How The Black Panther Movie Has Raised Awareness In The USA & Elsewhere About Certain Types Of Contemporary South African Music & Dance

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: August 5, 2018

This pancocojams post provides selected YouTube discussion thread comments which demonstrate how the 2017 Black Panther movie has raised awareness in the United States and elsewhere about certain genres of contemporary South African music & dance.

Note: I've added an Addendum to this post. The Addendum is the complete [to date] exchange between several commenters in a Black Panther Dance Challenge video's discussion thread. I've added this sub-thread because I find it interesting and want to share it with people reading this post. That sub-thread begins with a person self-identifying as an African criticizing Black Americans performing dance challenges and otherwise supporting the Black Panther movie because the movie was funded by White people.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those involved with the Black Panther movie. Thanks also to all those who are involved in the Black Panther Challenge dances. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/various-african-cultural-elements-that.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Various African Cultural Elements That Are Found In The 2018 Fictional Black Panther Movie (with Black Panther trailer video)"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO EXAMPLES
The following videos are referenced in some of the comments given below.

Video Example #1: T'Challa & Shuri full lab scene(Black Panther 2018)



Nashaly Vega, Published on May 5, 2018

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Statistics as of August 4, 2018 12:26 PM EST
total number of views -175,238
total number of likes- 1,900
total number of dislikes -30

-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html for the pancocojams post entitled Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" (with a reaction YouTube video by The Ubinufu Space).

That post includes the official "Wololo" video and a reaction video posted by a group of Black men and women in the United Kingdom.

Comments from the YouTube Official "Wololo" video's discussion thread are given below as Comment Excerpts #1.

WARNING: This video may be considered inappropriate for children because of its focus on women shaking their butts.

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Video Example #2: Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)



Distruction Boyz, Published on Dec 1, 2017
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Statistics as of August 4, 2018 at 12:38 PM EST
total number of views- 7,063,006 views
total likes- 45,000
total dislikes- 3,000

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Video Example #3 #Omunye
Black Panther Challenge | @mizzk.o



Kendra Oyesanya, Published on Feb 18, 2018
This is how me and the squad walked out of the Black Panther movie :)

[...]

song: Omunye (feat. Benny Maverick, Dladla Mshunqisi)
Artist: Distruction Boyz
Album: Gqom Is the Future

-snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 at 10:53 AM EST
total number of views: 1,580,403
total likes- 36,000
total dislikes- 520
-snip-
Kendra Oyesanya, the lead dancer is from Nigeria.

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Video Example #4: #BlackPantherChallenge
Black Panther Challenge - @jusbmore @klassikkaneck @splack



World Of Africa TV, Published on Mar 8, 2018
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Statistics as of August 4, 2018 12:01 PM EST:
total number of views: 453,018 views
total number of likes: 12,000
total number of dislikes- 270
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html for more information about the song "Wololo". Some comments about the inclusion of this song in the Black Panther movie are included below.

Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0 for that official video for the South African song "Omunye" by the Distruction Boys. That is the song that is featured in all of the Black Panther Dance challenges.

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SELECTED COMMENTS
Most of these comments refer to how the Black Panther and the Black Panther Challenge dance videos have raised the awareness in the United States and elsewhere about certain types of contemporary South African music and dance.

These comments are given under the links for their sources. Numbers have been added for referencing purposes only.

Comment Excerpts #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
1. Sonia, 2018
"Thank you black panther for bringing me here to this amazing song and video"

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2. David Yvan, 2018
"Yoo, this was in black panther!"

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REPLY
3. chukwudalu ibe, 2018
"It's an African song"

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REPLY
4. Mikaela Creedence, 2018
"Ben Grazuca watch Black Panther... it’s during Shuri’s lab scene"
-snip-
The comment from Ben Grazuca no longer appears in this comment thread, but one response indicated that he had insulted Americans for our lack of knowledge about this song. i.e. from Mikaela Creedence, 2018 "Ben Grazuca mmm sad 🤷🏽‍♀️ you clearly live a sad life, anyway I’m Canadian so you insulting Americans doesn’t hurt me"
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REPLY
5. Faith Jonathan, 2018
"Ben Grazuca i think what he meant is that this song was featured on Black Panther and gain more attention...they played it on Shuri's Lab"

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6. Beverly Madondo Madondo, 2018
"I sang along to let those from Western and Eastern Africa know this hit is from the Southern 😂 ✌"

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7. Christine Kiki Anozie, 2018
"Black panther brought me here 💯💯"
-snip-
"Here" meaning to the official YouTube video of Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo

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8. IC Henry, 2018
"Heard this in BLACK PANTHER and its been stuck in my head for over a WEEK!!!"

