Wraps in bright patterns and rainbow-colored dashikis fill the lobby of Washington, D.C.'s Regal Cinema 12. Fans are waiting to take a picture with the cast of Black Panther—or, rather, cardboard versions of stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong'o. "I don't think we've been excited about anything like this as a collective since president Obama's inauguration," said 35-year-old local Erika Totten. The crowd waiting for the cardboard backdrop grows so overwhelming a manager has to encourage the queue to move into the ticketed area of the theater.

Black Panther broke records this weekend, becoming the top-grossing film with a Black director and predominantly Black cast. The Marvel blockbuster also made $235 million domestically, the most ever for a February release. It's remarkable that so many people went to see it, but it's who ventured out to see it—once, or twice, or even three times—that is even more important.

Even before the movie's release, it was clear that Black Panther represented much more than an evening's entertainment (although at a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's certainly an outstanding example of that): This was a movie made by and for Black people. "In superhero culture, you don't see a lot of Black people. Just like we can be doctors and lawyers, we can be magical superheroes too," said Jasmine Pittman, a 26-year-old Harlem resident.

We spoke to Black Panther viewers at Washington, D.C.'s Regal Cinema 12 and New York City's AMC Magic Johnson Harlem theater about what the groundbreaking film means to them.

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Mariel Tyler

Stacia Weatherford, 26, Queens, NY, Flight Attendant

Why are you excited to be here tonight?

I've been a comic book fan all my life, so this is amazing. I still have X-Men Marvel on VHS. I have the Storm comic book series of Storm just by herself. I've got Deadpool. I only have one Black Panther because my brothers took the others. Then, it's an all-Black cast on top of it? Of course, I had to come see it.

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness this much?

I hope it wins Oscars. For the first time someone Black could win an Oscar for being a hero and not a crooked cop, a slave. They would win for being articulate, smart, successful and loving. It's just such a positive image for once.

For the first time someone Black could win an Oscar for being a hero and not a crooked cop, a slave.

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper-relevant in 2018?

Yes, most definitely. It paints Black men, for one, in a positive image. I'm originally from Indiana and they [white people] like to use the word "thug" instead of the N-word, but you know what they really mean. I think the movie is a great way to show we are more than what you say we are. We always have been, we always will be, and you're going to see more of this.

Pastor Richard Hayes, 44; Professor Bridget Hayes; Issa Hayes, 9, New York, NY

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness this much?

Bridget: With the particular political climate that we're in, especially in the shadows of the comments that have recently been made, I think it recasts Black folks as overcomers, which we are. We have a strong history of overcoming—no matter what we've been given, we rise above and beyond it. We have a strong history of overcoming—no matter what we've been given, we rise above and beyond it. I think it's such a beautiful narrative to have put forth on a global stage, especially in light of what we're dealing with right now.

We have a strong history of overcoming—no matter what we've been given, we rise above and beyond it.

Richard: I would echo much what my wife says; I think it's important that Africa receives what is due. I think in many instances we've overlooked the immense contributions that have come from the African continent: contributions to math, contributions to engineering, contributions to science. And I think this story, seeing how advanced Wakanda is being portrayed as, almost kind of tells us about the ability that we were able to build pyramids when other folks were struggling in caves.

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Mariel Tyler
The Hayes Family

Shaun Harrison, 34, Art Director, New York, New York

How have you embraced the film with your style?

So I learned earlier that I was Maasai—that's a tribe in Africa, in Kenya—so I wanted to take [that on] a little bit, and modernize it and bring it to today's world.

Who would win in a fight: Black Panther, Superman, or Batman?

That's a good question. Between Batman and Black Panther, definitely Black Panther because he's richer—the only thing that Batman has is white privilege and money. So it would be between Black Panther and Superman, and I'll give it to Black Panther because I'm rooting for everybody Black.

Sajdah Sabree, 50, and Raisah Jordan, 8, Harlem, New York

Why are you excited to be here tonight?

Sajdah: I think it's important that Black people see a superhero. When I grew up, all we had was Superman. We had the real-life superhero which was Muhammad Ali but never anybody on screen to see. I'm the first generation of black women who grew up with dolls; my mother didn't have black dolls, her mother didn't have any—so every step we're going further and further, and I just think it's beautiful.

We had the real-life superhero which was Muhammad Ali but never anybody on screen to see.

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness this much?

