MAMArvellous!

Growing up as a child in England you were hard pressed to see many Black faces on tv. When you did see them they were usually playing a role portraying all of the usual stereotypes associated with being Black – I won’t list them, we know what they are.

Maybe it’s the fact that we only had 4 channels back then that I can remember some of the ones that I could actually relate to so distinctly; The Real McCoy, Desmond’s, No Problem!, The Cosby Show, Different Strokes, The Lenny Henry Show and Flava spring to mind. Thanks to videos (R.I.P Blockbuster) and cable tv bringing Yo! MTV Raps and AmeriKKKan shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Moesha, A Different World and a whole other range into my life, it really did feel like a different world than where I came from.

If you know me then you’d know there was only one place I’d be going to on the evening of February Tuesday 13th. If you’ve managed to avoid the hype and the date means nothing to you then let me fill you in: it was the day BLACK PANTHER came out in cinemas over here and yes, I was one of the many who pre booked tickets!

I’ve always loved superhero movies and even at the age of 43 I still get excited at trailers. Some may call me sad, but the idea of people who could do amazing superhuman things has gripped me from a young age and most of us have some form of guilty pleasure – superheroes are mine! I’ve seen nearly every Marvel film going but this deserved special attention and yes purely because of my melanin. There is no shame in my game!

I’m not a diehard fanatic. I don’t know the exact origins of every character or get into deep debates about whom could beat who. I really don’t care if they were born super or got their powers by chance – I just enjoy watching them! DC will always have a place in my heart – they gave us Eartha Kitt as Catwoman (which was a huge deal in the 60’s), and it was Superman and Wonderwoman that really got me hooked, but in my humble opinion, Marvel has the edge over them. #StormInATeacup*

I’ve read a lot of shit, prior to and after the release of the film. You actually have to laugh at how one film can cause certain ‘people’ so much distress. Again I’m not even going to go there – we know why they’re hating and that’s on them and hasn’t stopped it from being the hit that it is. Personally this film got me on so many levels. They combined my love of both my people and superhero perfectly!😍

I thought I’d got lucky with Luke Cage (Sweet Christmas), and I’ve yet to watch all of Black Lightning, but in comparison to what I’ve seen they’ve got nothing on what Black Panther has to offer – especially for our youth and our women. Yes, I’m fully aware we’re dealing with fiction here, but it’s nice to have our kids excited about something that shows us in a positive light and embracing it. It can’t be said that it’s not needed now more than ever no matter in what form.

One thing you can’t ignore about the film is the part the women play. Beauty, brains, brawn, all black everything – and just like the Dora Milaje they’re killing it! They are the real superheroes. When Okoye did the hair flick and got ready for action, alongside it being a funny moment, it said so much more if you care to see it. She wasn’t afraid to show the real warrior woman she is, she was literally itching to in fact! Being the mother of two young women I’m trying to instil their warrior women. Being a woman is hard, but being a Black woman is harder still, and despite Wakanda not being real the message is. We got this!

Thursday was International Women’s Day. A day to celebrate the achievements of women all over the world, and why not – WE’RE PHENOMENAL! (Well some of us anyway!) For all my ladies around the world who have made a change big or small, added to the population, and/or had to deal with painful periods, menopause or any other ‘woman’s issue’ I salute you!

Seriously men, you don’t even know how blessed y’all truly are!

R.I.P to all those who have lost their lives this week.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mum and all those deserving the title. Hope you have a blessed day.

Wakanda Forever! Stay Blessed & #CelebrateLife