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9. alicia906, 2018
"OMG!!!! I heard this song in Black Panther and immediately needed to have it in my life... I'm from Chicago. I'm sad that I'm a year late on knowing this song... but I Bangzzz it SO HARD IN MY CAR EVERY DAY!"

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REPLY
10. IC Henry, 2018
"alicia906 I also feel so late to the South African music scene. When you get the chance check out other Gqom and S.A. house music videos! Afrobeats is 🔥 but South Africa is dropping FIRE tunes!!"
-snip-
"Afrobeats" is a contemporary music genre from Nigeria.

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11. Armon Hall, 2018
"Black Panther brought me to this greatness. 🙅🏿‍♂️"

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12. daniel peachey, 2018
"When people from overseas only heard of this song cause of BP but us lanzo people are still bumping to this after 2 years"
-snip-
I don't know what "lanzo people" mean, but from its usage, I assume it means people from South Africa.

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13. Tanya Kaseke, 2018
"Wakanda brought m here😍"

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14. Vaibhav Kalra, 2018
"from india with love..
cant understand a word but my new thang....
wakanda forever..🙌"

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15. Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, 2018
"Wakanda forever. Black Panther brings me here."

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Comment Excerpts #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0 "Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)"

Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is the South African song that is used for all of the Black Panther Challenge dance videos. This video is given as Example #2 above.

1. LetsHangThough, 2018
"hands up if Black Panther led you here!"

REPLY
2. okuomose okuns, 2018
"LetsHangThough this tune wouldn't be yhis big without black panther dance challenges"

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REPLY
3. LetsHangThough, 2018
"okuomose okuns I liked it before the challenge started, it was big before that. The challenge just revived it!"

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REPLY
4. Nachaka Davenport, 2018
"Hands in the air. Black Panther led me here. Power to the people!"

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REPLY
5. SUGAR TO SH&T*, 2018
"LetsHangThough
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
I AM FROM THE U. S. And
CNN NEWS LED ME HERE!!!
🐾🐾BLACK PANTHER🐾
I couldn’t believe this most watched news station was playing clips of this video 😵
I was sitting watching the news when a CNN anchor stated that FORBES just announced that 🐾🐾BLACK PANTHER 🐾
Is the HIGHEST GROSSED SUPER HERO🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Movie 🎥 of all times and it will be another one in the making.
Then I was shocked to see the news anchor show clips of this video and the beat of this music. I started moving my shoulders from side to side and waving my hands before I knew it my old ass was getting it. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
I am here for this sh&t*!!!!🐾🐾"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this screen name and in this comment.

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6. Kaylin Phillips, 2018
"I love how they used this in Black Panther 😍👏🏽 Wakanda Forever ✊🏽"

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REPLY
7. KATO ABDO, 2018
"Me also😍😍😍"

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REPLY
8. El Bee II, 2018
"It wasn't actually in the movie. But the guys that used it in the choreography totally smashed it. 🙅🏾‍♂️"

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9. Steevenlight75, 2018
"Lol I’m here because of Black Panther choreography"

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10. Susu Palmers, 2018
"Black panther brought me here! Where all my brothers and sisters from wakanda at 🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️"

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REPLY
11. Ada Ekwutife, 2018
"Susu Palmers meee I'm from wakanda lmao😛😂😂💀"

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REPLY
12. sibu ncube, 2018
"Welcome to Wakanda 😁"

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13. Britt F, 2018
"This should have been on the Black Panther Soundtrack! I wish I understood the lyrics (language) but the beat is Hot🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!!!! Great Music and Great Dancing!!! #blackpantherchallenge
Much Love all the way from the U.S. 😘😘😘😍😍😍😁😁😁"

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14. HawkZulu, 2018
"Black Panther challenge brought me here.. MY GOD this song is lit. WAKANDA FOREVAHH!!"

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15. Actively So! Claudia, 2018
"South Africa is Wakanda Nation 😏😏😏"

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16. Timia Maya Kameeta, 2018
"Africans knew this before black panther already 😏🔥🔥🔥"

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17. Arry Lee, 2018
"Wakanda lead me here 😍 i love black folks ❤ love from indonesia"

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18. Ali Wilson, 2018
"Yes Black Panther movie compelled me to search for this track, but when I saw the video I was indeed disappointed....."

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REPLY
19. IKINGW GAMER, 2018
"This Song wasn't part of black panther movie,it was a challenge on instagram. The song that played in black panther scene is called wololo"

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20. Miss Coco, 2018
"Thanks to black Panter for leading me here, Great beat"

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Comment Excerpt #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfc_KZbQu_E Black Panther Challenge | @mizzk.o
-snip-
This video is given as Video Example #3 above.

