To see yourself represented in fiction, especially through a lead character, is meaningful beyond words. That’s one of many reasons Marvel’s Black Panther will have an impact, and it’s why Frederick Joseph launched the #BlackPantherChallenge. He worked with GoFundMe to create a campaign to raise funds to take children from Harlem to see Black Panther in theaters; he got $40,000. Then, he challenged others to launch GoFundMe campaigns for their own communities to do the same, because as he says, it’s about kids all around the world. Nerdist News writer Aliza Pearl talked with Joseph about the importance of the upcoming superhero movie and gifting the opportunity to see it to youths.
Over 200 campaigns in 50 states and 15 countries have been launched.
Joseph’s challenge received support from the movie’s star Chadwick Boseman and director Ryan Coogler. Our reporter Markeia McCarty asked them about the campaign. “When you make a piece of art, you hope that piece of art will affect people in a way that is substantial enough and concrete enough for them to react and change themselves and change the world,” Boseman said. “And so the fact that he’s [Joseph’s] started this and it’s caught fire just from the excitement from this movie–I mean, that’s overwhelming.”
Multiple Black Panther Challenge campaigns in different cities are still ongoing ahead of the film’s February 16 release. You can donate to them through GoFundMe.
Featured Image: Marvel
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