Released in February 2018, Black Panther was a game-changer in the Hollywood superhero movie scene. As the first movie within the cinematic universe of Marvel with a fully BIPOC cast, the movie depicts African and Black heritage in the clothing the actors wear, the architecture of Wakanda, the king rituals, the languages the Wakandans speak, as well as the African-style influenced movie soundtracks sung by BIPOC music artists. Whether critics have pointed out such aspects of the movie as cultural appropriation, it still holds power in representing BIPOC actors and actress in the American movie industry.

The existence of the African country Wakanda draws inspiration from the concept of afrofuturism. Afrofuturism serves to address how science fiction has been written by predominantly white European males and pose questions on discrimination and systemic racism towards BIPOC people. In terms of Wakanda as a place plentiful of a source called vibranium, other countries with major economic power vie over this technology-enhancing source in their neoliberal society. Wakanda is portrayed as a world superpower all when in reality, the majority of African countries are considered as third-world countries. The nation's success is also attributed to the fact that Wakanda has been neither conquered nor colonized by other countries in the speculative narrative of Black Panther, reimagining a world while reflecting on historical events and exploring fictional alternatives.