This collection of essays was very thought provoking reading about the subtle impacts of the choices made by those who made Black Panther. I enjoyed those who compared specific scenes/choices to various psychological/sociological theories of ethics and behavior. I would highly recommend this book as a jumping off point for these types of deeper discussion. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that several of the essays left me wanting more detailed discussion into some topics and I tend to reserve my 5 star reviews for very few books I read, but I would give it 4.5 stars if I was able. I received a copy of this book for free and this is my honest review.

The content was interesting, for sure. But I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. I think this is a very niche book that I had some trouble connecting with.

Why Wakanda Matters is a collection of essays from professionals using Black Panther and Wakanda as a way to talk about identity, representation, mental health, and more. The essays celebrated and critique the film and its importance to the Black community. I enjoyed being able to have a depth discussion on the impact representation, and exploration of black culture has on the black community. Definitely a great read for Marve fans and fans of the movie and black social issues.

this was a great psychological read, I enjoyed the essays that were in this book and how it deals with Black Panther. It was a really good read.

When Ryan Coogler’s 2018 mega-blockbuster Black Panther slammed into theaters, the highly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) entry broke a whole slew of barriers. With a cast made of almost entirely of black actors, directed by a black director, and depicting one of the first successful black superheroes on the big screen for the first time in his own film, it was a force to be reckoned with both critically and financially. To many it was just another Marvel film, to others it was almost a religious experience. Why? some were asking. Why did Black Panther pull a 1.34 billion dollar box office? I won’t go into so-called “woke” territory here, but most of these people (some I even knew) didn’t understand the big deal for many black filmgoers. This was a film explicitly made for and marketed as a BLACK FILM, and it became a cultural phenomenon simply because that doesn’t happen in Hollywood. I mean we aren’t too far away from numerous cases of white actors being cast as Asian or black people in real life. Most produced black films are no-budget romance films or stereotypical crime movies – not exactly a wide breadth of choices. But something changed in 2018.

“Black Panther introduced viewers to the stunning world of Wakanda, a fictional African country with incredible technological advancements, and to T’Challa, a young man stepping into his role as king and taking up the mantle of the Black Panther title from his late father. The unforgettable story, coupled with the film’s mega-success, has undoubtedly shaped the future of superhero cinema, in addition to genuinely changing viewers’ lives. Why Wakanda Matters gives this iconic film the in-depth analysis it deserves under the lens of the latest psychological concepts-as well as delving into the lasting cultural impact of this unforgettable story.”

This book is a series of essays from many academics, that go towards answering all of those questions. Care is taken to get the reader up to speed with the why’s and how’s of the black film experience, and why Black Panther was sadly a long time coming. I wish people asking those questions or trying to demean the film for malicious intentions (coughracistscough), but sadly they will ignore something like this. I got tired of explaining it to fellow white people that I knew. While Black Panther was an important film for Hollywood, I would argue this book is similarly important for film and sociological studies. Understanding some of the ideas in here, can hopefully pave the way for a far more diverse film experience for all.

I loved seeing different authors essays on the subject. This is a thought provoking, frustrating and enlightening book. Anyone who cares about the BLM movement should read this.

I received a free e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[This review will be posted on my blog on 23 April 2021.]

I've really struggled to write this review, because I wanted it to be perfect. Some of my drafts actually look like essays themselves (references and all.) In the end, I've opted to just sort of wing it. In a nutshell, Why Wakanda Matters is a collection of academic essays by psychologists and media studies scholars about the movie Black Panther. The essays in this volume revolve around themes of identity (social, collective, cultural & racial), representation, and trauma.

What I loved was how thoughtful and insightful these essays were. More than a few were bursting with passion and joy. I've read hundreds of academic papers over the years, and trust me when I say that this is not very common. While I didn't enjoy one or two due to the writing style, as a whole the collection was so well written I can't really fault it.

There were so many essays I liked, and I was inspired to go back and re-watch the film. I actually feel like these essays enhanced my enjoyment of the film.

