Y’all. We are now less than 48 hours out from what will undoubtedly be the greatest cinematic triumph since The Wiz (yes, all films), and it is safe to say that along with the flu, Wakanda fever has officially hit The Root’s office this February. Among our staff, outfits were purchased even before tickets, and you best believe our bodies are ready.
But who really stole our hearts this Valentine’s Day? The four main women of Wakanda, played by Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright and, of course, the legendary Angela Bassett. Throw in that badass Dora Milaje, and ... T’Challa who?
We kid, we kid. Chadwick and Michael B. and Forest and them are great. But we’d be lying if we said that the ladies haven’t been stealing the scene these past few weeks. I mean, will you look at these goddesses, gracing the pages of Essence magazine?
(Sidenote: I keep reading that Essence cover in L.L.’s voice: “Angela, Danai, Letitia, Lupita.”) I mean ... come on. Black-on-black beauty in full effect!
Black Panther aside, this is the new Fantastic Four—femme-style! More than “girl power,” Black Panther might ultimately offer us a new, far more positive way to interpret the “strong, black woman” trope that has plagued us for too long, as these heroines made abundantly clear in their interview with Entertainment Weekly.
What we love most about these ladies is how much they seem to genuinely love and respect one another, and we seriously can’t wait to see these incredible women in action Thursday night, when The Root staff hits the theater right after work. But in the meantime, if you just can’t get enough of these ladies, check out more of their great chemistry offscreen. Rap battles, anyone?