Black Panther: Changing Gender?

I have a post already concerning the plan to relaunch the Black Panther comic book series and replacing the main character with a female (see her on the left-top). I personally don't mind Marvel comics truing to shake up stories and trying new things. Even if it's a blatant attempt to re-invigorate sales using a sexy leading-lady to appeal to men and boys and woo women by showing an empowered female protaganist. What has me concerned, however, is the identity of whom this new Black Panther will be. One of the things Marvel is always ready to brag about is the fact that Black Panther is the first black superhero to be introduced in a major way by any major publisher. He is a product of the civil rights movement. A symbol of the industry and the nation began to turn away from stereotypes against Black people. I agree. What happens to that legacy if Black Panther's race changes? The Civil Right movement was not about rejecting who you are to fit in with mainstream (white) America. It was about accepting your race, culture and heritage and the rest of society doing the same. Before this, black people were made to feel undervalued and not allowed to participate in the nation they helped build. The 60's come along and Black people said to America, that we are just as valuable to this nation as anyone else. Just as lovable as anyone else. I see the Black Panther character as a symbol of that. T'challa, is a black man, who plays by his own moves, several steps ahead of his enemies and friends, and his major purpose it to protect his kingdom and people in world that will take advantage of them if he lets them. I think that this dynamic...this drama that the character carries will be lost if Black Panther will be changed into a white woman. To be fair, Marvel has not really said who the new Panther will be. They did release a new article from Marvel.com and the picture on the top-right. There are black female characters in the Marvel Universe who are part of the current series that can take over for T'challa. However, inorder to invite controversy and publicity, Marvel has not released the new Panther's identity, nor has explained why and how the switch will happen yet. I know....I Know I am falling for it, but the character does matter.

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