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4/14/2019 'Black Panther' and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards

https://theconversation.com/black-panther-and-its-science-role-models-inspire-more-than-just-movie-awards-112268 1/6

Autor

Clifford Johnson Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Rigor académico, oficio periodístico

‘Black Panther’ and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards 21 febrero 2019 20:01 CET

It has been said many times that the Marvel movie “Black Panther” is an important

landmark. I’m not referring to its deserved critical and box office success worldwide, the

many awards it has won, or the fact that it is the first film in the superhero genre to be

nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards.

Instead, I’m focusing on a key aspect of its cultural impact that is less frequently

discussed. Finally a feature film starring a black superhero character became part of the

Marvel Cinematic Universe – a successful run of intertwined movies that began with “Iron

Man” in 2008. While there have been other superhero movies with a black lead character

– “Hancock” (2008), “Blade” (1998), “Spawn” (1997) or even “The Meteor Man” (1993) –

this film is significant because of the recent remarkable rise of the superhero film from the

nerdish fringe to part of mainstream culture.

Huge audiences saw a black lead character – not a sidekick or part of a team – in a superhero movie

by a major studio, with a black director (Ryan Coogler), black writers and a majority black cast. This is

a significant step toward diversifying our culture by improving the lackluster representation of

minorities in our major media. It’s also a filmmaking landmark because black creators have been

given access to the resources and platforms needed to bring different storytelling perspectives into our

mainstream culture.

2017’s “Wonder Woman” forged a similar path. In that case, a major studio finally decided to commit

resources to a superhero film headlined by a female character and directed by a woman, Patty

Jenkins. Female directors are a minority in the movie industry. Jenkins brought a new perspective to

this kind of action movie, and there was a huge positive response from audiences in theaters

worldwide.

King of a technologically advanced country, Black Panther is a scientific genius. © 2017 – Disney/Marvel Studios

21 febrero 2019 20:01 CET

‘Black Panther’ and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards

4/14/2019 'Black Panther' and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards

https://theconversation.com/black-panther-and-its-science-role-models-inspire-more-than-just-movie-awards-112268 2/6

And beyond all this, “Black Panther” also broke additional ground in a way most people may not

realize: In the comics, the character is actually a scientist and engineer. Moreover, in the inevitable

(and somewhat ridiculous) ranking of scientific prowess that happens in the comic book world, he’s

been portrayed as at least the equal of the two most famous “top scientists” in the Marvel universe:

Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic). A black headlining superhero character

written and directed by black artists is rare enough from a major studio. But making him – and his

sister Shuri – successful scientists and engineers as well is another level of rarity.

Scientists on screen

I’m a scientist who cares about increased engagement with science by the general public. I’ve worked

as a science adviser on many film and TV projects (though not “Black Panther”). When the

opportunity arises, I’ve helped broaden the diversity of scientist characters portrayed onscreen.

I’ve also recently published a nonfiction graphic book for general

audiences called “The Dialogues: Conversations about the Nature of the

Universe.” Its characters include male and female black scientists,

discussing aspects of my own field of theoretical physics – where black

scientists are unfortunately very rare. So the opportunity that the “Black

Panther” movie presents to inform and inspire vast audiences is of great

interest to me.

The history and evolution of the Black Panther character and his

scientific back story is a fascinating example of turning a problematic

past into a positive opportunity.

Jason Wilkes is a black scientist on ‘Agent Carter,’ whose character emerged from the author’s talks with the show’s writers. ABC Television, CC BY-ND

Panels from ‘The Dialogues,’ including a black female scientist. 'The Dialogues,' by Clifford V. Johnson (MIT Press 2017), CC BY-ND

4/14/2019 'Black Panther' and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards

https://theconversation.com/black-panther-and-its-science-role-models-inspire-more-than-just-movie-awards-112268 3/6

Created in 1966 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he’s the first black superhero character in mainstream

comics, originally appearing as a guest in a “Fantastic Four” Marvel comic. As a black character

created and initially written by nonblack authors, guest-starring in the pages of a book headlined by

white characters, he had many of the classic attributes of what is now sometimes controversially

known as the “magical negro” in American cultural criticism: He ranked extremely highly in every

sphere that mattered, to the point of being almost too unreal even for the comics of the time.

