I didn’t think I would feel as
emotional as I did taking my son to see Black Panther.
Sure, he’d been obsessing
about it for months. Ever since we’d heard the script was in development, he’d
focused on this protagonist more than any other. Roman has a knack for art, and for
the past few months he’d devoted his most involved works to various homages of
Black Panther. But I still thought it was something of a phase. He’d get over
it.
It’s a movie, another superhero flick just like ones they’d seen before.
Honestly, before viewing it initially with my husband, I went back and forth on
whether or not I’d even let him see it all (obsession be damned). But there was
something about sitting in that theater on the day it premiered, smiling
without even realizing it through most of the production - I was filled up watching Black Panther. Filled
with pride and excitement and (yes, even though it was a movie about a
fictional country) a hunger to find out more about my own connection to Africa.
I couldn’t deny my kids that.
So off we went during mid-winter
break, a mere 3 days after I’d already seen it once, with me stage whispering for
Roman (as he hugged his stuffed Black Panther to his chest) and his older sister to cover their eyes every so often during the
“scary” parts and I’m so happy we did. My son (and daughters), born while this country
was run by its very first black president, coming of age in a time when the
voices of youth speak volumes, as gender roles are being confronted and re-imagined,
sat in that theater and watched this pretend black hero flex his muscle and use
his mind to defeat the bad guys and to stand up for his people.
And I couldn’t
have asked for a better message for my boy. I envy the sense of belonging that my
kids seem to be growing up with. The role of Black Americans in business and government,
particularly, are almost commonplace whereas just a few years ago, a Black
president was spoken of almost anecdotally. So yes, I’m thankful to Marvel’s Black
Panther – a movie that exudes black excellence both behind the scenes and in
front of the lens – because it means so much to my family and specifically my
son.
We’d toyed with the idea,
beforehand, about making my son’s upcoming birthday party, Black Panther-themed
but with such limited merchandise available and (after the movie release)
running short on time before Roman’s February 27th birthday, we didn’t
know if we’d pull it off. Once we saw the flick though, we knew we had to make
it happen.
But I flexed my own creative muscle
(Roman gets it from somewhere after all) and mixed together a few details that
I thought would go along way. Between our panther-clawed balloons (courtesy of
Party City), a little Photoshop creative license (thanks to the movie’s
promotional posters) to enhance the goodie bags and treats and some friends
that were very indulgent of our excitement, we put together an unforgettable 6th
birthday for my special boy (and birthday twin). Something I hope he remembers
for a very long time. Hell, I know I will.
What’s something you & your
kids share that you know means so much to you?
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