Smithsonian Museum of African American History acquires Wakandan artifacts
A promotional image from the Marvel film Black Panther, directed by Ryan Cougler and starring Chadwick Boseman as the title character. The film has become one of the highest grossing solo superhero films of all time. Image Credit: Celltek74 Image Source: Flickr
According to WTOP, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture has obtained props from the film Black Panther, including the superhero’s suit. The museum received the items following a February screening at the facility’s Earl W. & Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts.
Items obtained by the NMAAHC include the original suit worn by the star of the film, Chadwick Boseman, a shooting script signed by Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, two pages of spec scripts, and finally, 24 high resolution production photos.
The museum is still planning through how they wish to display the items, but released a statement:
Black Panther is the first superhero of African descent to appear in mainstream American comics, and the film itself is the first major cinematic production based on the character. Black Panther illustrates the progression of blacks in film, an industry that in the past has overlooked blacks, or regulated them to flat, one-dimensional and marginalized figures. The film, like the museum, provides a fuller story of black culture and identity.