Marvel Studios' second Disney+ series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier , is already 1/3 completed after Episode 2, "The Star-Spangled Man," premiered. In this episode, audiences got a better look at the new Captain America, John Walker (played by Wyatt Russell). Walker has officially taken up the mantle of Captain America after Steve Rogers' retirement and Sam Wilson's decision to not keep the shield.
Even though Walker is the current Captain America, fans guess and evidence suggests that Sam Wilson will at some point get the shield back and take the mantle. How this possibly happens will be revealed over the next four weeks of episodes, but before then, MCU star Anthony Mackie is already discussing the importance of a Black Captain America.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A BLACK CAPTAIN AMERICA
In a recent interview with Jemele Hill , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier star Anthony Mackie said he is "very, very optimistic about the reaction" if he did become the next Captain America. Mackie also emphasized the importance of representation in superheroes:
"You know what, I am very, very optimistic about the reaction of if it were to come about that I would become Captain America. Because I think it's very important, representation is very important. And not so much just for little black boys, but little Asian boys, little white boys. It's going to raise conversations in every household, every dad is going to have to sit down with his son, every mom is going to have to sit down with her daughter."
Beyond just racial representation, Mackie referenced how his sons love Wonder Woman. Mackie said, "Girls can kick ass just as good as dudes:"
"Much like my boys, they watch Wonder Woman, and they love it. They appreciate the fact that she's not a female superhero, she's a superhero, and that the conversation we had. Girls can kick ass just as good as dudes, and they should appreciate that and watch it for what it is. If a green dude can kick ass, so can a black dude and so can a female."
ANTHONY MACKIE CONFIRMING HE'LL BE CAPTAIN AMERICA?
After speaking hypothetically about Wilson becoming Cap, Mackie did say, "It's going to raise conversations in every household." This is by no means a confirmation, but it does sound like the plan is for him to finally take Rogers' place sometime in the series.
In "Episode 2", racial issues were addressed head-on. Isaiah Bradley was introduced as a former Black super-soldier who instead of getting praised for his heroic work was jailed for thirty years and experimented on. His grandson, Eli Bradley, may have been another tease at the Young Avengers by adding another Black superhero to the MCU.
Another moment of tackling racial issues was when Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes were approached by police officers, and they assumed that Wilson was bothering Barnes. The officers were embarrassed when they realized they were discriminating against The Falcon, but it shows that no one is above discrimination.
Wilson taking on the mantle of Captain American would further these issues and conversations if God's Righteous Man is a person of color.
The story will continue to unfold with "Episode 3" of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier on April 2, exclusively on Disney+.
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