I was able to notice all the nods to Afrikana Spiritual Traditions and and general Afrikana worldviews, such as ancestral reverence, symbolic use of colours, aesthetics, and deities. Instead of demonising or fetishising these beliefs, Black Panther incorporated and celebrated them.

I was able to appreciate how the film had thrown stereotypes of Black women to the wind by showing different ways for Black women to just be. There is no one way to be strong or beautiful. Each of the main female characters present positive role models for Black girls to look up to. Queen Ramonda is a wise and dignified elder whose opinion is valued. Shuri is a scientist and healer, who is funny and smart and cool. Nakia is kind and passionate, choosing a career she loves. Okoye is a beautiful warrior with a strong sense of duty and honour. It was also important to see Black bodies and natural hair being celebrated.

I was able to appreciate how Black communities all over the world were able to unite behind the symbolism of the Wakandan salute, and the phrase 'Wakanda Forever.' I hadn't considered how important it could be to see yourself represented because as a white woman, I have always seen myself.

I loved how there was deeper symbolic meanings behind the more straightforward, literal tale. That, for example, each character could be viewed as representative of something else. For example, Klaw represents white supremacy, and Agent Ross' development represented the journey of white liberals becoming true allies - by standing back and not speaking over Black people or assuming they know what is best.

I was able to sympathise more with Erik Killmonger. Instead of being the bad guy, he was a multilayered character who had been shaped by his experiences. I was able to understand how he came to form his personal, social, and racial identity, and how that differed so much from his cousin, T'Challa. I was also alerted to how his portrayal in the movie could have the effect of demonising Black radical tradition, which is to say that we support 'peaceful' traditions like Martin Luther King's over Malcolm X's Black Panther Party, where both are equally valid reactions/responses to intergenerational trauma and inequality.

This book is almost certainly going to be in my Top 10 reads of 2021. If you are interested in film studies, afrofuturism, anti-racism, and most of all, Black Panther, then Why Wakanda Matters is a must-read. For everyone else, I highly recommend it.

In the forward, the question is posed, "Name a movie where a little black kid goes on an adventure and is the lead?" All think they can, but can never come up with an ET, Harry Potter, etc. Phillip Boutte Jr., a costume concept artist and writer of the forward, was working on A Wrinkle in Time with Oprah and at the same time Black Panther when he posed the question. Imagine his pride in knowing that stores would now be full of black toys.

The book itself delves into the psychology of the film and its black viewers. It talks about how important it is to see strong, positive male and female black characters of different ages on the screen and has created something for the audience to bond around. As a white guy, I admit all of this was totally lost on me. I saw it only as a great superhero movie, while for black audiences it was that and so much more.

Fantasy and using our imagination and play are so important to our development and this enables black children, as well as teens and adults, to more closely identify with positive role models. It offers them a different idea of what could be and what "normal" looks like. Fictional, often precedes reality. For example: we had stories of being in space long before we were able to get there.

It's a heavy read with chapters written by psychologists, LCSWs, professors, etc. and the kind of book you'll need to read more than once to truly grasp the historical influence of The Black Panther. And while most of the writing is about the positive influence and images of black people, I appreciated that there was space in this book for a contrasting point of view and commend Dr. Howard for providing that space

Note: I've downloaded a bunch of free, (mostly) random, pre-releases of books with the idea of expanding my range and helping authors get reviews. #netgalley

