When one thinks about comic books and superheroes it’s true people of color are rarely the first ones to come to mind. But on the low, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is repping for The Culture as much as anyone in film and TV today. Take the blockbuster Spider-man: Homecoming. Both female leads/love interests for Peter Parker were actresses of color (Laura Harrier and Zendaya), Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) steals the several scenes he’s in while informing us he is the cousin of Miles Morales (the black/Spanish Spider-man). Hood acting legend Bokeem Woodbine plays a major villain and even Fancy (Garcelle Beauvals) from The Jamie Foxx Show is in the movie!

 

Let’s look at who else is a part of the MCU. Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie who has played 2Pac on film, Lawrence Fishburn (Furious Styles from Boyz N The Hood), Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, and the King of the South himself, T.I. just to name a few.

 

 

Then on the television side there’s Luke Cage which is all about The Culture. It’s set in Harlem, every episode is named after a Gang Starr song in season1 and a Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth joint in season 2, there are 3 women of color leads, and served as the breakout vehicle for Mahershala Ali (the first Muslim to win an Oscar).

 

And we haven’t even gotten to Black Panther yet which is unabashedly black and is now the new gold standard for black superhero excellence on the big screen. The casts consist of a great mix of the who’s who of young black Hollywood with some of our veteran best. Chadwick Boseman (who has already played both Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall), Michael B. Jordan (basically the next big thing actor in Hollywood), Lupita Nyong’o (the next big thing actress in Hollywood), and Danai Gurira killing it as General Okoye. Plus the OG’s Laurence Fishburn, Forest Whitaker, and Angela Bassett all being their regal selves. And then there’s the breakout star of Get Out, Daniel Kaluuya and Letitia Wright as everyone’s favorite new genius, Shuri. This film is so important to The Culture it transcends the comic book/superhero genre all together.

 

Basically every name working black actor/actress in Hollywood not named Will or Denzel is or will likely wind up in the MCU. Seriously, how surprised would you be to see Kerri Washington or Issa Rae in the inevitable Black Panther sequel? And representation in the biggest box office genre on the planet right now is certainly a good look. We spice up their content with our unique style and that style gets blasted to the masses. It’s a win-win. It looks like Marvel gets it and is doing it for The Culture.

 

 

Written by @TalentedMrFord

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