I’m seeing tweets about a scene in this week's #FalconAndTheWinterSoldier that aren't giving a lot of thought to the context, much less racial dynamics, involved or the themes of the episode. There’s a lot to unpack here. So let’s get started. Feel free to mute #WinterSpoilers

CW: Ableism

The scene in question is where Ayo, having had her fight with John Walker interrupted by Bucky, deactivates his vibranium arm and it falls to the floor.

Now, this was obviously intended to be shocking on many levels, and some fans are upset.

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I'm not here to tell people how to feel or to say what is or isn't ableist. The MCU as a whole has done a piss poor job with depicting disability.

However, using this to frame Ayo, Shur, and Wakanda as villains/manipulators on par with HYDRA is racist. #WinterSpoilers

Beyond the racism, you have to ignore some pretty important context and canon to see Wakanda as the bad guys in this situation.

First off, Bucky's arm isn't just a prosthetic. It is a powerful weapon given to him by Wakanda for the protection of Wakanda.

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Let's be clear, there is no reason Bucky couldn't be using a regular (non-superpowered) prosthetic arm. His vibranium arm is not that different from Cap's shield, especially in the context of this episode.

Both are made of Wakandan vibranium wielded by white men.
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This situation is NOT an abled person taking an assistive device from a disabled man. This is Ayo, a Black Woman, reminding Bucky, a white man, that the power he is wielding against her was given to him by her.

He betrayed her trust. #WinterSpoilers

It's important to note that Ayo didn't take Bucky's arm. Same with the shield. She ended the fight, and told him "Bast damn you, James."

Those aren't the words of an enemy. She gave him 8 hours because she trusted him. Bucky took her and Wakanda for granted.

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The opening scene gives us important context to Ayo and Bucky's relationship, while the street scene shows how flippant Bucky is with regard to Wakanda. Ayo talks about T'Chaka having chosen her for the Dora and how Zemo represents their "loss and shame."

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Bucky talks a lot of trash about John Walker not understanding the responsibility that comes with the shield, but this episode shows that Bucky himself is just as ignorant and irresponsible with the power given to him by Wakanda.

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This entire episode was about responsibility and power. Each character is being presented as having good intentions, if different approaches, but ultimately intentions don't matter. It's their actions that matter.

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While I agree that this episode should come with a warning, I can absolutely see how that scene could be triggering. I also think that we are long overdue for a talk about how disabled white men are still very capable of wielding power under white supremacy.

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In summary, white people need to take a seat and really think about why they're upset when a Black Woman takes away a white man's power.

P.S. Don't mess with Wakanda. It will not end well for you.