It's monumental. I just think Black people are the most beautiful thing in the world.... It's a good story, because it's showing what would happen if we were never colonized, if we were never enslaved, where we would've taken it. We can tell just by the super people in our own background—Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Muhammad Ali, all these people who are real superheroes—that we would've been something else. I think it's great for [Raisah] to see. That's why I made sure to bring my daughter out—she'll remember it and her generation will take it even further.

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Mariel Tyler

Tiffany Smith, 34, Maplewood,New Jersey and Kwabena Ofosu, 34, Ghana

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper-relevant in 2018?

Tiffany: It's definitely relevant. With our president nowadays, he's really not for us, I would say, so this just enables us to show who we are and what we represent. Being in the theaters is awesome, because we don't really get that chance to represent in this type of way.

Latoya Coleman, 31, Harlem, New York

Why are you excited to be here tonight?

There's so many reasons, but I'm excited to see people that look like me as superheroes on the big screen. I'm excited to see people that look like me as superheroes on the big screen. I think there's a lot of narratives around Blackness that have to do with slavery and history, but this is more like Afrofuturism. I'm just really happy to be here, and it's a prideful moment.

I'm excited to see people that look like me as superheroes on the big screen.

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper-relevant in 2018?

I think the fact that this movie is coming out during this time with this president just shows how resilient we are as Black people. Trump is not our first "Trump" for people of color. Trump is not our first "Trump" for people of color.I think that a lot of white people are shocked and appalled, but we've dealt with all those other presidents, like Nixon and Bush, and we prevail through all of that. I think this movie and all the things that have been happening with our culture and our representation and the Academy Awards and all that show that no matter who the president is, what the climate is, we're always gonna rise to the top.

Trump is not our first "Trump" for people of color.

Shavonne Tweh, 33, and Brooklyn Tweh, 4, Queens, NY

Why are you excited to be here tonight?

Shavonne: We've been waiting for this movie for a couple years—we're big comic book nerds in our house.

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness to this extreme?

That was why we picked [Magic Johnson's Theater]. We live in Queens, but came all the way to Harlem to be in this all Black-owned theater. This is the thing I want her to see, this kind of representation.

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Mariel Tyler
Brooklyn Tweh

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper-relevant in 2018?

We're in a time where it's almost frowned upon to celebrate your Blackness. People are really conflating pro-Black with anti-white, and that's not what it is. People are really conflating pro-black with anti-white, and that's not what it is. That's why it's so important and so special we give our little ones this type of representation. We're being told we aren't allowed to celebrate at times.

People are really conflating pro-black with anti-white, and that's not what it is.

How have you embraced the film with your style?

My bag is in the shape of Africa. She's wearing a patch on her jacket that says "Warrior of Wakanda." We put our natural hair out, we did the whole thing.

Melanie Habwe Dickson, 31, Washington D.C.

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness this much?

I grew up here but my parents didn't, so we've had very different experiences of race. They grew up surrounded by people who look like them on TV and in culture and I just haven't had that. It's really meaningful to have that influence and have it rooted in my African roots. To have Lupita starring in the film, who is from the same tribe as me in Kenya, is incredible. It's beautiful to see everything come together in a really powerful, yet mainstream way.

How have you embraced the film with your style?

My scarf is by a Kenyan designer who I love that is based in New York. My outfit by a Nigerian-American designer who is based in Texas. I'm wearing waist beads that come from my East African culture. I'm wearing jewelry that comes from all Kenyan designers.

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Mariel Tyler

Jasmine Pittman, 26, Harlem, New York

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness to this extreme?

It means everything to me, especially in superhero culture you don't see a lot of Black people. Just like we can be doctors and lawyers, we can be magical superheroes too.

Just like we can be doctors and lawyers, we can be magical superheroes too.

It's excellent for our kids to see. It's a boost for our community and our culture.

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper relevant in 2018?

Absolutely. I think you see a lot of Black bodies on the street. We seem so defeatable and one bullet we are out. To see this character from this land of Wakanda, which is the richest area of the marvel universe, and see how they are strong and survive. We are strong, we are survivors. It's a great reflection of who we are as Black people.

How have you embraced the film with your style?

I didn't have any traditional African garb which is what i wanted to go for. I figured all black was the next best thing. I found this beret online from this woman named Leticia Hunt. She sells these super dope berets and mine says "Hella Black."

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Radesha Piles and Naeem Holman

Radesha Piles, 26, Naeem Holman, Bronx, New York

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper relevant in 2018?