1. Kendra Oyesanya, 2018
"Thank you all for the love! For the people asking yes we are the creators of the "Black Panther Dance Challenge" and we loved seeing everyones remake! #WakandaForever"

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REPLY
2. Kona Jyun, 2018
"Amazing job well done on coming out with Black Panther challenge I've never been any more proud as an African to see our people appreciating themselves. Omunye by Distruction Boyz was the perfect song choice for this I watch this video st least three times a week, I'm so happy it went viral thank you for creating a new dance craze. 😎😍#WakandaForever #AfricaForever"

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REPLY
3. myfddream, 2018
"Kendra Oyesanya Hey great job whos the artist and title of the challenge song. Cant find it."

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REPLY
4. Kona Jyun, 2018
"myfddream Artist are Distruction Boyz and name of the song is Omunye. They are Zulus from South Africa."

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5. chi chi, 2018
"I saw this on Facebook. This went viral girl ❤❤❤❤"

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6. Bri.V.M., 2018
"Omg that was you lol? I saw this on Tumblr. This was too lit! 🔥🔥🔥"

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7. Reo Ndimande, 2018
"OmG, this is South African song by Destruction Boys😀😀 it's called "Omunye"...There's a part of a very popular dance on the video originating from SA too it's called" Gwaragwara" it was recently performed by Rihanna and went viral!! So excited!"

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REPLY
8. ten ruwona, 2018
"Reo Ndimande It's amazing how Black Panther has exposed the talent in Africa"

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9. MseUnscripted, 2018
"It looked as if the Black Panther was blessing them as they danced out...they did the music more justice than the official music video...#MyPeopleAreBeautiful"
-snip-
"The official music video" that the commenter is referring to is the video for "Omunye".

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10. African Pegasus, 2018
"#GQOMFamily rise up!! South African music is making moves!

Plus her Gwara Gwara at 0:31 was legendary!! Utter bliss!!"
-snip-
"Omunye" is an example of "Gqom" music. The isiZulu word "omunye" has the sexual meaning of "being on top of". A commenter in the official video of that song shared that because of that word's meaning (not because of the video itself which isn't sexually explicit) the song "Omunye" was banned from playing on South African radios.

"Gwara Gwara is the South African dance that is usually performed to Gqom music."

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11. Brandy Wandera, 2018
"Those are South African dance moves."

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REPLY
12. Roman Tick, 2018
"Brandy Wandera yes but not all! There was gwara gwara from SA and then Shaku Shaku and shoki from Nigeria but all together is fiiiiire"

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13. Tsholofelo Tau, 2018
"Because of the song I thought they were South African but then they started doing the gwara gwara and I was like NOPE that's not how we do it. But this is still great choreography so AWESOME!!!"

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14. Sibusiso Siso, 2018
"Black panther I salute all the way from South Afrika yeah u guys rocks"

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15. Kay D, 2018
"I saw this on Instagram after I watched Black Panther. On Thursday the week it came out. #WakandaForever ✊🏾✊🏾💖"

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16. HawkZulu, 2018
"Love to South Africa from you family in America"

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17. Roman Tick, 2018
"Shaku shaku and Shoki from Nigeria!! Gwara Gwara from South Africa all together is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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18. Nothando Zulugirl, 2018
"This song is Omunye Phezu komunye by destruction boys - it's a Zulu song from South Africa - Shout out to black panther for putting Africa on the map. Translation of the song cost 1$ lol Hahaha"

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19. Darwin G, 2018
"Black panther is so much more than a movie, I love everything around it!"

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20. Laylaa Yverson, 2018
"Awesome how some black people who call themself black american and always denied there rooots ,beeing interested now,in the African culture, where there normaly belong too,since the film black panther comes out......is no more "i have a dream"now its "wakanda forever"...like it...

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Comment Examples #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNyVUIhvW64 #BlackPantherChallenge
Black Panther Challenge - @jusbmore @klassikkaneck @splack

This video is given as Video Example #4 above.

1. Nicole Falanka, 2018
"lol that movie is making us so proud"

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2. Flora Yeboah, 2018
"On point!..Im South African. I love my AFRICA!! Wakanda forever..."

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3. Clio MDC, 2018
"That gwara gwara with the guy in the dashiki was mad lit"

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4. LPTV, 2018
"It was going well and then they started barking like dogs"

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REPLY
5. TheDent InRm'sChin, 2018
"LPTV That's in the movie. Go see it to understand"
-snip-
Some commenters wrote that "the bark" was actually a gorilla grunt, connecting these dancers with the Jabari ethnic group in the Black Panther movie. That also explains why one of the dancers wore a gorilla suit.