Okay many frustrations - I really struggled to read this - I don’t know if it was just the MANY different authors , writing styles and perspectives or what but this was hard to get through I had planned to share it with a coworker but I left it on my desk with only the “in conclusion” final note to read (and was desperately hoping this wrapped things up / made more sense) and someone took it - I do hope they enjoy it more than I did but they took ALLLLLL my notes! I think for the most part it frustrated me because it was seeming to bash the movie and fault it in some ways and then also give it all credit - I do think representation matters but it is not the end all be all kids imitate animals and we are the ones telling them what a person (or their gender or race) roles are and aren’t - I also do not like gross or mass generalizations - this book def made me realize I am a humanistic person ! I think we can all struggle with identity even as a female what society and culture tells you to be or what you can be and what it means is often not what or who you feel you are or who you want to be .... as a female I don’t think our experience is ever the same relatable likely but not the same and in conversations I don’t think being black is the same interpretation or experience for all either and there is more divide and difference within groups in most cases - I am not dismissing struggle racism or other issues people of color face but to generalize to all I think is unfair even in the book looking at the different chapters it is clear the view is extremely varied . idk this was just a frustrating read - I did like the final chapter I read and thought that it was what I had expected from the book talking about the utility of the movie but also what we as society and individuals can also do to better and uplift minorities etc - I wish I had my notes and the book because I would love to actually have had my coworker read it and review notes but again I hope at the very least whoever took it actually enjoys it

An interesting read, particularly for fans of Black Panther. I found the essays could have been curated differently for a more coherent read, but overall, it was still insightful.

As a white woman from South America, I really can't speak about Black Panther's direct influence in my life. I mean, I'm a fan of everything superheroes, and that movie is really, really good. But, in matters of representation? I have to take the word of the people who see themselves in it. And this book, this collection of essays, is a great overview of it.
"Why Wakanda matters?" delves into the cultural, racial, symbolic and psychological impact of the only Marvel movie nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
With perfectly structured essays and a diversity of theories from psychology and communication studies, this book shows the different layers of representation, positive and negative, that the movie shows, and how it may impact the identity of young Black people specifically.
But at its core, this is a love letter to Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger, and I'm absolutely fine with it since he's the best MCU villain (and you can't change my mind). The complexity of the character, the different meanings of his actions, the symbology, it's all deeply analyzed as one of the main subjects of this book.
On a personal note, and to all white readers, this book feels like a starting point to reflect on our behavior and privileges, as it presents a lot of situations and considerations that some of us really didn't know or even thought about in our blissful ignorance.

This collection of essay was brilliant and insightful and fun at the same time. Written by professionals from various fields, this book tackles a variety of issues drawn from the black panther films and its impact on the people of African descent in the diaspora.
This book talks about the fantastical elements of black panther and what Wakanda represents for African people in the diaspora e.g. living in a world where there is no fear because of the color of your skin. There's also the discussion of the effects of media in shaping the perceptions of who we are and how it is important for African people to see themselves on screen and not only that but portrayed in a complex manner without the usual stereotypes that we face.

The fluid nature of the Black identity is discussed and we are invited to take pride in our racial identity in all its forms without being boxed in by stereotypical notions of what the world sees us to be. discussions of intergenerational trauma are also talked about with reference to the source of killmonger's pain and the traumas that he had faced growing up as a Black child which led him to his aggression and bitterness which helps us identify with him and also sympathize with him but at the same time we are also given advice on how we can heal our trauma.

This book has the range I assure you from all the topics it talks about, the book introduced me to a lot of concepts about psychology that I had no Idea about and made me want to do more research, but also just seeing what the film meant to African Americans especially was so touching. As a continental African I had my own qualms with the film but those pale in comparison to now my understanding of the positive impact of the film.
This book is amazing 100% recommend.

thanks to netgalley for the ARC

A collection of academic essays mostly examining the messaging, impact, and symbolism of Black Panther. The best essays either went deep in an unexpected way in to the movie (such as those looking at how Killmonger was impacted by trauma) or in the movie's impact (such as those taking a social learning or social identity approach to the movie's message and impact). One of the best was a look at how the movie explicitly plays with White narratives of Africa and colonization and explicitly sidelines the White perspective. Two other great ones were a guide to using movies like Black Panther to bring up difficult subjects in the classroom and a look at how Black Panther, for all it's celebration of African and African American identity, subtly undercuts and demonizes the Black radical tradition. Not all were at this level but on the whole a satisfying collection.

I loved the movie Black Panther so much that I was very intrigued by this free ARC from Netgalley and publishers. The format was not what I expected but it was still a great read. I have taken global diversity and culture courses in college which gave me good background of the main themes discussed in this series of essays. If you're interested in Black Panther or any form of cultural discussion, I recommend checking out this novel!

