What are your thoughts on Sam being Captain America in FatWS?
This is a great question!
As a Black female in the United States, Sam Wilson, personally, has been someone I wanted to become a main character and ultimate hero in his own right; yet I allowed the precedent of Black male sidekicks to dampen my expectations. It’s what I’ve grown up with and became accustomed to seeing in TV and movies.
Please note that my focus, for now, is mainly MCU. Sam being Captain America is healing. Throughout CAatWS/FatWS, watching as the reality of what it means to be Black in the US, to function and attempt to belong in the least agitating way for the rest of society, spoke to a piece of my soul that I can’t always express. Watching Sam struggle to not only wrestle with feeling unworthy but to acknowledge that people (ordinary citizens) will want him dead because of the color of his skin - well, that was fear. Fear dictated what Sam thought he could be, initially.
As we see in Episode One, Sam commands his own missions, utilizes his talents as he sees fit while subconsciously mentoring another person of color, that was the first glimpse in the series that Sam was a leader without being overbearing. Sam could recognize the talents of those around him, encourage their strengths, and foster hope, pride, and progress in those around him.
Sam Wilson is a subtle force that no one can fully reckon with. Sam is not just calm. He is considerate, contemplative and reflective. He must be analytical because of the world around him. These external factors include so many social rules and constructs, nonverbal cues, prejudice, racism, stereotypes…the list goes on and on. Can you imagine the drain and strain of catering to these factors first before your own? In some respects, Sam’s ability to maneuver in this world with all those impediments ahead of him is award winning! With grace, empathy, aforethought, and appreciation, Sam Wilson is an example right here and now.
As a Black woman I can only speak to my experience as well as the observations made of my other family members (female and male). To express anything other than humble gratitude is considered a threat. To express anything other than socially sanctioned sass or a sense of wisdom through a preconceived notion of heritage and expectancy is a threat.
As we saw in Episode Two, after learning that yet again the American government has betrayed, tortured, experimented, and mutilated more Black and African men, Sam is hurt and further pressed into fear of what could be done to him. That primary emotion was easily transformed into anger, as it should. He’s angry that yet again those around him failed his people, failed him. This time it’s much, much, much closer to home. He asks:
“Why didn’t you tell me about Isaiah? How could nobody bring him up? […] Steve didn’t know about him?”
Sam put his neck out with Steve. Sam put his neck out for Steve to believe in Bucky. I speculate that, to Sam, for Bucky to withhold Isaiah from him and the public and Black people it was a “Here we go again” moment. Yet again a White person is creating a history that wipes out Black History. He felt betrayed which further instills that you can’t trust those in authority and, in turn, those who are privileged. Yes, that means White people. And then, for him to express what he is experiencing (pain, betrayal, mistrust, fear, anger, sadness, etc), what happens? Oh! Right! The police show up!
(Sidebar: Isn’t it interesting that Isaiah Bradley, the one person who was able to damage the Winter Soldier, was kept under lock and key? This could be an example of Hydra’s insidious influence already infiltrating the US government.)
Sam was hit with so much externally all the while processing his own internal battle. That alone is enough for any person to do the proverbial wiping of their hands and walking away from a situation. But not Sam. Sam fundamentally knows that the world can do better and can be better than it is right now. It’s why he doesn’t walk away from Bucky. It’s why he doesn’t back down from John Walker who could take up the mantle of Captain America and deal with the bulls***. Sam could have been done with it all.
But he wasn’t. I don’t think he could have. He has always moved towards change. Sam recognizes that what he stands for is much bigger than himself. He understood this when he had to play the Smiling Tiger. Black men can be placed in any Black man role because, you know, us Black folks all look the same. Instead of becoming insolent or as my mother would say “snippy-sassy” (bitter and resentful), he rolled with the punches. He can differentiate himself in a way that ensures he is acting rationally and thoughtfully. I mean, he checked in with Bucky after he had to play the Winter Soldier again. Of course he did! Sam appreciates his team. Sam sees those around him, doing what he can to ensure their safety in any way that is needed.
That brings me to my favorite part about MCU Sam. He’s a counselor. I, too, am a counselor so I’m biased when it comes to this aspect of Sam. We saw this in Episode Four when he went to talk to Karli. He didn’t try to talk over her, convince her or any other tactic that someone else *coughJohnWalkercough* could have easily employed. He listened. He found common ground. Sam empathized, normalized, and validated her. That’s not to say he agreed with her 100%. But Sam did create space for her to be calmer, to talk, to think out loud to someone other than the Flag Smashers. Sam is a phenomenal person in his ability to make others feel safe and heard.
Another breathtaking quality about Sam that I admire is his unwavering trust in himself. He knows who he is, why he came to be, and how he can continue. His hope it what internally guides him. Because he’s so sure of his Self, Sam can remain open, curious. It’s why he returned to Isaiah in Episode Five. Sam desires to hear all sides, particularly the individual, personal experience is commendable. He doesn’t allow one thing or person to dictate his actions. Sam questions and evaluates while never wavering from his values.
My number one favorite therapeutic activity I do with my clients is the Values Cards. I won’t go into too much details about the execution of the activity. Just know that by the end, my client will have chosen their top ten values, then top five from those ten, and then their top three values. The values that jumps out to me concerning Sam include Justice, Connection, Compassion, Growth, Honesty, Commitment, Respect, Community, and Courage. These were all displayed in Episode Six and throughout the series.
If those values do not scream Sam Wilson, then I truly have no clue who I’ve been watching over the last seven years.
Sam Wilson has proven that, despite all the constraints put on him as a Black man in the United States, he is worthy. He has shown that Black men can be and are worthy of so much more than this country – this world – gives them. Sam is an icon, a symbol for change.
I shed tears knowing that Sam Wilson is Captain America. He is my Captain America. Until this show, I didn’t know how important Sam Wilson was to me.
Thank you @frostbite883! This was my first ask ever!
