Falcon and Winter Soldier: Isaiah Bradley Memorial Reveals New Details About 'Black Captain America'

By Tom Drew Posted:
Falcon and Winter Soldier Isaiah Bradley

Warning - This article contains spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has finally come to its conclusion , rounding out its six-episode run.

Marvel fans everywhere have expressed their praise and excitement over the most recent episode, but they weren't the only ones. Shang-Chi star Simu Liu greatly connected with the themes of the show's finale, particularly Sam Wilson's monologue towards the end of the episode .

The finale brought Sam Wilson's Captain America into the fold, sporting a brand new costume to match the star-spangled title. "One World, One People" also saw a surprising team-up between Sam, Bucky, and John Walker , the latter of whom will now go on to become the U.S. Agent.

Isaiah Bradley also received some closure in "Episode 6," with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier going out of its way to dedicate a memorial to him...

ISAIAH BRADLEY GETS HIS OWN MEMORIAL

In the series finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , Sam Wilson surprised Isaiah Bradley with a museum exhibit at the Captain America memorial.

Bradley's memorial statue was accompanied by a lengthy recount of his experiences, documenting his time being experimented on with super-soldier serum and his rescue of his fellow soldiers during the Korean War:

"Isaiah Bradley is an American hero whose name went unknown for too long.

Isaiah was one of a dozen African-American soldiers who were recruited against their will and without their consent for participation in human testing in pursuit of the super-soldier serum. Most did not survive. The few who lived through the testing were sent on secret missions during the Korean War. During the conflict, against all odds, Bradley rescued his fellow soldiers and 26 others POWs from behind enemy lines.

However, fearful of the ramifications of a black super-soldier, some individuals within the government tried to erase Isaiah's story from history. His family was issued a falsified death certificate, and for decades the truth of his unflinching bravery was buried."

Isaiah Bradley Memorial Text 1
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

There is also an additional paragraph on the memorial placard, but it is difficult to make out.

Isaiah Bradley Memorial Text 2
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

REMEMBERING THE FIRST BLACK CAPTAIN AMERICA

Isaiah Bradley - referred to as "Black Captain America" in certain Marvel Comics storylines - was a man who was erased from history, penalized and persecuted for trying to do the right thing. This memorial means that he will now be remembered forever as a crucial part of the legacy of Captain America.

Nothing new is mentioned in the memorial text, with the placard simply restating what Bradley had already told Sam himself. However, it serves to show the importance of Bradley's story in convincing Sam to pick up the shield.

Eli Bradley's interest in the exhibit is also notable, potentially hinting towards his future in the MCU as Patriot . The character had a limited role in the series, but perhaps the recontextualization of his grandfather as a hero could be an inspiration for Eli to take up crime fighting.

All episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are streaming now on Disney+.

Release Date
March 19, 2021
Platform
- About The Author: Tom Drew
Tom Drew is the Executive Editor at The Direct. Tom writes for The Direct's Marvel, Star Wars, and DC branches while specializing in all things movies, from blockbuster to indie darlings.