Kujichagulia: Self Determination

Day 2 of Kwanzaa is called Kujichagulia or self determination. Simply put it means "to define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves". If there is one principle that the Black comic book community should embrace and wholly be about it; it is this one. The history of comics is well established and in that establishment, Black people were not depicted in a positive light. Early efforts to show Black people in positive lights came directly from Black people. It is a fargone conclusion that iconography has been the most important tool in the forwarding of white supremacy. To give people a perception of another people give them permission to see them a certain way. The most important movie that showed this was the film Birth of a Nation by D.W. Griffith. This movie helped reinforce and create the culture that allowed open hostility towards Black people by white people.

Our people have endevoured to create and push back against the propaganda. All Negro Comics #1 was one such effort. This book was created in 1947 and only existed to publish one book. This book was successful in establishing a blueprint for positive Black images in comic books. The company All Negro Comics, Inc. was not able to continue publishing their book due to distributors not selling the company the paper to print their book. As devestating as that was, it simply identified the enemies of our people's progress. Time and time again others would try and some would say they failed but the only failure is quitting.

Our people have always desired self determination. Our issue has been only of contentment. We have been content with characters created by Marvel and DC. These characters historically are treasured because our people have always enjoyed comics and heroes in comics. At times we have criticized both companies for not utilizing their Black characters enough. We on the other hand have not supported original creations from various Black voices. We know the importance of original creations but we can be slow to support those creations due to lack of resources and skill level regarding art and story telling. It is not enough that we embrace a historical product. It is not enough that we embrace "mainstream characters". It is not enough to wish or lament self determination. Truthfully speaking, the biggest superpower we all have is the power to choose. Whether we admit it or not we make choices that either embrace status quo or embrace change that may be considered radical. All because we choose ourselves. It is great to read and enjoy what you love, however our love must be greater for the artists and writers of our stories. We must champion self determination because it is empowerment at its core. We can appreciate legacy characters but we are limited in doing so because we all have to recognize the fact that these creations are the result of companies wanting to exploit established intellectual properties. In short, they seek a fast buck without the hard work of creating something new and comprehensive. Our desire should be to embrace original creations because they reflect our struggle to be seen and taken seriously.

I enjoy many characters from the Marvel and DC. I read their stories and enjoy who they are but I also realize that many of them come from a lens that do not reflect the African American experience in its totality. It does not make them less perse but consciously one cannot help but to see the stereotypes and tropes that permeate through a white writer's thoughts. However, when we encounter creations that come from the Black experience and written by Black people who live that "experience", one can discern the nuances of Black life. It gives life to the thought our elder William H. Foster so graciously expressed in his book titled "Looking for a Face like Mine". We not only are looking for that face, we should be looking for the hands who can create that face too. Embrace self determination and support Black creators with more than words but with your money.

-Richard J Wright

Umoja: The Principle of Unity

Habari gani? How's it going? Or like we say in Houston, "Whut it do?" Either way, it is day one of Kwanzaa. Umoja, the principle means to strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Needless to say, Umoja in the Black community today is a tall order. However, it is supposed to be because all the other principles of Kwanzaa are not meaningful, much less obtainable without unity. The standard is set with the whole of the people in mind. This Kwanzaa, I am not going write about the wrongs or warts in the Black community. Instead, I will simply reference comicbooks by which the blog is intended to be about. Unity is an interesting thing in that, often times people come together as a result of war, not peace. In otherwords, folks like to fight before they unite. Whatever gets them to the table and talk I guess. Black Panther written by John Ridley comes to mind. This comic is not my favorite comic book at all. However, I do like Ridley's writings in other books like I am Batman, and GCPD The Blue Wall.

However, Ridley's writing of Black Panther has been very questionable. Now, I am not here to dis or whine about how bad it is, and it is. (LOL) Yet, I want write about an interesting turn of events that took place in issue 12 of the run. It seems as though T'Challa the Black Panther has been brooding about the meaning of life. He is depressed. He was in mourning until he wasn't. He almost took a nihilist mindset. He is lost. We have seen him descend into a deep abyss of self pity. There is an interesting thought when it comes to people regarding hitting rock bottom. When you see people going down, you can try to talk them out of it or shake them out of it. However, they cannot hear you or anything until they reached the bottom. It is when they hit the bottom that rescue and redemption can take place. T'Challa has finally hit rock bottom. What got him there? Seeing his best friend who he thought was dead, alive. Yeah,that might shake a boot up. In the midst of this run, T'Challa has made his share of enemies and alienated others.

