Black Panther: A Cultural Exploration
By Ytasha Womack ∙ Publishing October 3, 2023
Take an engrossing deep dive into the cultural influences of Black Panther, from the development of the Marvel Comics character in the 1960s to his current worldwide renown.
Black Panther was created in 1966 by the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the midst of the civil rights movement and just before the birth of the Black Panther Party. Subsequent creators have drawn from global history and the ever-evolving Black experience to breathe new life into the character, weaving in stories of both oppression and triumph.
Black Panther: A Cultural Exploration delves into the compelling backstory, including:
- A full history of Black Panther, from the character’s comics debut to current comics and film appearances
- Iconic artwork and quotes from decades of Marvel comics
- A breakdown of real-world influences that helped inform the society and culture of Wakanda
Connecting the world of Black Panther with cultural and historical touchpoints and the community of readers whose lives were shaped by the character and his comics, Black Panther: A Cultural Exploration explores the worlds, myths, music, and histories that contributed to the comic’s evolution.
“It was an absolute pleasure writing this book and interviewing people who hold their memories of reading
Marvel’s Black Panther close to their hearts. It was a joy writing about cultural moments and creatives who shaped the Black Panther story and in turn shape us. The Black Panther mythos is a reigning beacon among Afrofuturist creations. I’m delighted that I could capture some of the magic that brought this story to life.” – Ytasha L. Womack
About the Author
Ytasha L. Womack is an award-winning author, director, independent scholar, and dance therapist. Her book Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi & Fantasy Culture was a 2014 Locus Awards Nonfiction Finalist. She lectures on Afrofuturism and the imagination for audiences around the world and was a cocurator of Carnegie Hall’s Afrofuturism Festival, a nationwide arts festival, in 2022. Her other works include the sci-fi novel Rayla 2212; the Kickstarter project A Spaceship in Bronzeville; and nonfiction books Post Black and Beats Rhymes and Life: What We Love & Hate About Hip Hop. Her films include the Afrofuturist dance film A Love Letter to the Ancestors From Chicago (director) and Couples Night (screenwriter). Ytasha was an inaugural resident for Black Rock Senegal, helmed by artist Kehende Wiley in Dakar, showcasing her zine Liquid at the 2022 Dakar Biennial. Other residencies include serving as writer-in-residence at the WOW Festival in Liverpool, Kickstarter, and Emerson College. Ytasha has a BA from Clark Atlanta University and is an alumnus of Columbia College in Chicago. A Chicago native, Ytasha can be found dancing to house music and drinking unusual amounts of tea.
Available October 3, 2023, everywhere books are sold.
BLACK PANTHER: A CULTURAL EXPLORATION ∙ By Ytasha Womack
Published October 3, 2023, by Epic Ink ∙ Hardcover, 176 pages, 100+ illustrations
$30 US, $39.99 CAN ∙ ISBN: 9780760375617
© 2023 MARVEL