Why Wakanda Matters is a rich collection of essays by various academics around the huge phenomenon named Black Panther. The essays are written with deep insight into Black identity, systematic racism, and other important themes. I loved all the write-ups focussing on Shuri, Okoye, Nakia, and, even, Erik Killmonger! My personal favorite is "The Oreo, the King, and the Wakandan Salute: What Black Panther Shows Us About Why Representation Matters" by Mercedes Samudio. Overall, it's an insightful and thought-provoking book to read.

The one thing that bothered me was that it is marketed, at least on my end, as a graphic novel/comic so I was expecting some incidents where we will have visuals. Otherwise, fantastic read!

Thank you, NetGalley and Smart Pop for the ARC for my honest review.

I just reviewed Why Wakanda Matters by Dr. Sheena C. Howard. #WhyWakandaMatters #NetGalley

I loved this collection of essays that was written by professional psychologists, researchers, etc. This book explored identity, healing. Tne importance of having everyone represented in films, mental health, and healing. I think this book was amazing and a much needed read given the unrest in our society today. Regardless of what side you fall on when it come to politics, you can tell there is definitely a change of awareness and a new sense of identity for those who have long been passed over. There is an outcry for role models and representation for all races and genders and we can thank Black Panther for leading the way. Every child needs someone to look up to and needs role models that look and speak like them.

A non-fiction book driven by scholars who can easily make a case for the viewing the work and discourse behind Marvel's Black Panther movie released in 2018 that serves as a viable reference tool for those diving into this analysis.

A selection of different essays written discussing the themes, impact, and cultural significance of the movie Black Panther. I found the essays in general to be very informative and well-written, although a few seemed more like straight opinion pieces than works of informed criticism. This collection would be a good fit for those interested in learning more about the resonance of the movie with the black community and its larger ties to representation, agency, and visibility in cinema.

I am blown away by these academic essays discussing the widespread psychological and cultural impact that the Black Panther movie has had. From a variety of authors, is a diverse collection examining identity, trauma, and other subjects. I have so many bookmarks and highlighted sections that I want to reference again and again.

Each essay opened my eyes to an aspect of the movie that I had not before considered, and I felt the need to rewatch the movie immediately upon finishing this book. And each essay contained references to offer more reading and insight.

Each essay is a powerful examination of the movie and its impact, and one of the most interesting aspects of this collection is the inclusion of essays that challenge Black Panther, and explore how certain parts of the movie could be damaging.

I look forward to buying this and sharing it.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley for this arc in return for my free review.</i>

I enjoyed this look into the psychology behind <i>Black Panther</i>, the good and the bad, through eyes that are not mine. While I felt this book was dense in parts, that did not take away from the fact that I felt this is a five star read. The fact that it felt dense meant, to me, that my mind was expanding and taking in knowledge from various points of view. Something important was in front of me and I should take my time to truly listen.

As for the individual essays, my two favorites were "The Symbolic, the Real, and the Ladies of Wakanda" and "Black Radical Thought as Pathology in <i>Black Panther</i>". Both have to deal with characters who were either complex side characters (Shuri and Okoye) or the antagonist (Killmonger). The first gave an even deeper understanding why we need more strong black women characters in all areas of fiction - book, movie, and television - to show society that they're not a myth. They are everywhere and they should be celebrated more and more. There is no reason, in the year of 2021, that we should not have more. As for the second, it was a sharp reminder that, as much as I and probably others saw <i>Black Panther</i> as a turning point for the Black community, it is seeped in racism as well. It was one of the harder essays to read but I did get through it and I highlight it for that reason.

I do recommend this book. It is not a light read and the only thing I can tell you is that I am a fast reader. I can read books in a day but this is a book that will take you days, if not weeks or a month, to fully sink in and open your mind to. It is not a bad thing. It is how great non-fiction should be read in order to open your mind.