A NOTE TO ALL NON-BLACK BLACK PANTHER ROLEPLAYERS.
with the release of the new black panther movie, we all know there will be an influx of characters created. specifically those from wakanda such as t’challa, shuri, nakia, okoye, and others. now, no one can ever say ‘do not roleplay this character’. no one can physically reach through your laptop & prevent you from playing someone. all we ask, as a black community, are three simple things. these shall be referred to as the 3Rs.
R1 / RESPECT : respect who you are about to play and/or already playing. respect. respect the culture. respect the character. respect what it means to play them & who they are as symbols & icons for the black community.
R2 / RESEARCH : research anything & everything involving your character. understand the differences between african cultures & how they apply to your character. specifically for the MCU, they state that the wakanda of today is somewhat of an amalgamation of what africa is as a whole. however, that does not mean speak swahili in one breath & then speak xhosa in the next. be mindful & careful, most importantly.
R3 / REALIZE : realize that, honestly & truthfully, these characters are not & never will be meant for you. realize that we, as black people, have a strong connection to these characters; those from black panther in particular because they are from our motherland. realize that if a black person asks you a question, it is not to demean you or ‘call you out’. it’s because we love and care about them & want them handled with the respect they deserve. do not take offense when a black person shows a concern. nine times out of ten, it’s for good reason. most importantly, realize that there is literally the entirety of marvel’s encyclopedia at your feet when it comes to picking a character to play. so when you go for the very few african selections, know that yes… we may question the choice, but ultimately we just wanted them played correctly & the way they deserve to be played.
bonus. i will make this as bluntly as i can.
you do not get cool points for being a white person playing an african character.
you don’t get a congratulatory certificate or a standing ovation. you don’t get to be proud of that fact alone. be honored that you are writing someone who means so much to the black community and be humble. that’s all we ask.
i just want this to be clear. again, as stated above, no one is holding a weapon to you and telling you not to do something. we’re just asking that you be careful, be mindful, be respectful, and be aware. we want the best for them. that’s all.
thank you.
