Captain America’s shield is made of metal from the fictional nation of Wakanda. Black Panther is the king of Wakanda.
Black Panther is a Marvel Comics character created in 1966. As the king of the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda, Black Panther is the first black superhero in mainstream American comic books. Three years later, Sam Wilson was introduced as Falcon, becoming the first black American superhero in Marvel Comics.
Black Panther is a title on Wakanda rather than a more-traditional superhero moniker. A young man named T’Challa becomes the chieftain of the Wakandan Panther Clan, making him the Black Panther. His superpowers stem from a connection with the Wakandan Panther god that grants him superhuman speed, agility, strength, and intellect to rival Captain America. In fact, he’s gone toe-to-toe with Cap a few times in his forty-nine years.
That’s what makes Black Panther such an inspirational figure. Black Panther isn’t better or worse than his white counterparts; he’s simply another hero. He’s African, and that plays hugely on his identity. However, his kingdom, Wakanda, is an indispensable part of the Marvel universe. The Wakandans are a scientifically-advanced society that sits on one of the only sources for vibranium. Vibranium is a vibration-absorbent metal used to create Captain America’s shield.
Just like the actual America, Captain America couldn’t exist without the contribution of Africans.
TL;DR
- The first black superhero in mainstream comic books was an African king named T’Challa.
- An African nation helped build Captain America’s shield.
- A Black Panther film is coming out in 2018 starring Chadwick Boseman.
What You Should Do Now:
- Watch Captain America: The First Avenger but note the complete lack of black scientists when they present Cap with his shield. Shame on you, Marvel.
- Check out Black Panther: The Man Without Fear.
28 Days of Inspirational Black People:
- Ed Brooke
- Blanche Bruce
- Andrew Young
- Denys Cowan
- Antoine Fuqua
- John Singleton
- Countee Cullen
- Dennis Kimetto
- Robert Hayden
- Lee Daniels
- Anthony Mackie/Falcon
- Val James
- Abebe Bikila
- Steve McQueen
- Ernest J. Gaines
- Charlie Sifford
- Matt Baker
Photo — Flickr/ Istolethetv