Wakanda Showing
Diving into the electrifying world of cinema and culture through the "Wakanda Forever" movie night curated by Professor Gerardo Aldana has been nothing short of a mind-blowing experience for the K-12 students. The sheer brilliance of the film, combined with Aldana's contagious enthusiasm, transformed a regular movie night into an unforgettable cultural journey.
As a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies, Professor Aldana was invited to be a consultant on the film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” With his expertise in Mayan and Mesoamerican culturexpertise, he helped to refine the script, consulted on character development. He also appears in the movie playing the role of a United Nations official.
Prof. Aldana answered questions raised by SGYC youths, especially regarding the culturally and anti-racist features of the film production and discussed how the film showed ways that people of different cultural and historical backgrounds affected by colonialism can resolve their differences and live harmoniously. The film also exposed youths to advanced technologies, that while of a fantasy nature, are attuned to the importance of STEM for human well-being. During a break at the half-time of the showing, Prof. Aldana signed autographs for youths and greeted them personnaly.
Listen to an interview with Professor Aldana conducted by UCSB students: