Black Lightning Strikes Twice: The Ascension of the Black Superhero

In recent years, black superheroes have become a staple in many popular tv series and movies. Some of the more prominent ones include Luke Cage and the Black Panther, to name a couple.
The latest superhero to join the fraternity of modern black superheroes is Black Lightning, also known as Jefferson Pierce.
Many say that Black Lightning draws comparisons to the early-2000s show of a similar nature, Static Shock.
However, since its pilot episode aired, it has become abundantly clear that Black Lightning has both the storyline and characters to tell a classic tale.
Unlike many other superhero shows of today, Black Lightning is a socially conscious show with a majority black cast, unlike anything that the CW network has put out to date. Where most of the shows on CW feature a socially awkward 20-something being exposed to unforeseen circumstances and being thrust into the role of a hero, Black Lightning features a middle-aged Jefferson Pierce, who is also a high school principal. Jefferson’s only focus is making a difference in the lives of the people and children in his community.
Plot aside, the superb acting of Cress Williams as Black Lightning has given so much life to the character of Black Lightning that the actual character arcs have become a bigger focal point of the story than the actual superhero nature of the show, and for many fans, this is a breath of fresh air.
Speaking with freshman mass communication major from New Orleans, Louisiana, Coby Robertson, he spoke of the new generation of black superheroes and what they represent to the African-American community as a whole.
“The ascension of black heroes can subconsciously remind us of the black activists or political figures that genuinely brought/bring change to the world. I mean, they obviously can’t fly or have super strength, but they have a great mind and put it to great use.”
In regards to Black Lightning, this is particularly true. The alter ego of Black Lightning isn’t a billionaire philanthropist or a Norse god with a magic hammer; he is an educator of the youth whose only goal is to make a difference in the lives of his people and the children in his community.
In many ways, he embodies the qualities more prevalently seen in revolutionaries than a vigilante. As Robertson alluded to, the greatest thing about characters like Black Lightning is that their biggest fights aren’t on the streets fighting crime, but in the community and in schools bringing change to the lives of the next generation.
On a similar note, Damion Daniels, a freshman engineering major from Baton Rouge, spoke about what black superheroes mean to the culture and specifically, how Black Lightning is different from other heroes.
“When you think about heroes, you think about dudes in capes saving cats from trees. Not a middle-aged principal keeping the streets safe from drugs, which is basically what Black Lightning is. He has redefined what it means to be a hero, and if the cable companies do it right, I think that he could really change how we view superheroes as a whole.”
As Daniels alluded to, Black Lightning has become a symbol to many as to what black superheroes could potentially be in coming years. Not only is his story relatable to many in the black community, but what he stands for from a cultural standpoint has become unprecedented in its own right.
While it is still unclear as to whether or not Black Lightning can continue to impress the masses as it has done so far, the impact of the story and the message it is attempting to bring is noteworthy in and of itself.
With the ascension of black heroes in pop culture, there is always the risk of selling out the values of the people in order to make a great show.
Artistic works such as the Black Panther, Black Lightning, and Luke Cage, however, have shown that the gritty truths of the black culture can successfully be incorporated into the larger spectrum of cinematic art without losing what makes it a part of the culture in the first place.
While the story of Black Lightning has yet to be fully told, what the character is meant to represent is enough to make anyone want to root for its success.