Wakanda is Meant as a Fantasy

 

Black Panther, arguably one of the most famous afro futurist works ever produced, took the world by a storm. It was one of the shiniest, mainstream, properly funded afrofuturist works that anybody might think of off the top of their head. It introduced Wakanda, the idea of a Black nation so powerful it outsmarted the rest of the world. Gerry Caravan’s Article “The Limit of Black Panther’s Afrofuturism” takes a more realistic view of the film and challenges the reality of a nation that missed out on events like colonization. He points out that Marvel limits the fantasy of Wakanda’s power for not complying with the practical application of Wakanda’s existence like what it could do for war or the economy. 

I feel that this is not exactly what Black Panther’s about. While Caravan makes interesting points, that maybe Wakandas power might be more celebrated in a realistic world, that is not the function or the glory of marvel. The reset of a “normal” day after superman saves it IS the glory of Marvel, that is inherently the fantasy. The existence of Wakanda, an African nation that could at any time shatter white feelings of superiority is satisfying in itself. 

I also feel that keeping Wakanda away from more practical applications aligns with true racial relations, at least in the United States. In this Country, Black people create beautiful, advanced things that go unnoticed, not because of advanced vibranium technology, but because everyone else refuses to believe that Black people are capable. Black panther cleverly uses that dynamic in its creation of Wakanda.