So, now that he is alone. He is destined, forced, compelled or what ever adjective you want to assign to this dumpster fire; to seek out those who he had conflict with to stop his best friend from doing the very thing that he asked him to do. Well. Maybe not exactly but the nuance of it all make its within a madman's capacity to understand the mission. So now T'Challa is ready for war but first he has to come clean with everyone in order to go into battle. After all, he is asking everyone who he fought and lied to; to join in his quest. Yeah, like I said early, (not good). He convinces them all to stand with him and clean up his mess. I appreciate the effort Ridley put into this to make it a glorious call to arms. It just isn't. The effort is there but it fails to fire on all cylinders. Our Maybach is in actuality in a "1919 get out and push" machine. This new found unity that T'Challa is cleaving to, is a result of poor management. It mirrors Black unity today because all of the outrage and outcry from the past few years has simply lined the pockets in intersectionality alphabet personnel and his made Black people at large more jaded than ever before in the history of America. Key words like "on code" and "stay woke" do nothing for the bottom line. Yeah nigga, its that bad now. So when the T'Challas of the left and right try their dear best to marshal the forces they themselves have abused like T'Challa has done, niggas is like "whatever, nigga" There isn't nothing else better to do. So keep in mind that as the Black Panther limps to its final issue, remember everyone is a bridge. You never know when you are going to need to cross them. Do not be like certain folks in the community who play the blame game when things do not go their way. You ignore and shun the bridges, do not cry when the bridge is out, indefinitely. Today is Umoja. Let us strive, let us pray, let us seek, let us remember what unity truly is. Otherwise, it will remain fleeting idea in the minds of dreamers and seen in bad comic book runs. -Richard J. Wright

Ninjas or Niggas? Same Difference.

Here we go again. Once again the "lack" of diversity rears its hypocritical head in the form of a new take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. One of my brothers from the Blerd podcast BHND, hit me up to show me the latest shenanigans. Of course, I am easily amused. Im just trying to understand what the hail IDW is thinking? Black cats love the turtles. You do not need to turn them into Black kids. This whole thought that we are starving for the diversity is straight up ridiculous. We don't need it like that. I know several cats that enjoyed The Last Ronin and I can tell you none of us was sitting around thinking I wish they was Black. Now, I understand that some think this is cool. To each his own. I aint buying it. While I do not think it is disrespectful. I find it to be very much unnecessary. I saw cats getting hyped and I was just like. "I guess". So what are my thoughts? I decided to pull this letter from reddit. Its a pitch the GOAT Dwayne McDuffie made to Marvel. I think it is fitting. After all, Ninjas. Niggas. Same difference.

-Richard J Wright

Wakanda Forever and the pathology of Black Leadership

The movie Black Panther Wakanda Forever is finally in theaters. The movie hauled in excess of 300 million its first weekend of release. It is safe to say that the movie is or will be closing in on a billion dollars in a few weeks or so. The film, itself is pretty good. Could it have been better? Absolutely. However, I think the anticipation and waiting on this film is the added excitement this franchise needs to take it close to its predecessor, Black Panther. However, this movie is far from perfect. While this blog is not a comprehensive review; I want to examine an area that I find disturbing in regards to film. The area I am considering is the Black leadership of Wakanda. Wakanda's leadership is that of a monarch. In modern times there are very few stories detailing a monarchy in Africa. Black Panther has for the last several decades explored the kingship of T'Challa. However, in this film T'Challa has died and his mother has ascended to the throne.

The world is watching Wakanda under Queen Romonda's leadership. It is her assessment that the world believes that Wakanda is easy pickings. She saunters into the UN proudly and simply warns the world to not try to steal vibranium. Vibranium is a precious resource that the world wants but can only be found in Wakanda. Military strikes have taken place to seize vibranium but all have failed because Wakanda is on guard. Queen Romonda warns the UN to not attempt another strike. The consensus will be that Wakanda will treat such action as an act of aggression. It is this calm and calculated demeanor that makes Queen Romonda a formidible opponent. However, this leadership is not without reproach. The last time we see T'Challa on screen in an end credit scene, is scene where he addresses the world to inform him of Wakanda's technological advancements. The whole purpose in that was to help the world. It is clear that afterwards at some point and time, that unveiling was removed. It looks on screen as if Wakanda wants to share and then decides to not share. Why else would the countries from around the world try steal the tech or the Vibranium? What was T'Challa's mindset before he passed suddenly?

