“Black Panther” is making history on several fronts.

Since hitting movie theaters on Feb. 16, Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film has made a whopping $1 billion dollars at the box office worldwide, according to the Associated Press.

That makes it the second highest grossing comic book film behind Marvel’s “The Avengers,” released in 2012.

It’s also the highest-grossing movie directed by an African-American director in Ryan Coogler.

“Black Panther” is the first MCU movie to feature an African-American as the lead superhero.

Its barrier-breaking mostly all-black cast, strong reviews and the Marvel mystique are all proving to be a potent combination.

“Black Panther” introduced audiences to Wakanda, a fictional African nation more technologically advanced than any on Earth and its royal family, which includes Shuri played by Letitia Wright who is the princess of Wakanda and the sister of T’Challa.

This is a big deal because, other than Shuri, there have only been two other black Disney princesses, Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” (2009) and Kida Nedakh, from “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001), who is widely forgotten. Shuri was born into royalty, and also is more technologically more advanced than the brilliant Tony Stark. Shuri is a princess who can handle her own.

For some, the movie is more than merely another comic book film.

It’s become a source of black cultural pride.

Valencia Short of Chicago, Illinois, “The movie made me appreciate my culture, my rich heritage of African American greatness,” Valencia Short of Chicago says.  “I went to see this movie because of Letitia Wright as “Shuri.” She is the princess of Wakanda and empowers black beauty and she is also a Disney princess.”

When asked if she went to see the movie because of Black History Month, Short says “yes.”

“This movie coming out during Black History Month, with an all-black cast and the hype of royalty, why wouldn’t any black person see this movie?  Short says. “The scenery was beautiful, all ages of Black people came together to represent African Culture, dashikis and golden crowns and hats being worn, black wardrobes with gold linens being worn.”

Short’s friend Angela McNeal says the movie featured her favorite actor Michael B. Jordan as the villain Killmonger. “I came with Valencia to see the movie because this was something we had planned and also it has one of my favorite actors Michael B. Jordan.”

I asked why was he her favorite actor. “He is my favorite because his acting is great and he displays a since of urgency when he acts, like he never wants to be overlooked. I also like him because he is attractive and has a body of a God.”