“Wakanda Forever!” Comic-Con @Home panel discussed the psychological issues that are found in the Black Panther film and comics. Dr. Scott Jordan, cognitive psychologist from Illinois State University moderates a panel of incredibly qualified individuals who touch on topics such as micro-aggression, cultural representation in media, and the power of love and empathetic leadership.

The impact of Black Panther on each of the panelists

Dr. Vanessa Hintz is a Geek Therapist and book contributor. Black Panther had a profound influence on her life in the sense that the movie was un-apologetically Black, which she had not ever seen in her lifetime. “They showcased the strength and the versatility of Black women, and I, as a black woman, appreciated that.”

Victor Dandridge, Jr. is the founder of Vantage Inhouse Productions. He has a different impact of it through the eyes of his sons. It made him look at how he is a father to his own children and making sure they do not have to grow up in the same type of situation Killmonger had to grow up in.

Daniel Jun Kim is a social justice warrior. Black Panther showed audiences that there does not have to be conflict between science and spirituality. “T’Challa, for me, is someone who represents someone who is extremely intelligent and rational on one hand, but at the same time is also profoundly spiritual.”

Alex Simmons is the author of BlackJack, Archie and Friends, and Scooby Doo. He is also the founder of Kid’s Comic Con International. The impact of Black Panther started when he was a child. It was exciting to see a Black, costumed hero in comic books that was starting to become prominent.

Dr. Stanford Carpenter is a cultural anthropologist and comic scholar and artist. The impact, for him, came through the eyes of his daughter. “On one hand, I’m seeing this moment with my daughter, and on the other hand I’m seeing this incredible moment of cultural re-appropriation.”

Dr. Eric Wesselmann is a social psychologist and book contributor. The universe around the film and comics has inspired Dr. Wesselmann to his research on social inclusion and exclusion in a different direction.

Panel highlights

Disney and Marvel were not prepared for how successful Black Panther was, according to Victor Dandridge, Jr. He said:

“We saw on a multicultural level that everyone appreciated what Black Panther was. You had young White kids running around in Black Panther costumes. So, this should have been capitalized on from the onset from after Civil War, but wasn’t. You can really get the sense that they didn’t really know what they had.”

Alex Simmons talks about how any creative person has the right to tell good stories. However, if anyone plans on telling a story about a race, culture, or gender that is unfamiliar to them, then they need to do their homework. Simmons said:

“When you follow that trail of misrepresentation, insulting representation, stereotypical representation all the way into the sixties and seventies, then the push-back naturally is going to be, ‘Whoa, wait a minute. We need to be writing about our own. Back up.'”

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