A Rites of Passage Counseling Group: Black Panther as a Metaphor of Strength and Resiliency for Young Black Males

Abstract

Comic book characters (CBCs) provide an escapism from reality while still confronting real issues. However, for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) there is a lack of characters that look, talk, and think like them. Black Panther is an example of a character more inclusive of BIPOC populations, especially Black males. What differentiates Black Panther is the CBC can be a metaphor for issues Black males face, such as racism/discrimination. The superhero has several positive attributes, such as a strong sense of self, dignity, and strength/resiliency. Furthermore, one of the more appealing cultural aspects of Black Panther is he must undergo several rites of passages to claim his inheritance. Rites of passages are gaining recognition as a culturally responsive group method to use with Black males in school settings. Thus, a rites of passages counseling group centered on the attributes of Black Panther can offer a contemporary, school-based counseling intervention.