That's awesome for Ryan Coogler. I'm way happy for him. Does nothing 4 the community though.
I don't think your getting that we have always been successful. That has never mattered before. It's our successes that makes the dominant society afraid in the first place.
There have been successful black movies decades ago, none have changed our community cause THERE JUST MOVIES. White people everywhere aren't gonna be like;
"Oh shit, that movie Black Panther was hot and successful. I guess it's time to let the African Americans and people of African descent everywhere advance in life and make $$$"
I saw the movie tonight. It was Awesome.
And while reading through this thread.... Personally, I think you are conflating ALOT of different issues.
Its not really a question of 'What can this movie do for the Black Community'?
No, the Black Panther movie will not cure racism. Or stop police brutality.
Or end the war on drugs. Or write new laws.
But what it CAN do... is
'open new doors' for other storytellers, actors and technical talent...
Both behind and 'in front of' the camera. (For starters

)
Btw, Black Film has not always been 'as successful' as you might've thought it has been.

Judging from the box-office numbers, it's probably been more
'influential'... than 'monetarily successful'.
List of the 33 Highest-Grossing Movies of All-Time.... Made by a Black Director:
http://www.indiewire.com/gallery/bl...s-african-american-filmmakers/#!1/stir-crazy/
There are only
33 Movies (made by Black Directors) that have made over $100+ million dollars at the box-office.
Just 33. That's all. In over 50+ years of Black Filmmaking.
In Hollywood.... Money Talks.
That's what MOTIVATES these 'Ari Gold'-types, who can 'greenlight' black movies nowadays, in the first place.
Now Malcolm X is one of
'THE MOST IMPORTANT' films ever made for the black community... but it only made
$48 million dollars at the box-office, in 1992. (Which is equivalent to about
$102 million in 2018 )
Malcolm X box-office numbers:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=malcolmx.htm
That amount of money
'doesn't move the needle' at all, in Hollywood.
It doesn't make Hollywood Studio Execs and Movie Distributors REALLY CARE about casting more Black Actors... or even CARE to Distribute movies with a 'predominantly black cast' OVERSEAS, in foreign countries.
But a BILLION DOLLAR Movie?? NOW THAT DOES.

Those types of numbers are like a
'seismic shift' in the landscape.
It's similar to Michael Jordan's impact on the NBA.
Fortune Magazine wrote articles telling how Michael Jordan's career had a
$10 Billion dollar impact... ON THE WHOLE ECONOMY.
People bought his Sneakers, his Underwear, his Cologne, his NBA memorabilia, viewership of the NBA around the world WENT UP, therefore Cable Revenue went up, and so did Advertising Revenue, and so did Ticket Sales at all the Arenas around the country, plus Snacks & Concessions sales went through the roof.... which meant that Basketball-Related Income increased, and therefore..... so did NBA Player Salaries.
Even the movies he appeared in (like Space Jam) ALSO made hundreds of millions of dollars.
Jordan even changed
'the betting lines' in Vegas.
Las Vegas LOVED when the Bulls played... because whenever people 'bet against Jordan', for years it was always considered
'a suckers bet' 
.... and all the Casinos & Sports Bookies across the country made TONS of money, hand over fist.
Because the more some people 'wanted to see him lose'... the MORE MONEY they would pull out of their pocket.... to bet that 'he WOULD lose'.
Fast Forward 20 years later... and Jordan is also one of the main reasons that so many other players today (like Lebron, Curry, KD plus 20+ other current NBA Players) can make over
$100+ million dollars in NBA salary alone.
Now ask yourself... what are all those OTHER NBA athletes doing with their salaries to 'help the Black Community'?
That's
'the type of the progress' you should be measuring the Black Panther movie against, imo.
Just saying.
In Hollywood, Movie Studios often try to replicate
'the success' of other Movie Studios.
To determine 'what impact' Black Panther will have (10-20 years from now), you have to ask questions like....
- How will these Studios now look to capitalize on the success of the BP movie, in their own way?
- How many 'doors' will the BP movie open that have long been closed? (Both in front of & behind the camera.)
- How many other Black Actors will now get a (2nd or 3rd) 'call-back' for a role? Then get hired.
- How many Black Directors will get HIRED to direct a big-budget movie?
And if all these talented black people start to get more work, as a result...
- What 'stories will they tell'?

- And what will THEY create to 'inspire' the next generation?

That's where 'the progress' takes place.
- Sooner rather than later... we might see a Star Trek-type of Franchise... with a predominantly black cast.

- Sooner rather than later... we might see more films about famous Black Entrepreneurs, Black Inventors, Black Engineers, Black Doctors & Black Scientists... with a predominantly black cast.
- Sooner rather than later... we might see more DRAMAS & more THRILLERS & more SCI-FI... with a predominantly black cast.
Instead of multiple Slave Movies. Or just Comedies. Year after year.
And those films could inspire more Black youth to pursue STEM careers.
Too many folks think that if this Black Panther Movie doesn't end Police Brutality by next Tuesday... then its all just 'hype'.
The change in the black community that they are looking for... is not going to be seen on the evening news. (Next Week)
The change in the black community that they are looking for... happens gradually. And it's CUMULATIVE.

Over time.
You will be kidding yourself if you don't think the box-office results of Black Panther will not MOTIVATE other Hollywood Execs to create more movies that involve more Black Actors... more Hispanic Actors... more Asian Actors... and more non-White Actors, in general.
They want MONEY.
Because that's what
motivates them.

More than anything else.
And that same motivation is what makes Hollywood Execs create multiple spinoffs, sequels, replicas.... and breeds competition.
When they see a 'new revenue stream'... that is largely 'untapped'.... lots of them will try to cash-in. Somehow.
