#one tribe

[rileywrites-parker]

Black Panther was everything we needed it to be and more.

It was culture in its purest form.

It was intelligent and informed.

It told the truth and remained unashamed in the ugliness of it, but also in the importance of owning that honesty.

It was real.

It was a suggestion.

It was human.

It was colorful.

It was black,

And it was beautiful.

It reminded us of who we are, where we come from: we are one tribe, unified.

'The revolution is about to be televised.'

[vasyanbmx]

Darwish - One Tribe by Darwish 1 Darwish vs Brightlight - song Of Freedome 2 Darwish vs Sub6 vs On3 - Sun Stormer 3 Darwish vs U-Recken - Pitch Of Mind 4 Darwish - Do The Mantra 5 Darwish V'S U recken - The Great Eye In The Sky 6 Darwish - Psybrero 7 Darwish vs Symbolico - Afro Mohok 8 Bob Marly vs Pouse - One Love (Darwish mashup) 9 Ital vs Busti Grub_African Gift (Darwish mashup) 10 Avalon & Sinerider vs Omfo _Taquila (Darwish Mashup) 11 Killerwatts_Infinite Loop & Rishi _Jungel call ( Mashup) 12Altruism vs Africanism - Steel Storm (Darwish Mashup)

[lazer-horse]

Human Universals: The Things We All Share • Lazer Horse

At a time when division seems more common than conciliation, thinking about the traits shared globally by all humans seems rather timely; and important. Here, we list some so-called human universals.

[amused-geek]

Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows. We cannot. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we as brothers and sisters on this Earth should treat each other. Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.

T’Challa’s speech, Black Panther

[amused-geek]

[anastaziaghamilton]

Reflecting on Black Panther

I did not grow up on comic books, so I did not know of a Black Panther until he appeared on the Captain America: Civil War. I thought to myself as he did his thing that he was pretty cool. A couple months later I learned that he was getting his own movie. I was looking forward to it, and so was the rest of the world. I think this might be the first time that I witnessed a film generate such a united passion and black pride in my lifetime. It was quite interesting to see it for myself at the theatres as well as the photos and videos on social media.

After viewing the movie, the plot had me thinking about other current issues. Just about two weeks ago America witnessed another mass shooting that gained international attention. A tweet by the President of the United States then stirred up a conversation on whether educators should be armed with guns to prevent these mass shootings. Other concerns erupted about teachers misusing the weapon in response to perceived threats in the classroom.

I am not sure if this was the intention of the writers and directors of Black Panther, but I saw a discussion of similar issues flowing from the story. As a Wakandan national living in the rough neighbourhoods in the US, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens, has witnessed murders and racially motivated oppression. He not only carried bitterness towards oppressors but also had an anger for his own people that he felt betrayed by. They had the precious metal vibranium as well as advanced weapons yet they kept it to themselves instead of empowering their own people and other black people in the diaspora worldwide. Stevens is convinced that black people needed to fight back and take over the world. His beliefs actually resemble the colonisation that was dealt towards people of colour, but he felt it was justified to be returned because of the past.

While T’Challa had initially felt that Wakanda and its technology and vibranium should be kept secret and hidden from the world, the beliefs and humanitarianism of Nakia allowed him to realise that Wakanda should help other people. Oppression also needed to be dealt with and we needed to view ourselves as “one tribe”. His solution to oppression and society’s ills though were different from his cousin. The solution was not to give access to more and better weapons but to offer the preventative solution of community development programs and facilities.

In light of what is happening in America right now, as well as in Trinidad and Tobago, what is the solution that we really need? I am one who holds the view that our murder problems will not be assuaged by giving “law-abiding citizens” easier access to weapons to protect them from criminal elements. Neither do I believe that those who are victims of systemized racism should get access to weapons themselves and respond violently. I believe fundamentally in a character change. That is the true preventative approach to oppression, racism and crime. You may take away my gun but the unchanged heart will find a way to carry out the hate that already resides within me. You may give greater access to weapons for the purpose of self-defence, but the heart of man cannot always be trusted to use this weapon responsibly. Revenge is a resident in some hearts that ensures that the bloody cycle continues.

You may take away my gun but the unchanged heart will find a way to carry out the hate that already resides within me.

Citizens, governments and policymakers must look to the treatment that will change hearts. The only weapon that works best in this situation is the sword of the Spirit, the Bible. This contains a message that nurses our hatred and vengeful thoughts. It truly teaches us how to treat each other as if we are “one tribe”. We need leaders who are sincerely compassionate towards our communities to offer the help they need and opportunities to blossom into better people. At the end of the day, we all have a measure of change to make in order to see a different Trinidad and Tobago, America, world.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

“Let’s change the change for a better nation. Change the change for all foundations. Change the change so that we can say that this nation came from quite down there. Change the change within the school system. Stop changing ministers and change what we teach them. But things won’t change despite all we do if change doesn’t start with you.” - Helon Francis “Change”

*image source Marvel Studios.

[orphen312]

All black for Black Panther. The movie was amazing and as a black man it spoke and meant a lot to me. I saw a superhero movie, a idealistic clash, and two black men from different perspectives and variables tackling life their own way. With that being said it does not end with black men, but it also empowered black women. But there's more!! It is a movie I would recommend everyone to see. It has a lot of good stuff in it and I don't want to spoil anything but it's definitely things in it that I think people of all races should look at and think about.