Captain America / Black Panther: Flags of Our Fathers Paperback
by Denys Cowan (Author), Reginald Hudlin (Author)
The idea behind Marvel’s Black Panther was a fascinating “What If” had any parts of Africa never been colonised.
Sadly, reality tells us otherwise.
Suffice to say America’s interests in Africa were never particularly stellar. Just look at what is happening with the money that went to M23 nowadays and the many coups and assassinations to push it’s influence while preaching democracy worldwide. One needs only to look into what was done in the Shinkolobwe mine in the Congo and what was done to keep its claws in it.
Wakanda is Shinkolobwe if it had the power to protect it.
The book by Reginald Hudlin – a writer whose work on Black Panther is praised but I still have yet to read – were he explores Wakanda’s wartime history with America is interesting with this in mind. It does address the fact that Wakanda is not viewed as its own subject, but object by external forces – a very Western-centric perspective where two flags – the the Stars and Stripes and the Swastika – view the country only as a tool despites it’s effort to keep their claws out.
What is more sinister is how the former tries to crowbar it’s way in with a pretense of friendliness, seen clearly here with the approach of Nick fury and his Howling Commandos. Except the other part of that pfriendly face here has principles of his own, and holds his ground in making alliances for doing the right thing rather than using people as tools to one’s advantage.
Perhaps that is also why I always liked what Captain America stands for.
He doesn’t and shouldn’t represent America. He is what America should aspire to be.
#crowcomicreviews #BlackHistoryMonth
