Sam Wilson Deserves Better Than This
by Amanda Vincent
From the moment Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) hands Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) his shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame , the character has been under intense scrutiny. What starts as a beautiful moment between friends has become a continuous pattern of disrespect. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier miniseries (airing in 2021) is the first Marvel project to focus on Sam, highlighting how his identity intersects with his new title as Captain America. The show explores the very issue some fans have with Sam — his blackness. Because of who he is, some will never see Sam as the real Captain America.
While discussing themes of racism, government exploitation and discrimination, the series showcases why Sam is worthy of the shield. He cares deeply about others and is willing to put his life on the line to do the right thing.
RELATED: Book Review: Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson Captain America: Brave New World
It took four years for Sam to headline a Captain America film. Captain America : Brave New World (2025) skillfully shows the audience Sam's internal struggle between his identity and what it means for him to work with and for the U.S. government. Unfortunately, the film is a bit of a letdown. The writing and plot seem unfinished and rushed, making it feel like Sam is an afterthought in his own story.
Adding salt to the wound, one of the post-credit scenes after Thunderbolts* (2025) reveals that Sam and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) are not on speaking terms since the government-sponsored New Avengers took center stage. The choice to include this conflict is a slap in the face to Sam.
It could be argued that the government's choosing not to recognize Sam as an Avenger is purposeful and speaks to his unwillingness to be a puppet. However, it is strange that Bucky won't go out of his way either to make things right with Sam or get him involved, especially because the two share a tender moment in Brave New World , which highlights their love for one another.
RELATED: Captain America: Brave New World and the Importance of Self-Love Ongoing Backlash Against Sam Wilson
The timing of these events can't be worse, considering the ongoing, racist backlash to Sam's new role in the MCU. The challenges Sam faces in the MCU mirror the same conversations happening in real life. He has to prove he has earned the mantle of Captain America.
Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, did an interview with Deadline in July where he stated that Captain America: Brave New World didn't work because it 'was the first without Chris Evans.' Of course, there will always be people who prefer Steve Rogers because they grew up watching him or connect with the character better than with Sam.
While he might be referring to the nostalgia and love fans have for Evans' Cap, saying this in the current climate is unnecessary and only adds fuel to the fire. All this is the tip of the iceberg, speaking to a broader issue with Marvel Studios, their fans and their Black characters.
RELATED: TV Review: Ironheart Ironheart and Eyes of Wakanda Ironheart/Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) in Marvel Television's IRONHEART. Photo by Jalen Marlowe. © 2024 MARVEL. All Rights Reserved.
Earlier this summer, the Disney+ series Ironheart was the target of a racist hate campaign before it even premiered. Online 'critics' wrote off the show as 'woke' simply because the lead is a young Black woman. This show also didn't get much promotion until a few weeks before its release. Another series, Eyes of Wakanda, debuted in early August with basically no promotion at all. This animated series branches off from the world of Black Panther, focusing on different points in Wakanda's history.
It is not lost on me that these projects both center on Black characters and have not been marketed like past, less diverse projects. Right Outside Your Window (Center): Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios' THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER exclusively on Disney +. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Another article from Variety came out this July, in which Feige discussed the MCU's future and responded to recent criticisms of 'woke' content. Marvel has long prided itself on its diversity. As Stan Lee used to say, it is a 'reflection of the world right outside your window.' While this core message is clear throughout Marvel's content, they sometimes fall into a pattern of adding 'diverse' characters and not developing them or giving them equal treatment.
RELATED: Read our recaps for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
On the positive side, Feige's comments about Marvel being 'woke' were not at all what I expected, given the current political climate. He made it a point to quote Stan Lee, saying he has stuck to that motto before the current discourse. If he is truly serious about this, there may be hope for Sam and the other Black heroes in the MCU.
Marvel, like all of Hollywood, has always been very performative about how it deals with Black characters. To say that diversity is important and a part of life and then treat Sam Wilson like an afterthought is insulting. Not only has the character been in the MCU for over 10 years, but he is also one of the few Black heroes with longevity in a franchise that has historically centered around white men. Fuel to the Fire Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World
It is truly disheartening to see Sam repeatedly set up to fail. Kevin Feige's comments on Brave New World solidify these feelings for me. Whether intentionally or not, he validates the feelings of many racist fans who never want to see a Black Captain America on their screens.
RELATED: Why X-Men '97 Should Be Marvel's Standard for Future Projects
Amid all this negativity, these projects are still doing well. As of the first week of August, Eyes of Wakanda is #5 on Disney+, and Captain America: Brave New World sits at #10.
Art Book Review: MARVEL STUDIOS' THE INFINITY SAGA – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR: THE ART OF THE MOVIE
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