WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 6, "One World, One People," now streaming on Disney+.
While a toy leak spoiled it some time back, fans were still excited as ever to see Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson take up the shield and Captain America's mantle by the time The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ended its first season. It felt like the perfect culmination of his arc, with Sam accepting that he needed to change things up and move out of Steve Rogers' shadow. And what makes the transition even more poignant is that the idea of a Black Captain America couldn't have come at a more perfect time given the current sociopolitical climate of the world.
The idea of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's new Sentinel of Liberty being a person of color is pretty uplifting, especially in light of the wave of xenophobia currently sweeping through the globe. It's not just inspirational for America, because as Sam reaffirms in his speech, everyone deserves equality and equity in society. The way he's on camera asking politicians to do better without getting too abrasive or gruff says a lot at a time where aggression from social justice warriors is often frowned upon.
Sam, however, takes the proper tone and gets his message across, speaking up for different classes and calling out elites and the bourgeoisie in a respectful, non-intrusive way. He makes it clear to the Global Repatriation Council that they need to take care of migrants rather than displacing them, again an issue happening all over right now, from the America to the Caribbean to Europe. Additionally, the way the GRC had certain units hoarding resources is also reminiscent of corruption by state entities during the COVID-19 pandemic and Sam even addresses things like that -- asking politicians to be compassionate and show empathy because they could one day be in those shoes.
It's subtle yet remarkable, continuing Falcon and Winter Soldier's shots at issues like oppression, police brutality and white supremacy on the whole. And by doing so, Sam gets politicians to relate, without vilifying the concept of "the other." The way he even speaks up for Karli is also very relevant, as Sam doesn't want people branded as terrorists as a way to ignore their cause and the root of the problem. After all, one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. So, by embracing other cultures, only then can they glean insight into what's required to stop new enemies from rising up. All of these points are why fans watching Sam on TV make it clear that he's no longer Black Falcon, he's Captain America.
At the end of Falcon and Winter Soldier, Sam's perspective and powerful words eventually sway the minds of the GRC and the government, and having him speaking up for people of color and minorities all over the world is what has fans even more hyped for that fourth Cap film. He's one of the people on the ground, as his time in Louisiana shows, and the world needs more of that -- heroes who are unafraid to create a more cosmopolitan, kaleidoscopic and unified world.
Directed by Kari Skogland, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly and Daniel Brühl. The series is available on Disney+.