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Triangle fundraiser wants to make sure all kids can see Black Panther in theaters

The people behind a movement soaring across the country called the #BlackPantherChallenge want to make sure every kid can see the movie this month.

Posted 2018-02-11T18:06:07+00:00 - Updated 2018-02-13T03:32:46+00:00

Triangle organization raises $4K to let kids see ‘Black Panther’ in theaters

Jessica Patrick, WRAL.com editor

and

Candace Sweat, WRAL reporter

The organizers behind a movement soaring across the country called the #BlackPantherChallenge want to make sure every kid can see the movie this week.

Black Panther, which hits theaters on Feb. 16, follows T'Challa or Black Panther who, after the events of "Captain America: Civil War," returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King.

Thousands of people are donating money to Go Fund Me pages to give young people a chance to see the movie. According to organizers behind the Triangle-based challenge, the donated funds will be used to pay for entry of kids and teenagers to see Black Panther, enable them to eat while at the movies and pay for a potential private screening.

"I think when they see African-Americans in a positive light and being uplifted, that can uplift them as well and help their self confidence and self esteem," said CJ Guion with the 100 Black Men East Chapter.

The 100 Black Men Triangle East Chapter had raised nearly $4,000 as part of the #BlackPantherChallenge as of Monday night, adding to the more than $400,000 raised by those who have accepted the challenge across the globe.

Any additional funding will be donated to 100 Black Men Triangle East Mentoring Program, which assists at-risk African American males in Wake and Durham high schools to develop high self-esteem and an appreciation for the value of a good education.

The recipients of the tickets will be students who participate in the 100 Black Men mentoring program and other students in the Triangle. Members of the organization hope the students will find common ground with the superheroes they see on screen.

"Even though this is a fiction and it's superheroes, it just lets them know that the sky is the limit and they can be whatever they want to be," Guion said.

The movie has already seen more IMAX pre-sales than any other Marvel film and it's expected to break box office records when it opens this weekend.