of being transparent and willing to share. Quan is only reading the board. However, he fails to encourage his cousins at the time regardless. He simply dismisses them as being "not ready". Now one might ask is Quan right or wrong? I think leaders understand certain things and he even admitted as much that its more to this hero business than just having powers. Just because you have powers does not mean you will win with those powers, Its a fair assessment but Quan isn't absolved in his responsibility to his younger cousins who are afraid and do not necessarily have total control of their powers.

Vonnell, the youngest is always being pushed aside and left behind because he hasn't mastered his powers. Yet, where is the encouragement from the fam? Sure, he might be too young but you have to encourage and push. Too many people are dismissive of one another. It is this same mindset that can cause a person to second guess themselves. Someone can sow a seed of doubt in your head and mess up the path of life you are on! At a tender and young 54 years of age, I can tell you that many people fail and will not be able to do much of nothing if they do not learn how to empower themselves. THe bible tells us that if we just have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can order mountains to be moved. Now in the literal sense of the word, it is not even practical to think that way. However, the spiritual application is spot on. Vonnell, the youngest of seven cousins learns this as he is in a position where he has to have faith in his powers. He had to shut out all the negative talk and the self doubt and create space where faith can manifest. In short, he had to believe in himself. He had to face his fears and find his own encouragement. When I first read the story of Delta Dogs in issue 1, we see Vonnell as a wide eyed kid who was precocious. He among all his cousins seem to have more fortitude and desire. No he did not have experience, no he did not manifest his powers at the same time and with the same control. However, before he even recieved powers, he already had powers. He believed in himself. He was naive but all of us are to a certain extent. Trials and tribulations tend to meld us into wisdom but that youthful spunk is almost magical. Earth Wind and Fire admonishes us to "stay young at heart". A young heart is a tender heart. Whereas an old heart can be callus or stony. The cares of this world have caused many people to be bitter. They grow to be bitter and feed everyone around them that same bitterness. Their lives are filled with words like "They dont" "They wont". For that reason, they cannot see themselves because it is always about someone else. They are so busy looking for a hero, someone to save them. However, the cat in the mirror does nothing for them because life has beaten them down. Life has showed them to be the enemy. For that reason, the villians continue to come back stronger and stronger. There is a saying attributed to man named Edmund Burke, an Irish statesman. He says "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.". That is nearly an understatement. You have to have hope, otherwise what you have is apathy. Apathy kills movements. It kills dreams. The hero who cannot dream is no hero at all. He is an antihero in my humble opinion. Imagine as a kid hearing the story about the little train that could only to find out that the little train did not even care if he did. Vonnell from Delta Dogs was always told he was too young and not good enough due to his lack of mastery of his powers. Yet, time and circumstance dictated that when it was necessary, he came through. He had to be his own hero. That's life my guy. Be your own hero no matter what! -Richard J Wright

Tell Me A Story: A Lamentation

I miss Dwayne McDuffie. I just did not know it until I went into one of my DC long boxes and pulled out several issues of Justice League that Mr. McDuffie wrote on. As I made my way through a decent amount of books including a Milestone DC crossover, I was captured by the story and my thirst to read more was barely satisfied. Why? I was just enjoying a past time hobby. I was able teleport my mind into this world and take a seat. I was not invited and then suddenly rushed out of the room. I was not only invited, but I was encouraged to stay for a spell. I caught a glimpse of Dr John Henry Irons working alongside Batman. I got a chance to observe Vixen share a moment of transparency with her former love Bronze Tiger. I bugged out on Superman and Icon putting on a show for everyone just so their comrades wouldn't know that they are secretly working together. It felt right but for whatever reason their respective groups probably detest them if they dared to be "friends". I even saw Anansi spinning a web for good measure.

McDuffie's writing in comics has always been fun to read. His writing on the original Static book is very funny. It was that book that made me nearly puke over the reboot. Cats were explaining to me that this was a new day. New day meaning new way. My stubborn behind was like, "no way". Virgil Hawkins is supposed to funny, lighthearted and quick with the wit. While I cannot be mad at the new approach to Static as a character, I remain a fierce advocate for the original writing and source material. Dwayne McDuffie did not just start telling jokes in Static. The creation of Damage Control by McDuffie is hilarious. Who would be so bold as to send Dr. Doom a bill for damages? His writing is the stuff of nerdiness. It was wonderful that in the latest Spiderman movie, he was credited for his creation which was used in the movie. Its one of those full circle moments because the first issue of Damage Control features Spiderman on the cover.

While McDuffie's writing was cut with a heavy dose of humor, he could be very serious. The Deathlok run he wrote was fantastic. He was able to detail the struggle of Micheal Collins, who is a Deathlok, a killing machine with a conscious. McDuffie tackles heavy issues like identity or drawing parallels from W.E.B. DuBois. McDuffie also utilized many characters in the Marvel universe in this particular run. Black Panther, Misty Knight, Punisher, Ghost Rider and even Moses Magnum make appearances in the run. McDuffie's writing makes you think, whether you are laughing or in a somber mood.

