What if Black men were bulletproof
A few days ago, my son sends me a text, “Hey mom, I think you should watch Luke Cage on Netflix, it is really good.” Honestly, I was a bit hesitant and approached the show with some level of trepidation—I think I had enough of “the hood” represented in media outlets and had no desire to watch another Black man struggle through it.
Luke Cage has its pitfalls, a storyline that continues to depict the pathos of Black urban life—corruption, racist police, gun dealing, and a criminal justice system tainted in ill deeds. But I watched—I grew addicted to the possibility—the mythical world of a Black man who could withstand the power of bullets. What if the families of Terrence Sterling, Alfred Olongo and countless others were able to still wrap their arms around their sons, fathers, uncles and brothers?
I am a mother who prays over the head of my son—longing for some genetic mutation to turn his skin into a repellant against bullets. I want my son to grow into a man that will contribute to his community and neighborhood.
Black/African American males under 18 comprise 51% of the African American population yet this number dwindles as they transition into adulthood.
An FBI report indicates Black/African Americans comprise 43.5% of reported homicides (African Americans account for 13.6 of the U.S. population).
Black/African American men account for 6% of the U.S. population, yet they comprised 40% of the unarmed men shot to death by police officers this past year.
My 18-year old Black son witnessed the death committed by police officers in Charlotte, San Diego, Tulsa, and numerous other cities. Surely, like me, he watched videos posted on social media sites or those played continuously in the media frenzy. He needed a Luke Cage and so did I—I needed this mythical character to lift me from a pit of despair and hopelessness.
The 1970s propelled Marvel to create Luke Cage and we needed a reprisal of this character—someone with superhuman strength—we need our Black men and boys to withstand bullets, rebuild our communities, and fight against injustice. Maybe Luke Cage can be a symbol of hope and not only inspire us to believe in the possibility of change but the opportunity to create new superheroes.
