Thinking a lot this week abt the choices we're given & have the power to make, but also the choices made for us w/o our consent. 1 thing #FalconAndWinterSoldier is doing right is allowing Sam to make his own choice about the shield & Cap's legacy. 1

I know folks want Sam to take the shield & Cap mantle & clearly that's what the series is building to. But remember: Sam didn't choose the shield & legacy for himself--Steve chose him. It's supposed to be flattering but it's actually kinda not. 2

Sam is a Black man from a working class Louisiana family who served in the military. He may love & respect Steve but he also knows America in a way Steve, Bucky & Walker never will. There's inescapable condescension, no matter how unintentional, in Steve giving Sam that shield. 3

All of Sam's white friends assume Sam should be flattered that Steve thinks he's worthy of the shield & in 1 way Sam is bc they're friends & of course you want your friends to believe in you. But Steve & Bucky don't think once abt what it'd mean for Sam to be Captain America. 4

Steve & Bucky *never ask Sam what he wants.* They never ask him how he might feel about being a symbol for America, never think what kind of a burden it might be for him. They never wonder if Sam would have the same freedom to define himself as an American hero as Steve did. 5

Bucky assumes Sam giving up the shield is abt his feelings of "worth" as Steve's successor but it's *also* abt Sam making a choice to say "no" to an obligation he was never asked if he might want in the 1st place. That power is important. 6

Esp in light of Isaiah revealed to be a Black man turned into a supersoldier against his will to be used as a weapon & then incarcerated as a test subject for most of his life. Isaiah had no power to choose how his body & humanity would be used. Sam sees this immediately. 7

#FalconAndWinterSoldier is abt choices & consequences. Steve chose to protect while Walker chose to have power. Bucky lives w/consequences of choices he didn't make. Karli's choices kill ppl. Isaiah had no choice to become an American weapon. Sam did & he chose not to. 8

There are a lot of critiques I have abt #FalconAndWinterSoldier but 1 thing they're doing right is setting it up so when Sam takes that shield back, he's choosing it *for himself* rather than accepting a choice made for him, and doing so on his own terms. I think that matters. 9

Sidenote: Also the Dora Milaje *chose note to kill Bucky, Sam, Hoskins & Walker* even tho they damn well could've. Ayo *chose to disarm Bucky* so he wouldn't be a lethal threat she might have to kill. That wasn't betrayal **that was a choice to save his life.** 10

When Walker realizes the Dora Milaje have more power than him, he sees their *intentional choice not to wield it lethally & fight to disarm/neutralize him* as an insult & not a responsible exercise of power. Says a lot abt how he frames his choices, doesn't it? 11