Black Panther is T’Challa, king of the fictional African country Wakanda, which is fathomlessly

wealthy and remarkably advanced, scientifically and technologically. Even Marvel’s legendary master

scientist – Reed Richards of the superhero team Fantastic Four – is befuddled by and full of

admiration for Wakanda’s scientific capabilities. T’Challa himself is portrayed as an extraordinary

“genius” in physics and other scientific fields, a peerless tactician, a remarkable athlete and a master

of numerous forms of martial arts. And he is noble to a fault. Of course, he grows to become a

powerful ally of the Fantastic Four and other Marvel superheroes over many adventures.

The key point here is that the superlative scientific ability of our hero, and that of his country, has its

origins in the well-meaning, but problematic, practice of inventing near or beyond perfect black

characters to support stories starring primarily white protagonists. But this is a lemons-to-lemonade

story.

While likening Black Panther to a ‘refugee from a Tarzan movie,’ the Fantastic Four marveled at his technological innovations in ‘Introducing the Sensational Black Panther.’ Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966). [Marvel Comics]

4/14/2019 'Black Panther' and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards

https://theconversation.com/black-panther-and-its-science-role-models-inspire-more-than-just-movie-awards-112268 4/6

Black Panther eventually got to star in his own series of comics. He was turned into a nuanced and

complex character, moving well away from the tropes of his beginnings. Writer Don McGregor’s work

started this development as early as 1973, but Black Panther’s journey to the multilayered character

you see on screen was greatly advanced by the efforts of several writers with diverse perspectives.

Perhaps most notably, in the context of the film, these include Christopher Priest (late 1990s) and Ta-

Nehisi Coates (starting in 2016), along with Roxane Gay and Yona Harvey, writing in “World of

Wakanda” (2016). Coates and Gay, already best-selling literary writers before coming to the character,

helped bring him to wider attention beyond normal comic book fandom, partly paving the way for the

movie.

Through all of the improved writing of T'Challa and his world, his spectacular scientific ability has

remained prominent. Wakanda continues to be a successful African nation with astonishing science

and technology. Furthermore, and very importantly, T'Challa is not portrayed as an anomaly among

his people in this regard. There are many great scientists and engineers in the Wakanda of the comics,

including his sister Shuri. In some accounts, she (in the continued scientist-ranking business of

comics) is an even greater intellect than he is. In the movie, T’Challa’s science and engineering

abilities are referred to, but it is his sister Shuri who takes center stage in this role, having taken over

to design the new tools and weapons he uses in the field. She also uses Wakandan science to heal

wounds that would have been fatal elsewhere in the world.

The Fantastic Four were amazed by the scientific ingenuity of Wakanda in ‘Whosoever Finds The Evil Eye.’ Fantastic Four #54 (September 1966). [Marvel Comics]

4/14/2019 'Black Panther' and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards

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If they can do it, then why not me?

As a scientist who cares about inspiring more people – including underrepresented minorities and

women – to engage with science, I think that showing a little of this scientific landscape in “Black

Panther” potentially amplifies the movie’s cultural impact.

Vast audiences see black heroes – both men and women – using their scientific ability to solve

problems and make their way in the world, at an unrivaled level. Research has shown that such

representation can have a positive effect on the interests, outlook and career trajectories of viewers.

Improving science education for all is a core endeavor in a nation’s competitiveness and overall

health, but outcomes are limited if people aren’t inspired to take an interest in science in the first

place. There simply are not enough images of black scientists – male or female – in our media and

entertainment to help inspire. Many people from underrepresented groups end up genuinely

believing that scientific investigation is not a career path open to them.

Moreover, many people still see the dedication and study needed to excel in science as “nerdy.” A

cultural injection of Black Panther heroics helps continue to erode the crumbling tropes that science is

only for white men or reserved for people with a special “science gene.”

The huge widespread success of the “Black Panther” movie, showcasing T'Challa, Shuri and other

Wakandans as highly accomplished scientists, remains one of the most significant boosts for science

engagement in recent times.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Feb. 8, 2018.

Black Panther isn’t an isolated genius – his half-sister Shuri is a technological wiz herself. Marvel Studios

4/14/2019 'Black Panther' and its science role models inspire more than just movie awards

https://theconversation.com/black-panther-and-its-science-role-models-inspire-more-than-just-movie-awards-112268 6/6

Popular culture STEM Media stereotypes Marvel Superheroes Underrepresented students Scientist careers

Cultural stereotypes role models Black Panther Movies Marvel superheroes STEM role models Superhero

Marvel Comics Marvel Universe MIT Press Marvel films

Clifford V. Johnson is the author of:

The Dialogues: Conversations about the Nature of the Universe

MIT Press provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.