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6. Nthabiseng Kutoane, 2018
"So proud of the fact that the rest of the world is embracing our dance moves...and music!!"

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7. Jimmy Jones, 2018
"That ending tho!! 😂✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊ love it! #WAKANDAFOREVER ✊✊✊✊"

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8. MrAramis02, 2018
"the king of wakanda applauds these men despite being from jabari"

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9. Ntongo Breaker, 2018
"I really like every dance about wakada and the beat of the song really nice 😂😘😍😍😍😍"

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10. Praise Onaturals, 2018
"Real Entertainment! Wakanda Forever! I NEVER FREEZE! 😂😂😂😂😂"
-snip-
"Wakanda Forever" and "I never freeze" are two catch phrases from the 2018 Black Panther movie.

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11. BWC B, 2018
"You guys did well. It's one of the best ones taking the challenge."

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12. Brett Golightly, 2018
"Each time watching it can’t stop watching one in front middle in red!
Love how this all comes together during times like this! Now, if only some of my “fam” could accept my Western & Eastern African bloodlines....."

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13. dk dk, 2018
"Wakandans woooooohhhhh!"

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14. Antonieta Merces Reina Galan, 2018
"WAKANDA THE DANCE !!✋"

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ADDENDUM: DISCUSSION THREAD EXCERPT
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0E7bnTW0bw "Walking back into Black Panther movie like", published by World Of Africa TV on Mar 2, 2018
[numbers added for referencing purposes only)

This sub-thread begins with a person self-identifying as an African criticizing Black Americans performing dance challenges and otherwise supporting the Black Panther movie because the movie was funded by White people.

1. Andrea_, 2018
"Bruh! that movie was not even funded nor produced by the black community..it was funded and produced by white executives from dysney; it's a dysney movie that happened to have a black writer and black actors ..the movie itself has no actual tie nor resemblance to the actual black panther group ( that faught against police brutality done on ppl of color) but ironically the movie was strategically released on black history month to give black ppl yet another false feeling of empowerment; the movie seem like yet another movie made by oppressors to financially exploit something important to the black community such as the black panther group or movement 😦😯😳 is odd all of a sudden African Americans now suddenly want to claim their African roots..usually they alienate themselves from their African roots ..in the stated walk up to an african American and tell him or her that he's ancestors are African and see the reaction you get; they look at you like you called them the n-word in a derivative manner; I am African meaning I was born and raised in Africa but live in the states and upon living here I have been bullied both by a Caucasian and an african American for being African"

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REPLY
2. Briste Belle, 2018
"Andrea_ so because you are an African and was bullied, you come here to spit rubbish?
I am African too, and you're an idiot.
All these superhero movies are not real but it empowers white people who are the most represented in them. It makes them believe they can do great things and with that empowerment, they actually start implementing it.
It's not a bad thing that African Americans are empowered by a marvel movie. Empowerment is empowerment. So the movie has a black writer, producer and actors but you care only about where the funding came from?
The best thing coming out of it is that it changed the mindset of many African American youths about their roots. As an African, I don't care if black Americans think being African is an insult because they don't understand, I know who I am and I'm proud of who I am you should too, rather than being hateful and bearing grudges."

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REPLY
3. Shewanda Pugh, 2018
"Where to even start with you?
1. The first appearance of the Black Panther comic book character predates the Black Panther Party by a few months. They're not related nor were they supposed to be.
2. Who cares who made the movie? Anytime diversity is presented in a positive form, we all win, as it's a pathway to greater tolerance.
3. This is a blockbuster film with a mega-budget, international success, and a cast made up of minorities. It opens the door to more such films as it proves we can pull in the crowds and have wide appeal.
4. It seems like you keep poor company. I don't know any African Americans who balk at having an African heritage. I don't know any who would bully someone because of where they're from. You need more positive, thoughtful, intellectual people in your life. Though with the negativity you spew, I'm not sure they'd want to be bothered."

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REPLY
4. Asa J, 2018
"I really hate when people spew negativity, especially when they act like they have facts they don’t. BLACK PANTHER WAS DIRECTED, PRODUCED AND CAST BY BLACK PEOPLE. What are you so bitter about. You were bullied? So was I. What the hell does that have to do with the movie? Go tell your therapist because this is just not the place or the medium through which you should circumvent your issues. It just makes you look bad."

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REPLY
5. isfvt tyug, 2018
"Somebody with some sense. You know how stupid these american blacks look smfh Dance when you can fund a damn movie."

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REPLY
6. beejioux, 2018
hugs

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