The M.C.U.’s adaptation of “The Blind Side,” which tells the story of a Black man’s success under the guidance of the real, original white hero, might have easily been Sam’s metamorphosis into the Captain. Additionally, he may have been Uncle Tom Captain, a Black servant who unquestioningly risked his life.
However, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” examined Sam’s hesitation to assume the role of Captain America since, in the views of some of his fellow citizens, his Blackness frequently devalued him, made him a target, or made him a caricature. Isaiah Bradley, a Black super soldier who got the super serum like Steve Rogers, was also presented in the episode.
When Sam gets his own movie, these racial concerns and this history don’t just vanish. To further emphasize this point, Isaiah makes a reappearance in “Brave New World,” when he professes his mistrust of the administration and cautions Sam against becoming a puppet for the president’s whims. A crowd of police officers chases Isaiah around the White House grounds after he is falsely accused of attacking the president, and he is ultimately imprisoned. Isaiah will be put to death. He reminds us once more that a Black man’s experience is still a Black superhero’s experience.
Naturally, Sam has saved Isaiah and several others by the end of “Brave New World,” and he has demonstrated his abilities in a few spectacularly staged battle scenes (both with and without the Wakandans’ upgraded flight suit). The movie presents his Captain as a unique hero, a Captain America without super serum but with superior equipment, a different combat style, and a different disposition. (The Captain still uses some of his trademark flourishes, such as his amazing shield-wielding.) Sam Wilson’s Captain America, along with Shuri’s transition into the Black Panther in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” officially ushers in the new generation of Avengers, which will feature more women and people of color.
The time should come for such a varied cast of heroes, including a Black Captain America. Actually, decades ago should have been the time. However, the ultimate irony of Disney’s meager and belated efforts at representation is that this movie, which was initially scheduled for release in May 2024, suddenly comes out at a time when many businesses are doing the same, in addition to the president rescinding diversity measures. Disney, which just publicly reversed several of its D.E.I. initiatives, is one company that is following the trend.
