w.e.b. dubois’ pan-africanist & unapologetic work is relevant as ever in the times of black panther

One of the strongest storytelling characteristics about Black Panther was Ryan Coogler’s attention to presenting a diversity of black narratives at it pertains to post-colonialism black thought and black liberation ideology, most notably borrowing themes argued by W. E. B. DuBois for the character of Erik Killmonger. DuBois’ work didn’t argue for a racial equality that judges it’s ‘equalness’ on how it lives up to or met white standards of respectability and goodness, but rather a dynamic that reaches equilibrium, on our terms. His clashes with Booker T. Washington, who believed that economic independence and time would give blacks the “opportunity” to prove to be productive and valuable members of global society (Wakanda/T’Challa), whereas DuBois argued that true racial justice wouldn’t come from complying with white society, but rather through political change and social demand, on black folks’ terms. (Sound familiar?)

150 years after his birth, the ideas of W.E.B. Dubois remain as relevant and controversial as ever. Happy 150th birthday!