Black Panther and Philosophy

Cover image: © hannesthirion/Adobe Stock

Cover design by Wiley

Set in 10/12 Sabon LT Std Text by Integra Software Services, Pondicherry, India

When we started writing this book, Chadwick Boseman was still with us. None of us knew what he was going through, making his death all the more tragic. Like the loss of many whose lives are cut short, Boseman’s loss leaves a hole that can never be filled, as the following posts attest:

“When I was around Chadwick, I wanted to be better, less petty, more purposeful … He was fueled by love, not fear. He moved quietly, deliberately and without imposing himself or his ideals on others. And yet he also made damn sure that his life meant something. He was unwavering about that. He cared so deeply about humanity, about Black people, about his people. He activated our pride. By pushing through and working with such high purpose in the films he chose to commit to, Chadwick has made the infinite his home.”

– Lupita Nyong’o, Tweet, September 8, 2020

“My entire job as Okoye was to respect and protect a king. Honor his leadership. Chadwick made that job profoundly easy. He was the epitome of kindness, elegance, diligence and grace. On many an occasion I would think how thankful I was that he was the leading man I was working closely with. A true class act. And so perfectly equipped to take on the responsibility of leading the franchise that changed everything for Black representation.”

– Danai Guriria, Instagram, August 30, 2020

“In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.”

– Ryan Coogler, from a statement issued on August 30, 2020

“I wish we had more time. One of the last times we spoke, you said we were forever linked, and now the truth of that means more to me than ever. […] Everything you’ve given the world … the legends and heroes that you’ve shown us we are … will live on forever. But the thing that hurts the most is that I now understand how much of a legend and hero YOU are. […] I’m more aware now than ever that the time is short with people we love and admire. I’m gonna miss your honesty, your generosity, your sense of humor, and incredible gifts. I’ll miss the gift of sharing space with you in scenes. I’m dedicating the rest of my days to live the way you did. With grace, courage, and no regrets. ‘Is this your king!?’ Yes. He. Is! Rest In Power Brother.”

– Michael B. Jordan, Instagram, August 31, 2020

“When he listened, he gave you his full attention. He had such grace, a regal quality – it’s no coincidence he was chosen to play the king of a nation, Wakanda, in Black Panther. He taught me the power of stillness: knowing who you are and letting that speak for you. No matter how many early morning calls or events he had to get to, I never saw him rush. Every second was important, not to be wasted. He always made you feel at ease. And I loved his laugh. It was so beautiful, you always knew when he was in the room.”

– Letitia Wright, excerpt from “A King Among Men,” British Vogue, March 15, 2021

Of course, we didn’t know Chadwick personally, so our sentiments are those of fans who admired his work, his character, his smile, his energy, and the regal nature that permeated his life and the characters he embodied. He was undoubtedly a true hero, and losing Chadwick midway through the production of this book was a gut punch to all of us. We know that this is only a book. Yet, in putting it together, it felt like we’d lost a member of our team and our family. Thus, to honor Chadwick and especially his role as T’Challa and Black Panther, we dedicate this volume to his memory.

Rest in peace Chadwick … and thank you for setting the example for what a real hero looks like – on screen and off.

1 Cover

2 Series page

3 Title page

4 Copyright

5 Dedication

6 Contributors: One Single Tribe

7 Introduction: A Few Words from the Wakandan International Outreach Centre

8 Part I Yibambe! 1 Challenge Day: Tradition and Revolution in Wakanda 2 Transforming Wakanda: Justice (or Not?) in Black Panther 3 Sins of the Fathers: Historical Injustice and Its Repair in lack Panther 4 “What Would You Have Wakanda Do about It?” Black Panther, Global Justice, and African Philosophy 5 T’Challa’s Liberalism and Killmonger’s Pan-Africanism

9 Part II Wakanda Forever! 6 Panther Virtue: The Many Roles of T’Challa 7 Should Wakanda Take Over the World? The Ethics of International Power 8 T’Challa, the Revolutionary King: Legitimation Crises in Wakanda 9 T’Challa’s Machiavellian Methods 10 Understanding the Reigns of T’Challa and Killmonger through Hannah Arendt

10 Part III The Heart-Shaped Herb 11 Beastly Boys: The Racial-Sexual Politics of Meat 12 Panther Mystique: Wakandan Feminism Demystified 13 The Ancestral Plane: Metaphysical Mystery or Meaningful Metaphor? 14 The Afterlife of Erik Killmonger in African Philosophy 15 Wakandan Resources: The Epistemological Reality of Black Panther’s Fiction

11 Part IV Vibranium 16 When Tech Meets Tradition: How Wakandan Technology Transcends Anti-Blackness 17 Vibranium Dreams and Afrofuturist Visions: Technology, Nature, and Culture 18 Black Panther ’s Afrofuturism: Reconnecting Neural and Cultural Pathways 19 Wakanda and the Dilemma of Racial Utopianism 20 The Value of Vibranium

12 Part V Black Lives Matter 21 Dismantling the Master’s House with the Master’s Tools 22 An Impossible Return? (Anti)Colonialism in/of Black Panther 23 T’Challa’s Dream and Killmonger’s Means: Echoes of MLK and Malcolm X 24 “It’s Time They Knew the Truth about Us! We’re Warriors!”: Black Panther and the Black Panther Party 25 Fear of a Black Museum: Black Existentialism

13 Index

14 End User License Agreement

1 Cover

2 Series page

3 Title page

4 Copyright

5 Dedication

6 Table of Contents

7 Contributors

8 Begin Reading

9 Index

10 End User License Agreement

1 i

2 ii

3 iii

4 iv

5 v

6 vi

7 vii

8 viii

9 ix

10 x

11 xi

12 xii

13 xiii

14 xiv

15 xv

16 xvi

17 xvii

18 xviii

19 1

20 2

21 3

22 4

23 5

24 6

25 7

26 8

27 9

28 10

29 11

30 12

31 13

32 14

33 15

34 16

35 17

36 18

37 19

38 20

39 21

40 22

41 23

42 24

43 25

44 26

45 27

46 28

47 29

48 30

49 31

50 32

51 33

52 34

53 35

54 36

55 37

56 38

57 39

58 40

59 41

60 42

61 43

62 44

63 45