Black Panther

Movie reviews are not typically the topics for an Out of the Box blog, but a recent viewing of Black Panther raised many issues we encounter in our work with Out of the Box .

For those of you who have not yet seen the movie, Black Panther is the latest in the Marvel super hero move franchise. The Black Panther first appeared in Marvel comics in 1966 at the time of the US civil rights movement, yet is has taken many decades for it to reach Hollywood.

At the heart of the story is the reversal of the standard narrative of Africa. The Black Panther is the King of Wakanda, a mythical kingdom in Africa which is home to vibranium. The Wakandans use the vibranium to develop advanced technology and isolate themselves from the world by posing as a Third World country.

At the death of the former King, the two protagonists for the throne set out different views of the future. Should Wakanda be bringing its technology, wealth and insights to a world that it needs it ‘the oppressed’? One protagonist wants to arm all those who are ‘oppressed’ with the advanced weapons of the Kingdom while the other wants to use this advantage to help others and show a different way things can be done. Who will win the day?

The film imagines a world where an African nation is wealthy, peaceful and in control of its destiny. There are strong women with leading roles in technology and the defence of the throne. There are leaders showing the world things can be done in a different way.

We are unlikely to find a superhero in a black suit anytime soon, but we do have heroes that we encounter in Out of the Box through our projects each and every day. These heroes ensure girls receive an education, deliver health care, share their knowledge so others can develop an income and stand alongside the vulnerable. They see a different possibility for their communities and we are privileged to work alongside them.