The decisions made in this film go down hill fast. Namor confronts Queen Romonda and Shuri for the first time in an intimate scene where the Queen is trying to get Shuri to participate in a ritual signifying the change in her mourning regarding her brother, T'Challa. Shuri dismisses this ritual because Shuri does not share in the belief system of her mother. This ritual is designed to give the mourner, comfort. Comfort is not what Shuri desires. Shuri is a scientist who lacks the gift of faith. She flippantly tells her mother that this ritual; the result of it was something that her mind did to help her grieve. Shuri is grieving but she is in the stage of grief called anger. Her decision to not listen to her mother is just the beginning of her poor decision making as the princess. Namor addresses the Wakandan royalty with a request to bring the scientist who created a machine that detects vibranium to him. This machine in question puts Namor and the Talocan, Namor's people in certain danger to be discovered. The queen sends Okoye to find the scientist with hopes of protecting her. This scientist is a 19 year old MIT student by the name of Riri Williams. Okoye asks the queen to allow Shuri to attend this search and rescue excursion; her thought is that getting out of her lab would do her some good. The queen is not so sure but allows for them both to go. This decision would prove to be not a good one. The Talocan are not the only ones looking for Riri. The feds are looking for her too. They intercept Shuri, Okoye, and Riri leaving Riri's lab. This pursuit leads them to be intercepted by the Talocan themselves. Okoye and Attuma battle on a bridge and it is one of the best scenes in the movie. However, Riri is captured and Shuri surrenders to the Talocan to meet with Namor. This decision costs Okoye, who finds herself in the water while this is taking place; life changing. Okoye goes back to Wakanda and asks the queen to send reinforcements. However, the queen takes this opportunity to read Okoye. The queen hasn't been happy with Okoye for quite a while. She reminds Okoye of her loyalty to Killmonger while she and Shuri had to flee to the Jabari lands for shelter. So, what does she do, the queen that is? She strips Okoye of status as general of the Dora Milaje. Okoye is heart broken and mortified. This decision was rash and harsh towards a soldier who has been nothing but loyal to the throne of Wakanda.

The last decision in question was made off screen by the king T'Challa himself. In the end credit scene, we see Shuri and Nakia talking and little boy is there with them. This little boy is living in Haiti with his mother Nakia and turns out, this is T'Challa's son. A son who is living away from the homeland and the royal prestige his bloodline provides. However, Nakia has chosen this for her son. Also, if you let her tell it, it was T'Challa's decision too. How can you sire a child and allow him to be raised in the west knowing this is the heir to the throne of Wakanda? When this child grows up, do you think he will want to live in Wakanda or even adopt Wakanda's way of life? I wont even approach the reality that this is a illegitimate child. Of all the decisions made this one is the most gross or should I say the most western. The reality of single parent homes can influence houses of royalty is nothing new but it should not be paraded as something noble. All of these bad decisions were made onscreen because of the bad decisions that were made offscreen. Chadwick Boseman, the actor who plays T'Challa dies and the powers that be decide to not recast the role. So the alternative was to give tribute to the role by making hopes for a new T'Challa a distant hope. One thing white folks love to do is Black folks symbolism over substance. Why? We just simply do not know any better. Instead, I will endure a plethora of assaults, complaints, side eyes, and goof ball smirks for any and everyone. They will take this piece as me hating. Truthfully, I am hating. I hate incompetence. I hate misunderstandings. I hate the character assassination of T'Challa figurately and literally. That is what I hate. More than that, I hate the failure of Black leadership, strip away the grief in this movie and that is the pathology in a nutshell. -Richard J. Wright