Radesha: I do, but I think that it's hyper relevant that it exudes Blackness in a more positive way. I think from an economic side, it's bringing out people who don't usually watch Marvel out to watch the film to show support for more Black representation, movies, directors, actors, etc.

I'm rooting for everyone Black.

Naeem: I do think so. With the political climate and just in regards to the conversation around how exclusion is going. Recently, they came out with a Black Spiderman. Marvel is pushing the envelope with a Black women who is playing Iron Man now. They are pushing the envelope with a Black Captain America. They finally have Muslim superheroes. So it was only a matter of time.

How have you embraced the film with your style?

Naeem: It says it all. "I'm rooting for everyone Black." I'm rooting for everyone Black.

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Aaron Humphrey, 31, Trinidad and Tobago

Christon Wolfe, 29, Dominican Republic

Tiffany Swifat, 29, Miami, Florida

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness to this extreme?

Aaron: We we're talking about that earlier and what separates this movie from other superhero movies or any other Black superheroes, is that it's actually about Black royalty and black excellence and seeing people represents us in positions of power, especially on this sort of scale.

Tiffany: I think it's also important that we're putting our money where our mouth is. Supporting Black actors, movies, and making sure we're putting ourselves in a position that people know that we are a market that people should be catering towards is the most important thing to me.

How have you embraced the film with your style?

Aaron: I'm wearing traditional clothes from Nigeria. I have a lot of Nigerian friends and I got this as a gift from one of my closet Nigerian friends.

Marjorie McCowan, 30, Fort Worth, Texas

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness to this extreme?

I love it. I love that Black people are loving their culture right now. We are in love with our hair, we are in love with everything. I teach my students all the time, you've got to love who you are and stop trying to be other people. Be you, and you are gorgeous.

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper relevant in 2018?

Yes, they planned this. They did not just wake up and release it in Black History month. I think they planned this and I think they released it at the perfect time. Black people are loving themselves right now and it's gorgeous. Black people are loving themselves right now and it's gorgeous.

Black people are loving themselves right now and it's gorgeous.

Erika Totten, 35, Travis Totten, 37, Washington D.C.

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Mariel Tyler
Erika Totten

Why are you excited to be here tonight?

Travis: It's great hearing the story told by our own people and not having others tell it for us. It's refreshing.

It's great hearing the story told by our own people and not having others tell it for us.

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness to this extreme?

Erika: It means everything. Representation, everything. We have our kids out here to see people who look like them reflected on the screen. To be a part of this really big cultural event. I don't think we've been excited about anything like this as a collective since president Obama's inauguration. I don't think we've been excited about anything like this as a collective since president Obama. It's been a long time for us to be excited about something collective.

I don't think we've been excited about anything like this as a collective since president Obama.

Do you feel Black Panther is hyper relevant in 2018?

Erika: Absolutely. We we're just talking about what it would look like or where we would be if we didn't have the African continent colonized. It's allowing us to vision what liberation could be. It's kind of bittersweet too, because it's like if ya'll would have left us the hell alone, this is where we would be.

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Mariel Tyler
The Totten Children

How have you embraced the film with your style?

Erika: We kind of dress like this all the time too. This was just another way and opportunity to dress up and have our kids dress up too. It's a dashiki dress with a fitted waist and long skirt. I have combat boots because I stay ready. The necklace I have reminds me of the female warriors in the movie. I got my hair done for the event. I have gold wire to represent royalty. The green in my hair for the land, all of it.

Monica, 26, Charles City, Virginia

Nick, 27, Virginia Beach

What does it mean for you to have a movie that celebrates Blackness to this extreme?

Monica: I think right now with the political and social climate we are in and racial tensions being so high, it's just Trump universe right now, this movie is important. It's important to have a powerful and positive depiction of us, and not just the men, the powerful Black women who are not just strong and warriors but are feminine and beautiful. We can have that duality.

Who are you most excited to see in the film?

Monica: Danai Gurira. I think that her character stood out to me. For me personally, just seeing her being able to define her movie, a scene where she literally took off her wig when she was in the midst of the battle. I think that's so powerful. We have been forced, especially as Black women, to kind of adhere to European standards, you got to have short hair, you got to have long hair, and this or that, and she was like no I'm bald and I want to wear it and I can still kick some ass. That was my favorite character hands down.

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Mariel Tyler
Monica and Nick

From: ELLE US