Justice is one of the most critical moral and political concepts. It is regarded as the most fundamental of all virtues for establishing and maintaining a stable society and maintaining interpersonal relations. The elements of justice are that it requires being lawful and equitable, but sometimes these conflict as the law states that everyone should be treated equally and equity states that people should be treated based on merit. Unjust laws can also exist, and it can facilitate not treating people with equality. Black Panther explores such a conflict and justice by considering different elements of law and equity. Okoye reveals the benefit and limitation of following the law, Killmonger presents the problem of the relationship with law and equity, and Nakia represents decency as a means to solve that problem. The combination of the three characters influences T’Challa to adopt a just position towards international relations.
The main components of justice are lawfulness, fairness, equitability, and decency. Laws encourage people to behave virtuously, and virtuous behavior is good for the city. Fairness is associated with taking what one should rightfully have without taking more than one’s share. Aristotle defines injustice in the statement that “Firstly, he who breaks the laws is considered unjust, and secondly, he who takes more than his share, or the unfair man” (138a 1-3). Justice also requires equity where there is an equal distribution of gains and losses between two people. Equity is important in ensuring fairness in transactions ensuring peace and harmony in society. Equity also ensures that there can be rectification in cases of injustice involving unjust transactions like theft or assault. Equity thus implies a sense of fairness where people get what they earn. Laws are universal concepts, and not all components of the law can lead to equity. Decency ensures that it can set the unjust components of the law when it comes up. There can be unjust laws that do not promote the good of the city. In such a case instance, it is necessary that the law is broken.
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Nakia
Nakia exemplified the components of justice by advocating for fairness, equitability, and decency. Nakia’s first mission helps T’Challa see the different kinds of injustice through inequality and unfairness when a group of women had been kidnapped by a militia group. The mission helps to understand the kind of violence and injustice in the outside world and how Wakanda could help. Nakia advocates for decency by urging T’Challa Wakanda to the outside world and to even consider sharing the country’s lifesaving technology and even admitting refugees. Such a move would be in opposition to Wakanda’s laws. However, Nakia finds the need for decency and to have just laws that can promote fairness and equitability with the way Wakanda treats other societies. A fair exchange with the rest of the world could also result in the progression of Wakanda society. Through his relationship with Nakia, T’Challa is brought to a better understanding of equitability and decency.
Killmonger
Killmonger exemplifies the limitations of the component of justice by showing the problematic relationship between law and equity. Killmonger fights T’Challa for the throne, wins it, and demands to be crowned as king. The law observed the need to treat everyone equally and that the one that can fight and defeat the king should be crowned as the new king. However, Killmonger strives for equity and fair compensation for what had been done to his family after they had been killed and he was orphaned as a child. He blames the monarchy for his parents’ death and strives for equity to have fair retribution to what had been done to him as a child. Killmonger also engages in unlawful actions through the illicit transfer of vibranium. T’Challa saw Killmonger’s actions and saw the conflict between law and equity. The law observed the need to treat everyone equally, and Killmonger was to the rightful heir of the throne. However, he questioned his indecent actions by promoting equity even when some of the actions were indecent and unjust. Through his relationship with Killmonger, T’Challa is brought to a better understanding of the conflict between law and equity.
Okoye
Okoye reveals both the benefit and limitation of following the law. Okoye is the general of the Dora Milaje, and she has the utmost respect for the law. She thus respects T’Challa’s leadership and the nation of Wakanda. The limitation of following the law occurs when Killmonger unseats T’Challa and becomes king. She switches her allegiance to Killmonger even she does not believe in Killmonger’s action. However, she experiences conflict and is torn between fighting for the new Wakanda’s king or T’Challa. After T’Challa’s defeat, Nakia evacuated Shuri and Ramonda to the jungle after she realized that their lives were in danger. She urged Okoye to fight Killmonger, but she refuses, observing that her allegiance is to the throne no matter who has been appointed as king. However, she shows decency by allowing Nakia to leave unharmed. The benefit of following the law occurs when she finds that T’Challa is alive. T’Challa being alive means that he was still legally king and that the personal combat challenge was not complete. Killmonger then ordered the W’Kabi and Border Tribe to kill T’Challa, and they obey. In that instance, Okoye advocates for decency and renounces her loyalty to Killmonger by nothing that Killmonger’s hatred made him an unworthy king. She lawfully chooses to fight by T’Challa. Through his relationship with Okoye, T’Challa is brought to a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of the law.
Conclusion
Nakia, Killmonger, and Okoye influence T’Challa to adopt a just position towards international relations. Nakia strives to promote decency to solve the conflict between law and equity. She strives to change laws that do not promote fairness in international relations and wants Wakanda to show equality by sharing its resources with the rest of the world. Killmonger shows the conflict between law and equity. He legally becomes the king, but he strives for equity in taking revenge for what had been done to his family. Okoye shows the benefits and limitations of following the law and advocates for decency. Throughout the film, she strictly observes the law and shows her allegiance to the throne no matter who the king is. The limitation of strictly following the law is that she was willing for an unjust king. The benefit came about after T’Challa was found to be still alive, showing that the challenge to the throne was incomplete and that T’Challa was still legally the king.
