Archetypes and 'tradition vs. radicalism' in Black Panther.
The first time I was introduced to the character of T'Challa and Black Panther was in the early 2010s. I was at home watching the animated Marvel TV series, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, when all of a sudden this African superhero dressed in all black shows up and single-handedly takes on all of the Avengers. It blew my mind. I had never seen this kind of badassery before.
From that moment on, I became a huge fan of the character and was thrilled when Marvel Studios announced that they would be making a live-action adaptation of the character's origin story. Fast forward to now, upon re-watching the masterpiece that is Black Panther, I have come away with a newfound respect for the way the film uses its characters to convey theme and story.
Archetypes
When I think of tradition in the broader African context, I think of archetypes and the various roles each of us are expected to play. I'm talking about gender roles, expressions of masculinity and femininity as well as the African Ubuntu philosophy which emphasizes a relational form of personhood. African communities tend to view individuality in a different way to most western societies. Each of us has a unique role to play and we may not always agree, but if we want to move forward we have to set aside our differences and engage with one another. It's the idea that "I am, because you are".
Whether or not you agree with the Ubuntu philosophy and other concepts influenced by it, this film explores these topics in such nuanced way, with each character serving in an archetypal role-- without which the order of society would fall apart.
T'Challa- The King
T'Challa's role in the framework of the narrative and within Wakandan society might look simple on the surface. A king is the leader of his kingdom. That's it.
Well... not so fast. T'Challa is the leader of Wakanda, yes. But he is more than that because of what his role means in the larger context of the Wakandan community. To be the king, means that he is responsible for maintaining the sovereignty of Wakanda on the global scale and the welfare of the Wakandan people on the communal level. To be king means that T'Challa is more than merely a monarch. He is the champion of Wakandan culture(s) and the protector of Wakandan ideals.
I love the scene above because in many ways we see the toll that such a role like this takes. T'Challa cannot refuse Killmonger's request. To do so would be a rejection of his role as king of Wakanda. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. T'Challa is not just the protector of Wakandan ideals, he is a servant of tradition.
What strikes me the most though, is how much the king relies on everyone else 'under' him. As you'll notice with every other archetype in this film, the king is just as much apart of the community as anyone else. He is not more important than anyone. He is respected and honored (so long as he plays into his role) but he is not treated as a deity. There's a sense that without the support and loyalty of his subjects, the king would be nothing.
This humanizes T'Challa in a unique way. Typically western superheroes are humanized by having a significant flaw or flaws. T'Challa in this film specifically is a true African superhero because his humanity is not defined by his individual flaws perse. Rather, his humanity is defined in context by the role he plays in his community and the way others around him react to that.
I've seen several people online criticize the characterization of T'Challa by describing him as a 'mary sue'. They'll say that he is overpowered and that no matter what happens, you know that he will not fail. I think that is a gross simplification of the character and a total misunderstanding of what makes T'Challa who he is.
In line with the Ubuntu philosophy, T'Challa is because Wakanda is. You cannot define T'Challa without Wakanda. His community is a big part of who he is and the choices he makes. The division that we see in Wakanda, is the same division we see in T'Challa. He is stuck between upholding tradition and breaking away so he can carve out his own path.
It's a relatable struggle-- one that we can all relate to.
Nakia- The Idealist
Nakia, dressed in green-- the color of growth-- is the archetypal idealist. Her role in the film is to envision a better future for Wakanda and her people. I think her most defining traits are her relentless optimism and hope for the future. From the very beginning we see how she fights for the good of others. She believes Wakanda has a gift that should be shared with the world. It's this belief that puts her at odds with the Wakandan way of life.
While she understands that it is tradition for Wakanda to keep to itself, she doesn't see the world that way and thinks that things can improve. The idealist is always at odds with tradition because they are so hopeful for the future, that they tend to neglect certain aspects of the past that need to be valued. Nakia is a more nuanced example of this archetype because she respects and upholds tradition but she does it in her own way.
When Killmonger throws T'Challa off the waterfall and becomes king, she refuses to become his loyal subject. This would seem like a contradiction of character on her part because Killmonger is the one who wants to share Wakanda's Vibranium with the rest of the world. At first glance, his goals are not all that different from her own. They both want to help others who are suffering by sharing the wealth of resources that Wakanda has. The only difference is that Killmonger wants to conquer the so-called 'conquerors' whereas Nakia believes that Wakanda can be better than that.
