The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: A Shield That Does Not Protect Us All | Larry McAllister II Photography and Creative Services

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Like It’s Someone Else’s

The moment Steve Rogers, aged almost beyond recognition, handed Sam Wilson, The Falcon, the shield, a smile spread across my face. As a comic lover, I knew what it meant. The Falcon, a Black man, would become Captain America. While I was excited, I had a sinking feeling that the world wasn’t ready for the change. How could the world be ready for a Black Captain America? We’re not even ready to admit Black lives matter. Buried by the pandemic and nearly a year of civil unrest, I had almost forgotten the shield changed hands until we started seeing trailers for a new show.

Just Like That, We’re Supposed To Be Cool?

Initially intended to be the first MCU show to premiere on Disney+, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier would premiere on March 19, 2021. Following WandaVision‘s lead, it wasn’t clear what we should expect. Would it be a straightforward series? Would it be more like the Captain America films or other Marvel properties? Slowly the picture became clear. This show would be about Sam Wilson struggling to accept his role as the heir apparent to the shield. Bucky would help Sam in this quest, and we’d be shown the dark underbelly of the system that sought to recreate Cap. A great premise, but how would they tackle race? They can’t just ignore Falcon’s Blackness, could they?

He’s Not a Falcon Anymore, But He’s Still Black

Luckily for us, they didn’t ignore it. In fact, the strength of the series was address race. Outside of Sam’s struggles, we’re introduced to Isaiah Bradley, the first Black Captain America. We learn of his mistreatment at the hands of the US government and struggle alongside Sam as we reconcile with this information. Though not perfect, the series has a really important conversation and introduces a dose of reality to the MCU. Given everything going on in the US at the time of release, the show achieves a level of social relevancy often missing from MCU properties.

The Only Power I Have Is That I Believe We Can Do Better

This week on Stay Watchin, I’ll break down why the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier made me so emotional, and why I think the series is so important. If this and WandaVision are the first efforts to bring the MCU to the small screen, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.