"Black Panther" and The Alleged "Extra-ness"of POC

It is an undeniable fact that February is a special month for black people all around the United States (and beyond for some, as well.) We celebrate the lives of our ancestors that paved the way for the greatness that we must continue to produce. This February has been yet another prosperous nod to Black History Month.

Yesterday the release of Marvel's highly anticipated movie, Black Panther, took over the world (and Black Twitter) by storm. Literally, all over my social media there was not one post that didn't refer to the movie. So far, I haven't seen one bad review. It's so refreshing to see how many people of color have been interactive and receptive in terms of the release, from dressing in their best garments to costumes of Black Panther characters. On top of that, the Black Panther release evolved into something bigger than itself by becoming a series of service challenges to bring children to see the movie for free.

Sounds like a great thing, right?

But you know, caucacity and assimilation is always in the air.

Alongside the release of Black Panther, there was a lot of criticism to be expressed. Many people used this opportunity to shame the movie and create fake posts and scenarios about white people being attacked by blacks in theaters while going to see the film. Imagine white people...feeling out of place somewhere because they were the "minority"? That's funny, ironic, but funny. Many critics took action to social media and said several things such as how "eXtRa" black people are being for the movie (and I spelled extra and meant it in the most Spongebob-meme-est way possible), the movie is not meant to be centered around Black History, and shaming the lack of LGBTQ representation.

First of all, black people and people of color period have all the right to be as extra as they want for this movie. I'm actually shocked by the audacity of people to silence us for being excited about an all-black cast and representation in a superhero film all around. The worst part is that there is people of my own kind calling us extra and saying this is the reason why we aren't liked by white people and other races. To tell you the truth, I'll be damned if I'm not prideful in being black because it's not complimentary to anyone's preferences. Being black is lit, and I will always root for everything and everyone black (except Stacey Dash.)

I really want to understand how people are upset at those who are dressing up for Black Panther in what y'all call "Coming to America" attire, but not upset at the same people who dress up for every release of Star Wars and Harry Potter. I swear, I haven't heard anyboody call Star Wars fans extra for anything they do in a movie theater the day a release drops. Because it's Black Panther and blacks indulging in a superhero movie, it's "extra"? Yeah, you lost me on that one.

Speaking to the criticism that Black Panther is not meant to be a black movie but rather just a superhero movie, let's just state the facts (and clear implications) here:

• Black Panther has a black cast.

• Black Panther is set in the fictitious African nation of Wakanda.

• Black Panther serves as a remake to the Marvel comic itself and the graphic novel (the graphic novel is by a black Author).

• Refer to the last three statements, and keep in mind that the movie released in February...Black History Month, if you couldn't see where I was going with that statement.

Black Panther, whether you like it or not, is a nod and salute to black people everywhere. Not is it only a great way of indirectly speaking to the relevance and importance of representation of POC, but it's a great history lesson to follow for the children who do go to see it. Don't dismiss the excellence and encouragement of POC just because it was assumingly "intended" to be just a superhero movie, when it's clearly more substance to it.

And for those people complaining about the lack of LGBTQ representation in the movie, cut it out. Do not use LGBTQ representation as a cover up for your "All Lives Matter" complex. In fact, the original comic has proper representation of these identities on the pages. People find every little reason to shame the fact that the movie highlights black excellence, as it was intended to do in connection with its timing and setting.

With a bomb album alongside a great movie (I haven't watched yet, but I already know it's gonna be great because fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman is in it), Black Panther has not only set a standard for black excellence through service and representation; it created unity amongst us to rejoice in our greatness.

So stop telling us that we're extra. We're living the dream in the nightmare that haunts you.

Stay locked in, y'all.