Charlotte 'Black Panther' Challenge Aims To Empower Black Youth

CHARLOTTE, NC -- This weekend, Marvel’s superhero blockbuster “Black Panther” opens across the country, promising to take millions of theatergoers on a thrilling trip to the fictional land of Wakanda.

One Charlotte man wants to help kids in North Carolina take the trip to Wakanda, too.

“In communities where many of our youth are surrounded by crime, poverty, social challenges this a much needed escape,” said Tracey Suggs, who has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking donations for theater tickets for kids to see the movie.

Set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, "Black Panther" is the story of T'Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman), who returns to the isolated but technologically advanced country to take the throne after the death of his father, the king.

Other stars include Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Denzel Washington, Forrest Whitaker and Andy Serkis. The movie was filmed largely in Georgia at Pinewood Atlanta Studios.

SEE ALSO: Film Review: 'Black Panther'

It is the first film in the wildly popular Marvel franchise to feature a black main character and consists of a largely black cast, as well as having a black director (Ryan Coogler). As such, it has spurred conversations about the importance of minority representation in television and film, with individuals and groups working to make sure as many minority children as possible see it.

A New York man started a nationwide movement called the "Black Panther Challenge," which aims to get as many young black people to see the movie as possible by challenging community leaders to raise money to get youths to theaters. More than 400 GoFundMe campaigns nationwide have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of the Black Panther Challenge.

Images on a big screen help shape culture, just as television and books shape worldviews, Suggs wrote. “It’s of the highest importance that we see ourselves portrayed as powerful, intelligent, loving, successful, and as leaders in our world communities,” Suggs said.

Suggs’ goal is to take as many kids to see the movie as he can in cities across the state, such as Charlotte, Elkin, Raleigh, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Winston-Salem and Goldsboro. You can learn more about his campaign here.

PHOTO: Michael B. Jordan (left) and Chadwick Boseman (right) in a scene from "Black Panther" (Photo by: Matt Kennedy/Marvel Studios/Disney)

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Patch Editors Doug Gross, Elizabeth Janney contributed to this report.