- "Being disabled means I may have to take paths that are different, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't still follow my dreams."
- ―Assata[src]
Assata is a young girl from Wakanda. She grew up dreaming of becoming one of the Dora Milaje, but was discouraged from her dream due to her disability. She attended Wakanda University and was offered a chance to become Shuri's assistant. However, upon reflection, she decided to become a member of the Dora Milaje with a modified training regiment designed by Okoye.
Biography[]
Becoming a Dora Milaje[]
Abandoning Her Dream[]
Assata refuses accommodations from Okoye
Assata was born in the Mining Tribe of Wakanda with a rare illness that eventually led to her requiring the use of a wheelchair. She admired the Dora Milaje, especially Okoye, hoping to become one of them. However, as she became reliant on the wheelchair, Assata eventually gave up on her dream. Assata began to idolize Shuri, who built assistive technologies for disabled people across Wakanda. Okoye heard about Assata's situation and offered a modified training regiment that would still allow her to be a member of the Dora Milaje, but Assata refused, choosing instead to focus on her skills in science.[1]
A Special Offer[]
Assata impresses Shuri with her invention
Assata became so skilled in science that she was given an offer to study at Wakanda University at the age of ten. She studied in one of Shuri's classes, where she created a way to make mining easier for the Mining Tribe. This impressed Shuri, who offered Assata the chance to be her assistant in the Wakandan Design Group. The Mining Tribe was very excited and celebrated Assata's achievement. Everyone was excited about the news except for Assata, who still dreamed about joining the Dora Milaje. Assata began to wonder if she should walk away from her dream, follow her goal, or choose an easier dream.
Assata reflecting on her choice
Assata asked her classmates what they felt she should do, to which Aphiwe insisted that people like her could not join the Dora Milaje. Nobomi pointed out that being part of the Dora Milaje required physical activity. Uuka added that Assata would not be able to fight in a wheelchair. These comments hurt Assata, who felt as though the last hopes of her dream were being extinguished. She went to the Amanzi Kwakhona Umlambo to think and cry. There, she decided to abandon her hopes of joining the Dora Milaje and accept Shuri's offer.
M'Baku inspiring Assata to follow her dreams
However, she was interrupted by the appearance of M'Baku, who asked why she was crying. Assata told M'Baku that she felt as if her disability made her dreams impossible. M'Baku knelt in front of Assata and asked what she felt "impossible" meant. Assata said that it referred to an action which could not be done. However, M'Baku told her that impossible meant that doing that action required a different method. He asked Assata if she believed vibranium to be what made Wakanda unique, and Assata said that she did since it was the only country to have it. However, M'Baku corrected her, saying that Wakanda would be special with or without vibranium. He used himself and the Jabari Tribe as an example, pointing out that they were the world's greatest warriors even without using vibranium. He explained that Wakanda was special because of its people's ability to dream when things appear to be impossible. He talked about how most of the world thought it impossible for a small African country to be the most advanced on Earth, adding that the same people would think it impossible for a disabled person to join the Dora Milaje. He told Assata that Wakandans were not like most people, causing Assata to realize that the Dora Milaje's job was simply to protect Wakanda, which did not necessarily require running or jumping.[1]
Dora Milaje Training[]
Assata joins the Dora Milaje
Inspired by M'Baku's words, Assata approached Shuri the next day and turned down her offer, choosing to join the Dora Milaje. Shuri agreed that following one's dream was the most important. Assata then found Okoye and asked her to train her for the Dora Milaje. Okoye pointed out that Assata previously believed it to be impossible, so Assata told Okoye that she should follow her dreams regardless. Okoye told Assata that her grandmother would be proud of her, saying that the first step to becoming one of the Dora Milaje was having the courage to move anything impossible out of the way. Okoye then began Assata's training.
Ramonda congratulates Assata for following her dream
Several weeks later, Assata was visited during her training by Shuri and Ramonda. Assata smiled and greeted Ramonda, who said that it was an honor to meet the young girl, using her name. Assata got excited to learn that Ramonda knew her name, and Ramonda suggested that everyone would know her name soon. Ramonda commended Assata for being courageous enough to find her own way to follow her dream instead of giving up.[1]
Personality[]
Assata is a very hopeful girl. From a young age, she dreamed of being in the Dora Milaje even though she was disabled. However, she was easily dissuaded from this dream when people around her told her that it would not be possible. However, she held onto the hope throughout her life and decided not to give up on it. Although she initially refused help from Okoye, she learned to accept help from people. She is an excitable girl with big ideas, such as her invention which made mining vibranium easier. Assata was very intelligent, managing to impress even Shuri and get an offer to work with the Wakandan Design Group at a young age.
Abilities[]
- Genius-Level Intellect: Assata is an intelligent girl despite her age. She received an offer to study at Wakanda University at a very young age, which only Shuri had accomplished before her. As Shuri's student, she impressed Shuri so much that Shuri wanted her to be her assistant the Wakandan Design Group as a child.
- Master Engineer: As a young girl, Assata showed an ability to design new weapons, impressing even Shuri, the leader of the Wakandan Design Group. She designed a method to make mining easier for the Mining Tribe, impressing Shuri to the extent that she wanted her to be her assistant.
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
- Vibranium Spear: As part of her training as a Dora Milaje, Assata carry a Vibranium spear.
Vehicles[]
- Vibranium Hoverchair: Due to her disability, Assata uses a hoverchair made of Vibranium to travel around.
Facilities[]
- Wakanda University: Assata attended Wakanda University, where she was a student in Shuri's class. She presented a design that makes mining easier for the Mining Tribe.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Allies[]
- Mining Tribe
- Golden Tribe
- Ramonda † - Former Queen
- T'Challa/Black Panther † - Former King
- Shuri - Princess and Professor
- Dora Milaje
- Okoye - General
- Wakanda University
- M'Baku