Black Panther starts with a flashback to 1992; King T’Chaka is in America visiting his younger brother, Prince N’Jobu, who gave away Wakandan vibranium. This encounter results in an argument, and N’Jobu is killed by T’Chaka, leaving N’Jobu son Erik Killmonger an orphan.
The movie returns to the present, a week after King T’Chaka is killed during the events of Captain America: Civil War. With King T’Chaka dead, Prince T’Challa returns to Wakanda to take his place as King and Protector of Wakanda also known as the Black Panther. He drinks a fluid derived from the heart-shaped herb during a ceremony to complete his transformation. Black culture is celebrated throughout the movie, especially during his coronation ceremony.
(Photo Credit from Marvel Studio)
Meanwhile, Killmonger helps Ulysses Klaue find vibranium in a London Museum. Killmonger wants revenge on the Wakandan people because they took his father away from him at a preadolescent age. T’Challa, Nakia, and Okoye show up in Korea to obtain the vibranium and take out Klaue and his operatives. Black Panther catches Klaue and brings him to the FBI for questioning. However, Klaue gets away when Killmonger breaks him out. Killmonger ends up killing Klaue and goes to Wakanda.
Back in Wakanda, T’Challa learns about Killmonger’s father – N’Jobu planned to share Wakanda’s technology with people of African descent around the world to help them conquer their oppressors. Killmonger challenges T’Challa to a fight to the death to become both King of Wakanda and the Black Panther. T’Challa loses after being thrown off a cliff, and everyone believes T’Challa is dead. Killmonger becomes the Black Panther and King of Wakanda.
Killmonger wanted equality among people of color and white people. He went about it by trying to destroy those in power who he thought were preventing equality. Killmonger had pride in his culture and was mad because of the historical and systematic injustices done to his people.
After Killmonger’s coronation, there is a civil war in Wakanda between those following T’Challa and those following Killmonger. T’Challa returns and goes after Killmonger; during their fight, they fall into a mountain of vibranium. Killmonger is stabbed by T’Challa, who plans to heal him using Wakandan technology; however, Killmonger refuses and chooses to die watching the sunrise.
Wakanda opens its door to the world and starts a humanitarian mission in America. T’Challa tells his sister, Shuri, that she will go to America to help others learn about technology and that his love interest, Lupita, will be in charge of foriegn aid and resources in America.
Black Panther is about Black heritage, culture, and pride. It shares historical and systematic injustices of African Americans in America. The movie shows what we can do together, no matter our heritage, color, or background. Black Panther is a great example of diversity and humanitarianism that we all can follow.
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About the Author
Chad Thompson, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing Christian Counseling in Tampa, Florida and telehealth services across Florida, Utah, Idaho, and South Carolina. With a unique background in cinema studies and over a decade in hospitality, Chad brings a distinctive storytelling approach to therapy that helps clients see their struggles and growth through new perspectives. He specializes in faith-based counseling that integrates clinical expertise with Christian values, offering services including anxiety therapy, depression treatment, and support for military families. Chad’s warm, authentic style creates a safe space where faith and mental health can work together toward healing. Learn more about Chad’s approach to Christian Counseling and cinema therapy at Calming Transformations Counseling.