Back in 2019 I was invited to the Black Panther European Premiere. We met Ryan Coogler the day after the premiere and had a great conversation with him about the movie, the characters, cosplay and what it meant to our community. We found out a picture I took of my cosplay friends was shared by Lupita Nyong’o in their group chat and on her instagram.
The Black Panther European Premiere was the beginning of our relationship with Disney and Marvel. Four Black cosplayers just wanted to be a part of the cultural moment the orbital movie was. Black Panther was my first cosplay and we were proud to be represented in the superhero genre. Fast forward to 2025.
I went to see the Black Panther movie with the orchestra from the Seattle Symphony. Words barely can explain how exciting this was. To experience this movie and its Oscar-winning score live was amazing. The Seattle Symphony did an incredible job. Before the show we were able to briefly learn movement and traditional West African Rhythms with Yusef Seevers and drummers James Byron Morford, Zachary Montague and Aaron David. The best part of the show was Massamba Diop. He is the Senegalese drummer who plays the talking drum throughout the movie. He was front and center during the show.
This movie represented Black empowerment at the highest levels. Growing up as a kid you didn’t hear Black and King used together but T’Challa is truly a Black King. Just as well this movie was just as important to Black women as Wonder Woman to White women. Go support this movie! I will see it 5 times at a minimum. This movie should end all doubt about what Black superheroes can do on the big screen. I even had a few minutes to chat up the Black Eyed Peas before the movie and they were anticipating black excellence as well.
Black Panther is directed by Ryan Coogler and has a star-studded cast to include: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Ulysses Klaue, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker.