Rev. Maria Mallory White and Rev. John F. White II

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHITES

EDITOR’S NOTE: The pictures used with last week’s Wakanda column were incorrect. Photos of the senior John F. White were inadvertently displayed.

In a world untouched by the oppressive cancers of Western racism, colonialism, capitalism and sexism, the leading women of “Black Panther”— Nakia, Okoye, Shuri and Ramonda—are a fierce foursome, superhero soul sistahs in their own right.

Welcome to Wakanda, where the female figures of this fictional and futuristic African country offer a glimpse of the glory of unchained, unhindered, unrestrained, unadulterated womanist power.

When Alice Walker defined the term some years back, sistahs began to align themselves with Walker’s bold assertion, “Responsible. In charge. Serious…. Womanist is to feminist as as purple is to lavender.”

“Black Panther” is overflowing with purple. What we witness in its exploration of a beloved community may be the most ambitious cinematic depiction of the womanist way of being. Walker’s words apply to these Wakandan women and how they roll: “…outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful…”

The images of powerful, strong sistahs who are Wakandan leaders along with being nurturing, fearless and caring characters, are refreshing as we close out Women’s History Month. There’s Nakia, Prince T’Challa’s ex-girlfriend, who is a warrior and a spy; Okoye, the general and personal protector of the prince; Shuri, the princess who is the science and technology mastermind; Ramonda, the regal Queen Mother, and we can’t leave out the Dora Milaje, the all-female royal guard.

We also see sistahs who are a large part of the wisdom council, sharing their opinions and not being shushed by their male counterparts nor told to keep quiet and just be happy having a seat at the table. These sistahs are strong, these sistahs are powerful, and they are many:

There are more main female characters in “Black Panther” than any other Marvel Cinematic Universe film. And when Walker proclaimed womanists are, “Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female,” though they are fictional, these sistahs are giving us life as they fight for their loved ones and community, in true womanist fashion.

These characters embody bold womanist wisdom, work and worth. And they help us see ourselves in a majestic, corrective and inspiring way. So, let’s tell the truth and shame the devil: as Danai Gurira, who played Okoye encouraged sistahs in a recent interview, “Just because we are different doesn’t mean we are deficient.”

Don’t believe the you’re deficient lie just because your skin is dark like mocha chocolate or light like caramel. Don’t believe the lie just because your lips are full and your eyes are big. Don’t believe the lie because your hair is kinky and curly.

They say, your frame is not sleek enough, your eyes are not blue enough, and your behinds are not small enough. They say your hands are not smooth enough, your feet are not soft enough, your waist is not thin enough, and your hips are not straight enough. Lies.

That’s what they say, but we celebrate a sistah like Nakia, who doesn’t take what is but looks for what can be. We celebrate a sistah like Ramonda, who empowers us in the middle of a fight for our lives with the words, “Show them who you are!” We celebrate a sistah like General Okoye, who stands right next to us and fights with us and will be loyal to us. We celebrate a sistah like Shuri who will say to us just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.

Yes! Wakanda forever!