*Netflix’s new “Luke Cage” series offers a much darker take on the Marvel Universe than what is generally served up in movie theaters. This bulletproof black man in a hoodie is not only both a powerful and threatening image to many folks, but also a tribute to Trayvon Martin.
Lead actor Mike Colter opened up to The Huffington Post on the importance of a political black superhero, and how Trayvon helped shape his Luke Cage character.
“It’s a nod to Trayvon, no question,” Colter said. “Trayvon Martin and people like him. People like Jordan Davis, a kid who was shot because of the perception that he was a danger. When you’re a black man in a hoodie all of a sudden you’re a criminal. That’s something we shouldn’t have to deal with, but we do. It’s a double standard. We can’t cover our head when it’s cold and raining because God forbid someone sees us and puts our life in danger. We wanted to pay homage to that — it’s not something we were shying away from.”
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Filmed in 2014, the well-times series doesn’t ignore the non-indictment of NYPD officer Daniel Panateleo in the Eric Garner case and constant other police shootings of unarmed black citizens.
“When we were filming this, there were different things going on,” Colter said. “Eric Garner, the policemen were acquitted. No one was brought to justice. There was no handing out of any sentence. There are a couple of other things that happened during the time we were filming. We were watching the news, and it was always someone being shot who was unarmed, and there is no justification for it. It’s mind-boggling.”
Vibe.com notes how Colter hopes the series will continue Marvel’s mission to spark conversations on politics and culture turmoil.
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