The excitement for “Black Panther” has been tainted by conservative fragility after some slammed the poster for its similarity to a Huey P. Newton photo.
When Marvel Studios unveiled the promotional image and the teaser trailer for the film Friday, June 10, comparisons between Black Panther Party leader Newton and Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa alter ego emerged.
New Black Panther poster makes cool play on famous portrait of former Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P Newton pic.twitter.com/EZ1J1EQZFZ
— Tragic Mulatte (@iTerryTommy) June 9, 2017
Am I the only person who saw the new Black Panther movie poster & immediately thought of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panthers? pic.twitter.com/mwxugeCBk0
— Johnny (@ENDtro) June 9, 2017
A lot of people are telling me the #BlackPanther poster reflects Black Panther co-founder Huey P. Newton’s photo. If so, this is awesome. pic.twitter.com/OtXf5Xwm6v
— Laura (@lsirikul) June 9, 2017
Some Trump supporters bashed the comparison, calling the movie “violent.”
Great job Marvel. Nothing like naming a super hero after a violent civil rights group from the 60s and 70s #BlackPanther
— uhhhhhhhgh (@Username0_n_l_y) June 10, 2017
https://t.co/7ZXsaOcUvJ #MAGA #TrumpTrain Pushing a violent agenda!!
— Bandit (@Getaclue77) June 10, 2017
But Black Twitter quickly shut down such notions.
https://twitter.com/JoiedeVar/status/874125448619450369
Imagine thinking Black Panther is "too black and militant" but American history isn't "too white and racist". pic.twitter.com/rXoMkNXltY
— Cher Martinetti (@thecherness) June 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/TrapGeisha/status/874307696589197312
https://twitter.com/SingleHTX/status/874309922204385280
It’s almost like they never read a Black Panther comic and are ok with other “militant non-black” movies.?
— ?️Humble?•弥助•Ronin (@Epic_Smite) June 12, 2017