Though Killmonger's idealism is grounded in a complete reorganizing of social hierarchy and the abolition of unjust systems, Nakia's idealism is one that leaves room for tradition and 'the old way of life'. Wakanda is a country that does not take part in global conflicts. Killmonger wanted to do away with this tradition completely, Nakia on the other hand believes that Wakanda can lend a helping hand without getting too involved in external conflicts. In her words, "other countries do it, we could do it better."
Of course one has to point out the naivety that comes with Nakia's idealism. To lend a helping hand in anyway means to become involved. The minute Wakanda opens its borders to reveal the hidden truth, everything that they've fought to keep protected and concealed will now be targeted whether they like it or not. That is the cold reality of the world the MCU has established-- a reality not too distant from our own.
T'Chaka- The Patriarch
Although we do not see much of T'Chaka in the film, his legacy affects just about every single event that plays out on screen. One of the only reasons Killmonger is the way he is, is because T'Chaka killed his father. Most of the political conflict in the film was, in part, T'Chaka's fault. I think this says something about the role of the patriarch in a patriarchal society and the role that fatherhood plays in the lives of children.
The patriarch's role in society is to establish a family. As leader of his family, the patriarch often chooses who gets to be apart of that family and who does not. It's a lot of responsibility for one man to handle, and as we see in the film there are a lot of expectations that come with that. One such expectation is to set an example for the family.
In the scene above, T'Chaka, having lived his life on earth, encourages his son to rise up as king. T'Challa is more than honored to follow in his footsteps because he's witnessed the kind of life his father led. Of course, later on T'Challa finds out that T'Chaka made some questionable decisions and a few wrong ones along the way. It's a revelation that tints T'Challa's perception of his father, but it also reveals just how important his father is to him.
Ramonda- Queen Mother
Queen Mother is very much the matriarchal figure. She is not just a queen and she is not just a mother. She is the union of two entities serving in one role. A queen serves her people but a mother looks after her children and nourishes them. She guides them and fights for them. Her love is on display for the whole nation to see. By the way her children listen to and respect her. By the way she carries herself after the passing of her husband. In all of these things we see her grace, but we also she her power. The beautiful thing about Ramonda is that she does not force her way onto anyone. The Queen mother understands how tradition works and is content with fulfilling her role within that framework. But she also understands that her children might not follow in her path and may decide to deviate from that same framework. If they do decide to break those norms, then the Queen Mother supports them and guides them as best she can.
I love how we see Ramonda correct Shuri when she acts disrespectfully during the Challenge Day. Here we see the Queen Mother at work. Swift to make sure that her children are well versed and familiar with traditional values. But Ramonda also subverts this archetype by allowing her children to deviate from the norm. In ceremonial situations Shuri is expected to behave a certain way, but when it comes to what she's passionate about, her mother does not stand in her way. She is allowed to be whoever she wants to be.
Same goes for T'Challa. Although he has a lot more expectations to live up to than his sister, Ramonda always supports him and acts as a voice of reason whenever he needs it. She does not tell him what to do. She can only guide him and encourage him to be the best that he can be and if that means encouraging him to break tradition, then so be it.
W'Kabi- The Skeptic
W'Kabi is probably the most relatable among the archetypes. It's hard to be hopeful when you're used to not seeing the fruits of your labor. When T'Chaka failed to bring justice to Ulysses Klaue for the incident at the Wakandan border (in which W'Kabi's father lost his life) W'Kabi lost faith in the ruling government and their ability to deliver on their promises.
When T'Challa also failed to deliver on that same promise, W'Kabi looks elsewhere for justice. The old way of doing things doesn't seem to work, so hungry for progress, W'Kabi turns to Killmonger's radicalistic idealism. It's a move any of us would've made if we were in his place. None of us enjoys being stagnant. I think we'd all rather move forward in a timely fashion instead of straggling around the same issues for years.
It is a particular sense of skepticism that is unique to the Black experience given our history with racism and its byproducts (slavery, colonialism and the like). The world has seen people of African descent in a particular way for centuries. It's only in more recent decades that things are truly shifting, but that trauma still exists. Injustice and oppression are alive and well and our communities all over the world are impacted by that on the daily. That kind of existence is one that can easily lead one to question if things will ever change. It's also a mentality that can easily lead to one becoming radicalized.
