White Parents Are Getting SUPER FREAKING NERVOUS About “Black Panther” Costumes

Remember when the goal was to teach kids that race is skin deep and that on the inside we’re all the same and that we should all respect one another and realize that despite our differences we’re all the same?

Yeah.

That’s not the goal anymore.

The goal is to get kids to fear race now. And if they’re white, to realize THEIR race is the cause of all problems.

“Mama, I want to be Black Panther for Halloween!”

“NO, KALE-BERKELEY! Have I taught you nothing?! Only black little boys, girls, and genderfluids can be Black Panther! You’ll be a tub on Vegan Mayo this year, as to not offend anyone. We’ve already victimized enough people!”

This dramatic representation isn’t all that far from reality, is it?

Anyway, parents are getting super worked up about what to do about ‘Black Panther’ costumes.

According to this:

Black Panther comes roaring into theaters Thursday, and along with it comes merchandise and costumes for adults and children alike.

But as thousands of parents prepare to take their children to see the film, which is expected to rake it in at the box office, some white parents have been left wondering about how to approach the subject of race.

White parents are trying to make sure they are not culturally appropriating when they take their children to see Black Panther over the weekend, especially if those children want to dress up like the main character – superhero T’Challa, AKA the Black Panther.

Do black parents freak out when their kid asks to be super man or spider man? Those characters have both been played by white actors.

Is a little black kid wearing a Superman costume “cultural appropriation?”

NO. Because this is a freaking superhero. WHY must EVERYTHING now be about race?! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

Some parents are worried that allowing their children to wear the Black Panther masks or costumes could be considered cultural appropriation, or even black face.

WHAT THE HELL?!

In a New York Times op-ed published Tuesday, author Kwame Opam pointed out that many parents are trying to toe the line to make sure they aren’t accused of being racially insensitive.

‘Many parents are split on how Black Panther’s blackness should figure into their children’s relationship with the character,’ the article said.

But after speaking to many experts, the overwhelming conclusion remained the same, children of all races are welcome, and even encouraged to dress up as T’Challa.

That being said, it is important for white parents to have a conversation with children about the issues of race in America before seeing the film, the article explained.

‘When I look at it, I see no reason why a kid who’s not black can’t dress like Black Panther,’ Vimeo HR Director Katrina Jones told the Times.

‘Just like our kid who’s not white dresses up like Captain America. I think the beautiful thing about comics is they do transcend race in a lot of ways.’

EXACTLY. WHY IS THIS EVEN A CONVERSATION?!?!?!

Associate professor at Texas Woman’s University Brigitte Vittrup said white people shouldn’t ignore the element of race when talking about it to their children.

‘White people have the privilege of not constantly being reminded of their race in the United States, where white is the majority, whereas a black person you don’t,’ she explained.

Vittrup said that something to keep in mind for parents is how important this is for black children, because ‘there’s not a whole lot of black superheroes.’

What does this mean? Why do parents need to “keep in mind how important this is to black children.” Does letting your white kid watch this film or dress up like this character somehow diminish the experience for a black kid? Is this another one of those white people sucking “Black joy” things?

Chadwick Boseman, who plays the titular character in the film, said in an interview with Buzzfeed in the fall he’s ‘thrilled’ that children of all races want to dress up like his character.

‘This Halloween, the first time I see a little kid, a white kid, dressed up as Black Panther, I’m taking a picture,’ he said.

‘You better believe I’m taking a picture, because that’s the crossover.’

Huh? That’s the crossover? I honestly don’t know what that means.

Ultimately, the experts concluded to the Times that wearing the mask is not cultural appropriation, and it is not the same as wearing black face.

There are experts now, folks. “Is this blackface?” experts.

That being said, many agreed that this is the perfect opportunity for white parents to have a conversation with their children about race in America, and what Black Panther means to black people.

‘Kids are not colorblind,’ Vittrup said.

‘There’s a lot of structural inequality in our society, and kids are noticing that. By not mentioning it, by not talking about it, we’re essentially preserving the status quo.’

TRANSLATION: Remind your kid how good white people have it and how everyone else is a victim of white people.

Cool. Got it. Thanks.