Table Scenes in Black Panther

from Black Panther #4

In my book on Ta-Nehisi Coates's run on Black Panther (forthcoming in May 2026), I briefly discuss the significance of recurring table scenes in the series. Although it's not always a table, we frequently see groups of Black people seated and gathered together to discuss important issues.  

[Related: Table Scenes in Black Art]

Such gatherings among white people are common in comic books (like here, here, and here), in movies (like here, here, and here), and in real-world political realms (like here and here). 

But Coates was doing something somewhat unusual by repeatedly showing Black people who could gather at seats of power and conduct conversations and business. I'm pasting a few of the images below.  

from Black Panther #4

from Black Panther #4

from Black Panther #9

from Black Panther #9

from Black Panther #11 and #12

Related:

• Table Scenes in Black Art