Respecting color
I'm probably one of the few remaining people on the planet who have just seen Marvel's hit movie "Black Panther." The story revolves around a fictional country called Wakanda located in the African continent. Everything was good and advanced in this country, but there is a lie that has been revolving around the royal family for years. It was a redemption for every black individual who felt like their color and race defined themselves. The movie spoke that racism is over; regardless of how you looked there will always be something special inside of you.
I couldn't help but be happy at this movie which has earned billions of dollars after its first screening. The internet tells us that there are a lot of black individuals thanking the makers of the film for boosting their morale once again. For the first time, the hero universe in the entertainment industry has produced a brave black superhero in the guise of Black Panther.
While the movie has become rewarding for these people the stereotype of them being tagged as a lower class continues, especially with the newly-released pre-nuptial photos of a Filipino celebrity couple. Their Caucasian color which stood out in the middle of those who were black sent a strong message that they were in-charge because they were white. They were bashed for allegedly using people of different color and culture as their own props.
When I saw the photos I knew then that something was wrong. It was the complete opposite of the "Wakanda Forever" theme that the cast of "Black Panther" wanted to instill in every individual. What a disheartening thing to see, the whites trying to say that they were in power because they had skin that was brighter, smoother, and clearer. Truly, the stereotype has not been eradicated even after decades already.
In our country, we are still hounded by whitening products in the market trying to trick us into believing that white is better. The cosmetics industry keeps on selling products that try to make your skin white because that is what society thinks is more beautiful. Skin has been a long time standard, I think it is time that we set this straight. As for me, it doesn't make a difference at all. What is most important is your heart and smile which makes one more beautiful and pleasing.
I will continue to tell most of my friends who have not seen the movie to watch it with a new perspective. The world now clamors for identification of all sectors and this one might just be the best one for those who are black. We need more films like this to remind people that we are nobody's property -even if they are just for the photos. As society changes, we conform to the fact that the time is now geared towards hearing everyone out and teaching them to be respected in different areas.
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