Black Is King: An Origin Story
Origin stories are a historical account of how a character became the hero or villain we know in the present. Before The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker was simply a teenager. Wade Wilson faced a debilitating form of cancer before he became Deadpool.
Photo by Life of Wu from Pexels
The telling of backstories evokes a sense of compassion. When we connect with others, there is less judgement. That could explain why we are drawn to the origin stories of the characters on the page or screen like a dear friend.
Yet, the origin story of Blacks in America lacks this same compassion. In public schools, the curriculum tells a narrative of hate towards blacks while celebrating oppressors. It leaves you to wonder,
”why it is easier for some to connect with fictional characters than real people?”
It is certainly time for a change. We need to change whose story is being told and the vantage point of the orator.
As Zora Neale Hurston so eloquently stated, “If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.”
To counter the narrative of Black as pain, Beyoncé released the visual album Black is King. It was originally filmed to complement The Lion King: The Gift.
In an exclusive video on Good Morning America, Beyoncé expressed a hope that the film “shifts the global perception of the word ‘Black’.” From the trailers it’s clear that the film shows a narrative of Blackness as rich, beautiful, and colorful.
Thanks Bey!
"Black is King," streams exclusively on Disney+.
