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Home · Entertainment

'Black Panther' Inspires Worldwide Fundraisers For Kids: Here's How You Can Support  

Is This A Joke? ‘Black Panther’ Received Its First Negative Review, And You Won’t Believe Why
By Ni'Kesia Pannell · Updated October 24, 2020

On Feb 16 Marvel Studios will release its highly-anticipated superhero film, Black Panther. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o and Angela Bassett, the film tells the harrowing story of a royal African family living in a technologically-advanced utopia.

The film shows Black excellence at its finest with its cast, story location and storyline—all contributing to the trending movement: #BlackPantherChallenge.

Created by New York native and marketing magician Frederick Joseph, the #BlackPantherChallenge — which was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in January — began as an initiative to raise funds for children of color in his area to see the movie at no cost.

“As a Black man in America raised by Black women, representation has always been extremely important to me as well as inclusion,” Joseph told ESSENCE about the importance of the film. “There were never any characters like me such as the ones in Black Panther for me growing up.”

Less than a month after launching the campaign, Joseph has accumulated over $40,000 in donations—more than $30,000 over his initial goal. The campaign has also received public backing from stars such as Snoop Dogg, Chelsea Clinton, DeRay Mckesson and Soledad O’Brien. It was also recognized as the largest campaign initiative for an entertainment event/experience in GoFundMe history, according to Joseph’s sources at the company.

Thank you @FredTJoseph & to everyone who helped start the #BlackPantherChallenge! Representation matters. More on how to support kids in your local community to see the film: https://t.co/zlTFWQf4hS

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 1, 2018

.@deray and #BlackPantherChallenge creator @FredTJoseph were in the office to discuss #BlackPanther and the need for positive representation in the media and government as part of Grab the Mic! Watch here: https://t.co/vLwHDCKZV8 pic.twitter.com/0AwNKCq8MH

— DoSomething.org (@dosomething) February 2, 2018

“I’m happy about people’s response to the initiative,” he said. “People have been overwhelmingly receptive to the initiative and I’m extremely humbled by that. People see that our children deserve opportunities to have experiences such as Black Panther, especially in a time that’s as tumultuous as the current time we live in with a very racist and bigoted Presidential administration. So that’s been amazing.”

But Joseph isn’t the only person raising money to send kids to see the superhero film. Currently, there are more than 100 campaigns throughout the country raising money with the hope of inspiring Black children to think out of the box and never limit their abilities. 

Adding the next part of the #BlackPantherChallenge.
I want every single Flint kids that comes to the screening to leave with a comic featuring a hero of color.
I also want to gather 100 letters to Flint kid telling them how awesome they are and they can be a hero too.

— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) February 1, 2018

 

Reminder: Please send beautiful Indigenous & African kids to watch Black Panther & donate. They deserve it, especially with what’s happening in Melbourne with the portrayals of African youth & Indigenous folks. Black kids deserve this. #ShowUpForWishes #BlackPantherChallenge https://t.co/CY2Uz274UB

— Meleika (@endlessyarning) February 6, 2018

 

Hey Philadelphia! Help some local kids go see Black Panther! I love this idea and I'll be promoting it until we hit the goal. Thanks. #BlackPantherChallenge https://t.co/pg4AX74Ib6

— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) January 31, 2018

The Black Panther for Black Achievers campaign notes that only 28 percent of 4th-grade Black students in Nashville read at a proficient or advanced level, which is why they’ve partnered with the YMCA’s Black Achievers Program to provide a minimum of 100 passes to a matinee viewing of Black Panther on its opening weekend.

“I feel amazing by the national impact,” Joseph added. 

“It’s been inspiring. But for me—even more than a national impact—I almost lost it when I saw that there were campaigns in Ghana, London, Toronto, Ottawa…that’s been something that’s moved me more so than in our own country. You see that representation and inclusion are not just important to America, but on a global scale.”

To find a #BlackPantherChallenge campaign near you, go here.

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