When I think about writing, I think about what the writer is trying to communicate? Some writers can over think things and some can even be too simple. Dwayne's writing in short was balanced. When he wrote the character Buck Wild which was a spoof of Luke Cage, his message was clear. He wanted Marvel to know that he "saw" them. While we all know and love Luke Cage, we are not lost upon the idea that this character's beginnings is questionable. Yet, no one ever really called Marvel out on it. McDuffie did it with style in Icon #13. It was these little things he did and more that only added to his legend. He was an educator. He was an artist. He was a genius. In a few days on February 21st, our brother will have been gone 11 years. Funny thing is I have not seen any Black History tributes or nothing on Dwayne McDuffie. While a lot of blerds and geeks are bugging on cover art for Black History Month, I do not know if anyone is aware that Dwayne McDuffie is Black History. For those of us who love reading comic books that have faces that look like you and me, we owe debt of gratitude to the one of the GOATS. People love drawings and coloring in comics but for me, I am a story guy. I just wish my man was here to tell me another story.

The King and I

"... kings just rule and most are never understood" - KRS-One (My Philosophy)

The new Black Panther run by John Ridley is in full swing. It is a run that is only 3 issues thus far. However, it is shaping up to be an exceptional run on the Black Panther character. Yet, of course like some things that are amazing; There is a glitch in the matrix. This glitch however comes in the form of the previous run by Ta-nehisi Coates in the Intergalatic Republic of Wakanda. This particular run and its mix of coming of age with Afro futurism gave Black Panther comic heads a massive headache. While I do believe that time will be kind to this run, right about now its something a lot us just assume forget about. T'Challa is a slave at the beginning of that run and he ends up being the emperor. Yay T'Challa! But... At the cost of being the head of an Intergalatic Empire, T'Challa is King in title but not in teeth. Wakanda made the decision to experiment with democracy. A decision that T'Challa is respecting but clearly is annoyed by the bureaucracy that democracy affords. This transitory position has placed T'Challa in a bizarre space. It is clear that Wakanda still needs him to be the king but they do not want kingship governance. Which is like telling the Black Panther to be that ferocious cat just do not use your claws. You know how it is in the hood we all know that cat who is feared and is ferocious. He is the dude you go get when its time to set it off. However, you really don't want the guy around you for that same reason. T'Challa is that guy. He has protected Wakanda and though he is still respected, he is not the authority. He still holds influence but this new government which is in its infancy is experiencing growing pains. Therefore, T'Challa's wisdom is still coveted by certain leaders.

In the midst of all the pandemonium, an attack occurs on a couple of T'Challa's agents in the earth. We have specify earth because of T'Challa's galactic realm jurisdiction. One of the agents killed is T'Challa's best friend. So begins the journey of T'Challa making his way around the world to where his secret agents are located. These secret agents are "sleeper cells". T'Challa is fighting an enemy he does not know. Yet it is clear they know him. T'Challa is making his way to each agent to shut down the cells. He wants to protect those who he has enlisted but also he wants to make sure Wakanda and his antics are not exposed to the world at large. Each cell was to embed themselves into where they were and live their lives as regular citizenry. These plans have been in place for years and certainly before the change in power. T'Challa isn't the calm and cool cat we know him to be. Now he is paranoid, burdened and full of grief. Some have questioned the writing on the run because we see citizens who once adored the King come off as very disrespectful. Oh how the mighty have fallen! You cannot talk to your sovereign just any kind of way. He is the king. There is no way you live and talk to the king in a disrespectful manner. Yes. You are right but even a broken clock is right twice a day!

Yet, what is the big idea? Why is Ridley writing and allowing such uncouth behavior from those once loyal to T'Challa? Is it deconstruction? Is it just a lack of respect? I think it is both. Here me out. T'Challa is a mystical figure for intents and purposes. He is very smart. He is very powerful and rich. He is a hero among heroes. Steve Rogers and Reed Richards count him among their closest friends and ally. He is the most powerful and resourceful Black hero on the planet. So, is he a god? No. He is just a man. However, he is the man. He is cat you go get when its going down. However for all the wonderful attributes that T'Challa posesses. He poses as a threat. Steve Rogers wonders out loud where his allegiance lies. His secrets run deep. His own sister is baffled by it. Who is he loyal to? He visits Storm to get some air and bask in her presence but it only seems he was there to deactivate a cell at Arakko. He is a complicated man. PLus he is Black. Why bring that up captain obvious? We who are descendants of kings and queens are royalty. Yet we are not respected as royalty. Your teachers may know you are the children of the first civilizations but you are treated like third world peasants. You see those citizens who look like you as less than. You call them Negroes who are necro. Is it a wonder that one of T'Challa's titles is King of the Dead? We abuse another, harbor secrets and wonder why we are disrespected. T'Challa mourns in silence, which is what many Black men do. He cannot trust even those closest to him to be transparent. He has to act as if everything is fine and all he does is because he is a king. The man is dying inside and cannot be truthful with those he loves because the truth will injure them. Gentle iniates a hug in one panel of issue #3. The scene is riveting because Gentle loves T'Challa and he needs to express that love. T'Challa happily obliges because he too loves Gentle and he needs to express something because he is wounded. He is the Black Panther but wounded nonetheless. There are very few things more dangerous than a wounded animal. While I do not compare T'Challa to an animal perse'. I recognize his avatar. We, like him, if we are honest are wounded beings. I will stop short of saying you need therapy and healing. Not because I know you need it but each man and woman has a right to decide what is best for them. However, I will say that as Black Panther run continues; think about yourself. What would you do? Who are you? King? Queen? Negro? Nobody. For me. I see life for what it is in comics. In this case, I will think on T'Challa, the King and I.