Essays

Black Panther introduced viewers to the stunning world of Wakanda, a fictional African country with incredible technological advancements, and to T'Challa, a young man stepping into his role as king and taking up the mantle of the Black Panther title from his late father. The unforgettable story, coupled with the film's mega-success, has undoubtedly shaped the future of superhero cinema, in addition to genuinely changing viewers' lives. Why Wakanda Matters gives this iconic film the in-depth analysis it deserves under the lens of the latest psychological concepts-as well as delving into the lasting cultural impact of this unforgettable story

"Edited by Sheena C. Howard, an award-winning author, filmmaker, and scholar, this book features a collection of essays offering an in-depth analysis of Black Panther under the lens of the latest psychological concepts-as well as delving into the lasting cultural impact of this unforgettable story"--Provided by publisher

Foreword /

Phillip Boutté Jr. --

Introduction /

Sheena C. Howard -- Cross my heart and hope to die in Wakanda : expressions of solidarity in Black Panther / Felicia Stewart -- Symbolic, the real, and the ladies of Wakanda / Claudia Bucciferro -- Wakanda, pan-Afrikanism, and the Afrikana worldview : a representation of the new Afrikana nation / Olísa Yaa Tolókun and Aynda Mariama Kanyama-Jackson -- Killmonger and The wretched of the earth / Dominque Thomas -- Black Panther is Black / Mikhail Lyubansky and Erynn Nicholson -- Oreo, the king, and the Wakandan salute : what Black Panther shows us about why representation matters / Mercedes Samudio -- Ritual in Black Panther : the decolonization of African narratives and implications for the reclamation of African spiritual identification and practice / Chateé Omísadé Richardson and L. Nzingha Samuel -- Erik Killmonger and the psychology of inner-city trauma / Chateé Omísadé Richardson -- Black radical thought as pathology in Black Panther / Charles Athanasopoulos -- Vibranium healing / Mishelle Rodriguez -- N'Jadaka and intergenerational trauma : a case study of post-traumatic slave syndrome / Olísa Yaa Tolókun -- Representation, identification, and pride : teaching with (and through) Black Panther / Evan Jones -- Identification and decentering whiteness in Black Panther / Tehia Starker Glass, Joseph W. Allen, and GiShawn A. Mance -- Cognitive dissonance and T'Challa's evolution ;

Afterword /

Sheena C. Howard

Introduction --

Part I: Psychology Of Collective Identity and Connectedness. Chapter 1: Cross My Heart and Hope to Die In Wakanda: Expressions of Solidarity in Black Panther / Felicia Stewart -- Chapter 2: Symbolic, the Real, and the Ladies of Wakanda / Claudia Bucciferro -- Chapter 3: Wakanda, Pan-afrikanism, and the Afrikana Worldview: A Representation of the New Afrikana Nation / Olísa Yaa Tolókun, Aynda Mariana Kanyama-Jackson -- Part II: Psychology Of Racial Identity. Chapter 4: Killmonger and the Wretched Of The Earth / Dominque Thomas -- Chapter 5: Black Panther Is Black / Mikhail Lyubansky, Erynn Nicholson -- Chapter 6: Oreo, the King, and the Wakandan Salute: What Black Panther Shows Us About Why Representation Matters / Mercedes Samudio -- Chapter 7: Ritual in Black Panther: The Decolonization of African Narratives and Implications for The Reclamation of African Spiritual Identification And Practice / Chateé Omísadé Richardson, L. Nzingha Samuel -- Part III: Psychology Of Intergenerational Trauma And Resistance. Chapter 8: Erik Killmonger and the Psychology of Inner-city Trauma / Chateé Omísadé Richardson -- Chapter 9: Black Radical Thought as Pathology in Black Panther / Charles Athanasopoulos -- Chapter 10: Vibranium Healing / Mishelle Rodriguez -- Chapter 11: N'jadaka and Intergenerational Trauma: A Case Study of Post-traumatic Slave Syndrome / Olísa Yaa Tolókun -- Part IV: Psychology of Cognition and Identification. Chapter 12: Representation, Identification, and Pride: Teaching with (and through) Black Panther / Evan Jones -- Chapter 13: Identification and Decentering Whiteness in Black Panther / Tehia Starker Glass, Joseph W. Allen, GiShawn A. Mance -- Chapter 14: Cognitive Dissonance and T'challa's Evolution / Sheena C. Howard