A Moment of Clarity Black Panther #11

Never underestimate the depth someone would go to make a point. Black Panther #11 is the best book in John Ridley's run. If I can be honest, this run has been less than stellar. It is a brooding tale of a man who is struggling with his identity. Let everyone and their mama tell it, T'Challa knows who he is even if you don't; so much so that they even had a run written by Reginald Hudlin asking the question who is the Black Panther? The trouble with identity is that in time and space, identity can be lost or reformed. I once sat across from a pastor who listened to me lament about just wanting to be happy. He told me simply that the perception of happiness is based often on conditions and circumstances. What he was getting at was the reality that you are "happy" when things are ideal for you. The trouble is in life, that is a rare occurence. People talk a good game but most people struggle with life. You can try and simplify things in your life but in the heart, nothing is simple. T'Challa's identity is connected to his warrior mentality. He is a fighter, physically and mentally. If he is able to win, it is based upon his skills and the "heart"shaped herb that gives him his powers. My brother always brags on Wakanda being a warrior nation. Well what happens to the warrior when the warrior begins to question the thirst for war? What happens when his brother from the west sees past the facade into the indictment of guilt Wakanda has? What happens when the Wakanda's people herself begins to question not only the monarchy but what it means to be Wakandan? Filter these thoughts with this reality. What do you give the man who has everything? Take away something. He will begin to question anything. Ultimately, in the end, he will want nothing. Issue 11 of this run brings to a head the source of T'Challa's pain. His life has always been about obligations. He isn't king of Wakanda anymore but he still is obligated to Wakanda. He isn't active as emperor of the Intergalatic Empire of Wakanda but he is still obligated. He isn't with Storm anymore but his heart is still obligated to her. He is chairman of the Avengers but he is reluctant in his obligations there as well. Here is a man in grief, in need (thank goodness for Shuri, he would be even worse if it wasn't for her) and faces threats on all fronts. His journey in this run has been one of despair. He is man with a broken heart. I do not care how strong you think T'challa is. A broken heart is a broken heart. Broken hearted people break relationships. Broken hearted people can be as dangerous as a wounded animal. Lashing out and driving away those who care about them. T'Challa finds himself in the space of question. There is nothing wrong questioning anything. The wrong comes when you shun the truth. Here is how issue 11 ends. T'Challa finds out that his best friend who he thought was dead is alive. All this time, all these tears, all this angst. Now what you gonna do T'Challa?

In observing this issue. I see something I had not figured out. Writers often try to make statements about life, people or the state of the world. It is up to us to kind of figure it out. We all may not see the same thing and its okay and that is allowed. The noise that Ridley interjects into his writing on Black Panther has drowned out any semblance of statement. However, I have come to realize that Ridley took 11 painful issues to make a point. The point isn't about T'Challa though. The point is about us fans. It is about our fantasies about the most popular Black superhero in modern times. It's about our illusions of the character that is T'Challa. No matter how much you love T'Challa, you really cannot relate to him. He is a dream of Black manhood, African manhood. We who live in the west, who have more in common with Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning or Sam Wilson aka Black Falcon, lol shun the truth of who we are versus what we want things to be like. T'Challa is dope, no doubt. Ridley's deconstruction of him pierces us only because we know the truth and too many of us wont recognize it. Ridley's writing has been attacked for its "western" viewpoint of Wakanda. Truthfully speaking, Wakanda is a western idea at best and a glorified What If story at worst. How do you think folks from Atlanta fix they mouth to say that Atlanta is Wakanda. We joking or are we playing? Not to worry Black Panther comic book readers, the story is arching upwards. The truth is not just out there. Its staring T'Challa in the face. In the beginning of the issue, the so called opposing forces coordinate an attack on three data centers. They take no hostages, their mission was simple. Deliver a word. That word was "Live Freely, But Live in peace. Or Else." This message is cryptic for the oppressed but it is crystal clear for the oppressors. Ridley's account of the president reacting to this message is spot on. Dude gets an A plus for identifying U.S. imperialism. This subliminal message sent by Jhai was really on behalf of Wakanda. Wakanda has emerged from the shadows and is on the public stage but now this will turn it up an notch. I just wonder whether T'Challa will give Jhai a pound or will try to smack the Black off him. When you train people to be killers do not be surprised that they kill. When you train people to spy. Do not be surprise when they spy and create their aspirations for building a better world at your behest. Yeah, you might want to stick around for this run. Cats like myself have said that Ridley is going somewhere. Grab a late pass. The train has left the station. -Richard J Wright

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