Why did a Black boy have to wait so long to see a hero who looked like him? For years, people like us were sidekicks, threats or jokes. Then Black Panther made Blackness the kingdom: powerful, brilliant and sovereign. Wakanda let us imagine Africa on its own terms. As a gay Black man, I know what it is to search for yourself in a world that edits you out. Representation can’t end racism or homophobia, but being seen matters.