#FalconAndTheWinterSoldier

I’m annoyed by comments about the Dora Milaje and since this is a Wakanda stan account I’m going to do a quick scene breakdown to hopeful point out how folks are give a white dude way more credit than Black women. Feel free to mute. #WinterSpoilers

The Dora enter the scene when John Walker has just threatened Sam. One of them throws a spear into a beam between them, protecting Sam who is obviously didn’t want to fight.

So John Walker started the fight by threatening a Black man who helped defend Wakanda. #WinterSpoilers

John’s behavior toward the Dora is insulting and passive aggressive. He touches Ayo without her permission in a gesture that white men often claim is friendly but is actually a condescending way they assert their authority and power over others, especially women. #WinterSpoilers

We’ve seen John uses that gesture before, along with his nonchalant “aw shucks” act before. At this point we, the audience, should be aware that it is a mask that covers calculated violence and can’t be reasoned with. Ayo sure sees it. #WinterSpoilers

Which makes it very interesting to see so many people cast the Dora as aggressors in this situation. It shows how much we’ve internalized white supremacy that we see a white man we know to be dangerous threaten a Black man but frame Black women as the aggressors. #WinterSpoilers

PS I understand that by virtue of how the fight scene is filmed it looks like the Dora, Ayo especially, have lethal intent. But if anything the fight demonstrates that if the Dora Milaje want someone dead he would be dead. They left those men alive.
#WinterSpoilers