Black Hero + Black Trauma = Captain America

 


I sat in a theater during Black History Month and watched Black Captain America be treated like he was in the Jim Crow south. 

Full disclosure before we get into this movie review, I took an edible well ahead of showtime and it kicked in on the drive to the theater. I am completely sober as I write this review however. Now put on your Dr. Umar Kinte cloth thinking cap and come on this journey with me. 

🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨

Marvel needs Ryan Coogler on retainer because Kevin Fiege is not equipped to tell black stories. That being said, it was a solid Marvel movie. I really like how the president got locked up in the end and Anthony Mackie looked great. What ruined this film for me was the overwhelming amount of unnecessary black trauma weaved into the story. I understand that every hero must have a struggle or obstacle. Why did Black Captain America have the civil rights struggle though? It's very lazy writing based on stereotypes. This is the kind of "outside looking in" storytelling that can be harmful in my opinion.

I was abruptly snatched from a lighthearted scene depicting "black boy joy" to seeing some January 6th shit perpetrated by someone who doesn't want any smoke with the US government. It made no sense. Then we had to watch OG Black Cap say the words "I'm not going back!" while being surrounded by police. Now I want you to tell me, what usually happens in a movie when someone says that line? Don't worry, I'll wait?!

Then OG Black Cap gets locked back up again! (This is the third traumatic event by the way.) So of course Sam is going to advocate for him because he knows this is some bs. The crazy ass MAGA coded president then starts treating Captain America like a nigger and rejects him. MAGA president goes completely off the rails and fucks everything up. Now in the end the crazy ass MAGA president gets locked up BUT they still morally absolved him of wrongdoing. I ain't like dat😒. 

I was entertained and I was pissed. Damn you Marvel! The black experience in America is truly wild. Now I'm in the post trauma as Anthony Mackie is proving himself to be an old school patriarch , and getting on my last good nerve.

If there were a god he would have let us keep T'Challa and took Falcon ass instead.

Comments

  1. Aamar PetiteApril 25, 2025 at 8:21 AM

    Still haven’t seen this film and it’s because I knew this would be exactly how I felt watching it. I was excited for the release but something in me kept me from watching it at the movies. Now imma catch it on streaming

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seanjra WebsterSeptember 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM

      Yeah, it was textbook Marvel with micro and macro aggressions. I am probably not going to see any other Marvel films in the theater atp. Thank you for engaging!🫶🏽

      Delete

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