When one thinks of movies and characters we see on the big screen, we visualize our favorite television shows, such as Friends, Glee, Big Bang Theory, Full House or even movies such as The Notebook or Titanic- but what do all these shows and movies have in common? The leading roles are consistently being played by predominantly white people. Maybe you’ve noticed this pattern, or maybe you haven’t, but next time you watch a movie or a show, try to pinpoint the similarities and compare to other series you may watch. It’s astonishing how often white people are cast as roles that could be played by people of color or minorities.
The movie Black Panther has been a major shift in cinematic history due to its cast, being made up almost entirely of people of color. Now, I know what you’re thinking- hasn’t this already been done before? The answer to that is yes, it has. The Cosby Show was created in the early 80’s and was a cast made entirely of black people. Contrary to popular belief, it was a very famous television show that did not portray society’s racist or degrading stereotypes. It’s interesting to think about because during that time frame, people of color had such oppression it was problematic in their day-to day lives. The Cosby Show was a television show that was for the people. It was not made as a sitcom to degrade or humiliate people of color, it was a television show that was a positive and encouraging point of view for that family and all other families watching, it was a ray of hope that despite all that happens in the world, things will always get better.
The Cosby Show was a stepping stone towards the Marvel Cinematic Universe that gave us Black Panther. This is a more modern film that represents minorities or those who were never in the spotlight previous to this movie coming out. The main character, T’Challa, or more commonly known as the Black Panther, doesn’t have to face life or death situations or sacrifice his own life for the greater good. This movie forges its own path in regards to cast, problem- solving techniques, and stereotypes- it’s all raw, original material. Black Panther is finally being recognized as a heroic role in cinematic history that pertains to our society more than say, Glee or Full House.
Multiculturalism and Media 