- [Narrator] It's been over 60 years

since the first black superhero appeared in comics.

But even now in 2020,

the importance of black representation and black superheroes

is as important as ever.

that Black Panther broke box office records

with nearly $1.3 billion worldwide.

And was the first superhero film to be nominated

for Best Picture by the Academy.

The film broke barriers are being the highest grossing film

from a black director Ryan Coogler.

And solidify Black Panther is one of the strongest heroes

in the Marvel Universe turning him into a household name.

Black stories have always been a telethon.

Whether it's Blue Marvel

having to wear a full face helmet

just to disguise the fact that America's hero is a black man

or Black Panther dealing with compensation

as the chocolate king of Wakanda.

These stories, although fantasy at the core,

continue to shed light o6n the dark spots of America.

Since their inception in 1934 and in 1939 respectively,

DC and Marvel have strived

to take people out of their normal lives

and entertain them with superheroism,

comedic relief and inclusion.

With all that said though,

it was still almost 30 years

until we would see a black superhero join the fold.

To be more specific,

the Fantastic Four issue 52 in July of 1966,

introduced the world to Black Panther

and was the first time we'd see a black superhero

The Black Panther creators dealt with public criticism

due to people thinking T'Challa superhero persona

was aligned the Black Panther Party,

a political activist organization founded in Oakland

to combat police brutality

and other issues faced by the black community.

- More power to the people!

- [Narrator] But the Black Panther Party

was founded in October of 1966.

Three months after T'Challa first appear.

Black Panther originated at a time both far away

and early familiar.

In 1966 T'Challa would have witnessed

the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War

and the rise of Martin Luther King Jr.

And in 2018,

Chadwick Boseman's live iteration of Black Panther,

would have lived through the hope

of Barack Obama's presidency

and Americ6a divided under Donald Trump's administration,

the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

But black panther was just the beginning.

Following his success in the 1969,

Marvel introduced the first African American superhero

Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon.

(upbeat music)

Starting in Captain America issue 117,

Falcon is seen fighting a Long Captain America

and the rest of the Avengers.

Now movie goers and comic book fans will know this

but spoiler alert to whoever's been sleeping under a rock.

Sam Wilson would later take on the mantle of Captain America

and on the cover of our new Captain America issue number one

in November of 2014

Sam Wilson is seen

with the iconic vibranium shield in hand.

In the years to come

Marvel and DC would answer the public demand

for more representation

by creating many of the black superheroes we know today.

Luke Cage and Jon Stewart's Green Lantern coming in 1971

and Black Lightning in 1977.

Tascam Luke Cage were protecting Harlem

against the likes of Black Maria cottonmouth,

my personal favorite Bushmaster

and making Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning

the teacher by day, a retired vigilante by night

protecting the kids in his community,

showcase and humanize not only the black superheroes,

but the neighborhoods they call home.

These characters were instrumental part

in making sure real stories were told and represented.

Because all too often,

Hollywood chooses to portray the stereotypical black guy

or black brain on screen

for Marvel and DC to be debt progressive

in the 1960's and 70's was very rare and courageous.

Now I've been talking a lot

about the first black men to join the superhero folk.

It's time for me to put some respect on the black women.

Although didn't take centuries

for us to`see the female representation

like it did for the woman's right to vote,

the first black female superhero

will come multiple years after the male counterpart.

While, 1971's The Butterfly may have been the first

the era of black female superheroes

goes as far back as 1967

when Arthur Kitt played the role as Cat Woman

in the Batman TV show.

Though Cat Woman was originally created as a white woman

in 1940, representation leads to inspiration.

And kids for trail did just set.

In 1973, DC created a new view

a twin of Wonder Woman made out of clay,

often referred to as black Wonder Woman,

she would forever be Wonder Woman shadow

and never evolved out of the past old worn stereotypes.

Personally, I would love to see what a black woman could do

with this character in today's Hollywood landscape.

Misty Knight first appeared with Luke Cage

and Marvel premiere issue number 21.

At the time, Knight's character was more of a sidekick,

but she was a rising star

who eventually became a lieutenant of the NYPD.

And after the loss of her right arm, it was Tony Stark.

Yes, Ironman himself

who would actually be the one

to give her the iconic bionic arm she's known for.

Launching that same year

but vastly different in origin stories

a woman wrote 'Better known to the world as storm.'

has ties back to Kenya as well as America.

And her adventures with x men encompasses both.

Storm will go down

is not only the first black team leading a Marvel series,

but the first black female lead as well.

And with her abilities

to control the elements as well as fight,

storm is seen as one of the strongest mutants on Earth.

One of my favorite storm storylines

is in Black Panther volume four issue 18.

A story that centers around Monroe's wedding

with the king of Wakanda, Black Panther.

And there's a part of the video

where I'll give you guys a homework.

Beyond the few that I've highlighted here'

there are so many more superheroes stories

and adventures out there.

This is just the beginning

and I'm merely touching the surface.

As a comic book fan, you'd love to see it.

I learned about a black superhero

who was forced to wear a mask like Blue Marvel

and now we got Riri Williams out here

being our next Iron Man.

In 2018, not only did we disprove the notion

that black stories don't do well in Hollywood,

we proved that they could be a worldwide success.

ATnd now with the news of Chadwick Boseman's passing,

we only hope he knew the impact that he had on so many.

The young black and talented Chadwick Boseman,

accomplished with their original Black Panther did

all those years ago.

He's one that opened the doors for more opportunities

to tell black stories of black creators,

with black actors,

for black audience to see themselves represented

on a global stage.

Rest easy king, Wakanda forever.

(gentle music)