When it comes to ‘Black Panther,’ I’m pretty much white and confused

When it comes to the African-American experience, I’m pretty much your classic white progressive dillweed. I mean, I get this much: Knowing their forefathers came to America as slaves is a little different than me knowing my forefathers came here in search of a better life.

And by “little different,” I mean about as similar as the moon and an avocado.

And that’s just the beginning of the differences.

So while I can sympathize, it’s damn near impossible to empathize. The gulf is just too wide.

And so when I went to see “Black Panther” last week (warning: SPOILERS ahead. If you haven’t seen the movie and plan to, bookmark this and come back later) I walked into it expecting a fun superhero romp. I wasn’t expecting to be sitting there contemplating what it’s like to be black in America, something we’ve already established I’m not exactly an expert at, being white and all.

So I reached out to an expert. Dr. Sheena Howard of Rider University. Why is she an expert? She’s an African-American cultural critic, comic book writer of “Superb” (with co-writer and “Luke Cage” scribe David F. Walker), associate professor, Eisner Award winner, and author of the “Encyclopedia of Black Comics.” So yeah. Can’t get more expert than that when it comes to “Black Panther.” (Full disclosure: I work in the same department as Howard at Rider, and count her as a friend.)

Anyway, Howard’s take on “Black Panther” isn’t as rosy as I imagined it would be.

We got to talking about how when Killmonger makes his motives known — basically, how American blacks have been forever marginalized and how that’s simply not right — and how I started questioning who the real hero of the movie is supposed to be.

“For me personally, the movie is depressing,” Howard said. “When you think about what the movie really says about inspiring hope in the black American community, well, it’s not a very hopeful message. The majority of people agree with what Killmonger was saying, that blacks are oppressed, that we need to repair the historical damage. But at the end (again, SPOILER!!!) he’s killed in a very sort of weird, yet sentimental way. And one of the last things he says is that he’d rather be dead than be living in this messed up world. As a black American I understand that, but it’s not hopeful. Where’s his redemption?”

When I offered that perhaps his redemption comes later, when the Black Panther decides to buy up a few run down apartment buildings in Oakland in an effort to help raise up the black community there, Howard was dubious.

“I don’t want to speculate outside the confines of the movie,” she said. “But we all know what happens when rich people buy depressed properties. Poor people get displaced when people with money decide they’re going to come in.”

I was stymied. Told you she was an expert.

Now understand: Killmonger was a bad guy. The whole race war notion he was espousing is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. So it’s not like I was actively rooting for him. But it doesn’t change the basic premise of what he purported to be fighting for: The liberation of black people.

“It’s definitely started a discussion in the black community about what’s the best way to go about liberating black people in America,” Howard said.

And make no mistake: Howard believes black Americans are not liberated. She points to the presidency of Trump, to police brutality, to racial profiling, to pay disparities … and on and on.

Despite her take on the message of the movie, Howard recognizes plenty of good is coming from it.

“There’s a black cast, hopefully they got paid, there’s a black director, all of those things are good,” Howard said. “It allows the cast and crew to work in the industry. In a material sense, that’s great. Plus, the movie is exploding the myth that black movies can’t have a big, international audience.”

I sense a “but” coming …

“Movies like ‘Black Panther’ move the needle forward a bit, but it’s just a movie at end of the day,” Howard said.

Fair point. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe I should just shut my white mouth and eat some popcorn. Well, open my white mouth and eat some popcorn, but you get the idea.

For real though: While it may not be progressive white America’s business to parse meaning from “Black Panther,” it’s certainly progressive white America’s business to try to understand the black American experience. And the more black America “crosses over” in entertainment, the more discussion there will be. It can only lead to positive things. (For the record I’m doing the Black Panther handshake thing right now.)