It's human nature to crave revenge for the wrongs that have been done against you. At some point you begin to want to act out and start a fire because maybe then somebody will notice and things will start to change.
Okoye- The Warrior
The warrior fights for her people. She is a force to be reckoned with; trained beyond perfection. Her defining quality is her loyalty. She is a symbol of authority and honor. But what happens to that honor when asked to uphold traditions that facilitate inaction and complacency?
Watching Okoye deal with the aftermath of T'Challa's defeat really made me fall in love with her character. Traditional law requires her to serve the ruling king who would be Killmonger since he defeated T'Challa, but Okoye knows deep down that she cannot stand by and watch as Killmonger brings division and chaos into Wakanda.
As general and leader of the Dora Milaje, she has a responsibility to protect and serve the King. By choosing to side with T'Challa in the final battle, Okoye technically commits treason. It's a decision that ultimately proves how loyal Okoye is. She is willing to upend even traditional law to fight for her people. But she does so in a way that does not compromise her honor. The grey area surrounding T'Challa's defeat at the waterfall, allowed for Okoye to side with him in his hour of need. If T'Challa had indeed been killed by Killmonger during the challenge, Okoye would not have been able to aid Nakia and Shuri put a stop to Killmonger's plans. T'Challa returning to take his place was the catalyst Okoye needed to bypass traditional constraints in order to do the right thing.
Shuri- The Prodigy
At just 16, Shuri is the archetypal innovator. She is an expert engineer, scientist and inventor. By nature, she is curious, but her curiosity-- her desire to understand how things work-- sometimes puts her at odds with cultural customs. We're shown this in scenes like the one of T'Challa's inaugural challenge day right before he battles M'baku when she exclaims that she does not like wearing her traditional corset.
Being from a younger generation, Shuri is far ahead of her elders when it comes to technology. And while this does not necessarily mean she is wiser than them, she, more than anyone else in the film (except say for T'Challa), understands that culture-- much like technology-- is not a static thing. Culture evolves and adapts over time and this is something that younger generations across Africa are increasingly aware of.
N'Jadaka (AKA Killmonger)- The Avenger
It is difficult to discuss tradition vs. radicalism from an Afrocentric perspective without addressing the elephants in the room: colonialism, slavery and racism. This is what the avenger is for. Killmonger, who is later revealed to be Prince N'Jadaka, may be the antagonist of the film, but his perspective on injustice and oppression makes a lot of sense.
He is absolutely right in believing that the oppressors must pay for their crimes. And if not, then their descendants should pay. Why should our children continue to suffer the effects of the atrocities committed against our ancestors? It just is not fair. We have to fight back. That's what being an avenger is all about.
For the avenger, breaking tradition is not a problem. They understand that sometimes it's traditional values that can hold a people back. Under the right circumstances, the avenger would make a great leader. Their hatred for injustice motivates them to stand up for what they believe in. Unfortunately in the case of Killmonger, though his ideology makes sense, his intentions are unstable at best and destructive at their core.
He is a perfect example of what happens when we lean in too far into radicalism. But he is also a vehicle for transformation and rebirth. His adamant drive for change, shook Wakanda to its core and allowed it to shake off its passive attitude towards global politics and injustice. Whether or not that is a good thing, is up for debate, but at his very core, Killmonger is a man who has re-invented himself over and over again demonstrating his ability to bounce back. Like T'Challa, he reminds us that we cannot sit back and do nothing when we have a responsibility to act.
Tradition vs. Radicalism: Finding The Middle Ground
Each archetype has a unique role to play in the grand scheme of things, but all are caught in the battle between tradition and radicalism. Leaning too much on either side of the spectrum can have negative effects as we see with characters like T'Chaka and Killmonger. Black Panther reminds us to have our feet rooted in tradition, but our minds tied to the things yet to come.
My father once told me, "eyes on today, mind on tomorrow." What he meant by that was, live in the now, but be aware that the choices you make now will impact your future one way or another. I think we can apply this sage advice to the topic of tradition. We should not make decisions solely because they've always been done that way. We should make decisions in the here and now with the hope of moving towards a brighter future.
If you can't tell, Black Panther is my favorite film of all time and part of the reason why is because of how each character is designed. What are your thoughts on the characters in Black Panther? Let me know in the comments below!
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