Black Panther - Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream

**Lisa Bueno** (0:00)
Okay, our friends, so today, we just saw a trailer for a movie that's coming out, and we're pretty excited about it. It is a Marvel Superheroes movie. And whenever we think about that, we think we should read a Marvel Superheroes story. So we got a couple, and we're gonna start today with Wakanda Forever. And it has a subtitle, and the subtitle is The Courage to Dream.
This was written by Frederick Joseph and illustrated by Nicola Smith and read today by Mommy and...

**Philip** (0:35)
Philip!

**Lisa Bueno** (0:36)
Philip! But before we tell our story today, we have to give our patron shoutout. Today we have two kiddos that we would love to say a big ol hello and thank you, and we hope that you enjoy this story. We know for a certain that they're big Black Panther fans. So, Samuel, Solomon, we hope that you enjoy today's story. When your mama Carmen reached out to us, she said that you guys really enjoy Marvel superhero stories, and we can't say no to that. We completely agree, and we're getting pretty excited about upcoming films, so we hope that you guys are as excited about this as we are, right? Let's go, Black Panther. All right. Okay, here we go. There were things Asata wanted to do that used to feel impossible. But then Asata was reminded of what makes Wakandans special. Do you know what it is? Ever since Asata could remember, she wanted to join the Dora Milaje.
The team of warriors that protects Wakanda, just like her older cousin, Ayo, and their grandmother, Ala. But the Dora whom Asata looked up to more than anyone was Okoye. Okoye was the leader of the Dora Milaje, and some said she was the best warrior in Wakanda, even better than her best friend, T'Challa, Wakanda's king, and its protector, as the superhero Black Panther. But Asata was born with a rare disease, and even the advanced technology in Wakanda couldn't cure it. As she grew older, that disease disabled her, and Asata gave up on her dream. Okoye offered to create new styles of training for Asata, but Asata refused Okoye's help. Asata instead decided to focus on using her talent and skills in science to help her tribe. There are five tribes in Wakanda. Asata belonged to the mining tribe, which mines minerals such as Vibranium from the Great Mound in Mount Bashinga, named after Wakanda's first king. Vibranium is the strongest metal known to humanity, and it had helped Wakanda become the most advanced country in the world. Asata became so good at science that she was given the opportunity to attend Wakanda University when she was just 10 years old. The only younger person the university had accepted was Shuri, the princess of Wakanda. Shuri later became a guest professor when she was only 13 Boy, talk about smarty pants, huh?
That's what I was thinking.
Asata was now a student in one of Shuri's classes. After Asata created ways to make mining easier for her tribe, Shuri was so impressed that she asked Asata to become her assistant. Asata would join the Wakandan Design Group, which helped create the Wakandans' incredible advanced technology. Well, well, well.
The invitation from Shuri was a great honor for Asata. The news of it started as a whisper from the mouths of Asata's friends and family, and became a loud celebration by her entire tribe. Everyone was excited. At least, everyone except Asata. I wonder why she wasn't excited, aren't you? Uh-oh. Shuri had been one of Asata's idols ever since she'd used special technology to upgrade wheelchairs, walkers, scooters and other assistive technology for Wakandans' disabled community. Asata loved the idea of using technology to help others, but in her heart, Asata still dreamed of being in the Dora Milaje. She wanted to join the long line of Doras who had bravely protected T'Challa, his father T'Chaka, and the other leaders of Wakanda, who held the role of the superhero Black Panther.
In the pictures, we can see her even dreaming of him.
Should people truly walk away from their dreams just because their dreams feel impossible? Should we follow our greatest dreams even if they feel impossible? Should we choose an easier dream?
Should we choose an easier dream? Asata asked her classmates what they thought she should do.
Of course you should join the Wakandan Design Group! Someone like you can't become a Dora! A few we said.

**SPEAKER_3** (6:38)
Don't Dora's have to be able to run and jump and things like that?

**Lisa Bueno** (6:44)
Nobomi asked. Do you can't fight the enemies of Wakanda in a wheelchair?
Uuka chimed in. Her classmates' words felt like water being poured on the last flames of becoming a Dora that burned inside Asata's heart. So her friends are not very encouraging, hmm?