Part 7/10:
Disney’s history of manipulating racial narratives complicates perceptions further. Past incidents, like hiding Black Panther’s face in promotional posters or excluding John Boyega from Star Wars posters, suggest that Disney and Hollywood often restrict representation when it might threaten certain market interests. Yet, paradoxically, Black-led films like Black Panther and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse demonstrate that Black characters can succeed internationally when given proper promotion and storytelling.
This inconsistency fuels skepticism about whether race genuinely impacts box office success or if other factors—such as marketing, cultural perceptions, and filmmaking choices—play more significant roles.