Sweet Justice: Rikido Sato’s Warm Heart and the Flavor of Black History
Rise Beyond Legacy x My Hero Academia Final Season Preblogs
By Sterling, Founder of Black Cards Of History LLC
Introduction
When thinking of strength in My Hero Academia, many fans jump straight to explosive quirks or flashy fights—but what about the strength that lies in care, consistency, and community? Rikido Sato, Class 1-A’s sugar-powered powerhouse baker, is often overlooked when it comes to cultural depth. But in the spirit of Rise Beyond Legacy, we look at how Sato’s humble nature and love for baking could serve as a powerful tribute to Black excellence, particularly through food, hospitality, and the overlooked labor of cultural preservation.
The Soul of Service
Sato is the kind of classmate who may not take the lead in a Black History Month event, but he’s the one in the kitchen until midnight, making sure everyone is fed and included. That’s a special kind of leadership.
Black excellence is often portrayed through icons and bold visionaries—and rightfully so—but there’s also excellence in the everyday. In the warmth of a shared dessert. In the labor of feeding others. In the ability to create joy and nostalgia through food. Sato embodies that quiet power.
For Black History Month, I imagine Sato showing up with a tray of perfectly baked beignets, explaining that they’re inspired by New Orleans’ Black culinary roots. He’d offer sweet potato pie and explain (with some help from Yaoyorozu’s research) that the dish originated from African culinary traditions fused with American Southern cooking.
Would he be nervous talking about cultural roots? Probably. But Sato would do it with sincerity—no performative activism, just an open heart and open hands.
YouTube Assignment: "Baking Desserts Inspired by Black History"
If UA High had students create YouTube-style content to honor Black history, Sato’s video would be both heartfelt and mouthwatering.
His channel might not be flashy, but imagine the thumbnail: him smiling in an apron, powdered sugar dusted across his cheek, with text that reads “Sweet Potato Pie With a Side of Respect.” He’d calmly walk viewers through the steps of each dish while including historical context.
I’d love to see him bake something like Ghanaian bofrot (fried dough balls) or Harlem-style banana pudding. Along the way, he might softly talk about how food has always been a form of resistance and resilience for Black communities—how during eras of oppression, the kitchen became a sanctuary, a source of pride, a method of economic empowerment.
Even if he stumbles through the narration or needs subtitles for some of his softer dialogue, the impact would be there. It would be heartfelt, gentle, and nourishing—just like the best moments in our shared history.
Final Thoughts: Flavor Is Legacy
In the Rise Beyond Legacy series, we’re not just asking what Black History Month looks like in the world of My Hero Academia—we’re asking what it feels like. And through Rikido Sato, it feels like comfort, tradition, and a table where everyone’s invited.
He’s not the loudest voice in the room. He’s not trying to prove anything. But through food, he reminds us that joy and culture are deeply linked. That every bite of a Black-inspired dessert carries the stories of a people who survived, thrived, and continue to rise.
And honestly? That’s legacy.
Even sugar-fueled.
And with that, we have finished covering all of the Class 1-A and 1-B students, as My Hero Academia's final season, Season 8, premieres tomorrow (October 4th). Thank you for sticking by and checking out all 40 MHA pre-blogs before the premiere of the final season.
"Because every legacy deserves its record."