Comic book superheroes really do have superpowers, not just in-print and on-screen but within the real world as well. They have inspired entire generations to not only “do good” on behalf of others but likewise led to a love of science, engineering and technology for many as well. Seeing science nerd Peter Parker transform into Spider-Man or the non-superpowered Clint Barton become an Avenger has a genuine effect, showing both kids and adults that they themselves have the ability to become superheroes in their own right.
Traditionally that transformative ability has primarily been directed towards white males, leaving people of color and women standing on the sidelines. In February 2018, however, that changed – and in a very big way – with the cinematic release of Black Panther. Containing a predominantly black cast, as well as writer and director, the film not only followed the titular superhero but his genius younger sister Shuri while likewise bringing the continent of Africa to vivid life through the fictional kingdom of Wakanda.
While the film had a $300-million-worldwide opening weekend at the box office and racked up over $1.3 billion by the end of its theater run, the movie’s cultural influence is not something that can be as easily calculated, especially in regards to representation and inspiration. Frederick Douglas stands as a testament to that fact. An avid reader of comic books when he was younger, Douglas once dressed up as Batman.
“But your black,” a fellow grade school student told him. “You can’t be black and a superhero.”
While that was the last time that Frederick Douglas ever dressed as the Dark Knight as a kid, he became a real-life superhero as an adult when Black Panther was released twenty years later. Realizing the cultural significance of the film – as well as wanting to ensure that no future African American child ever heard the words “you can’t be black and a superhero” again – Douglas launched the Black Panther Challenge on GoFundMe shortly before the film’s release. His goal at the time was simply to raise enough funds to take kids from the Harlem neighborhood of New York City to see Black Panther for free.
The campaign not only raised Frederick Douglas’ $40,000 initial goal but led to over 400 additional Black Panther Challenges across the country and around the world, resulting in over $300,000 globally and an untold number of children being able to experience Black Panther and a genuine black superhero for themselves.
“I always envisioned it going national, but strategically I needed a base for it just to be the spark,” Douglas told IndieWire. “With Harlem being such a historically black community and this film such a historic film in terms of black representation – and feminist representation as well – I just wanted to start it there because I knew people would be most receptive. Plus, my connections are in New York.”
On the other end of the country, rapper Snoop Dogg heard about Douglas’ effort and decided to join in. “Yo, shout out to Frederick Douglas out there in Harlem with that GoFundMe project to get kids to go see Black Panther, the new movie by (director) Ryan Coogler,” he said in an online video. “I’m going to donate some money to the cause for the kids to check out and also I’m going to reach out to homeboy Ryan Coogler so that we can get an LA version of that so that the kids in LA can go see a superhero movie and learn about a real black superhero.”
Snoop Dogg was not the only celebrity who embraced the cause. When Frederick Douglas and Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman appeared together on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, DeGeneres donated $10,000 so that members of the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, as well as their chaperones, could attend the film. Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spenser – who worked with director Ryan Coogler five years earlier – likewise joined the effort.
“I will be in (Mississippi) when this movie opens,” she wrote on Instagram. “I think I will buy out a theatre in an underserved community there to ensure that all our brown children can see themselves as a superhero.”
For Frederick Douglas, representation in films and other media is important not only for people of color but other demographics that are often overlooked by Hollywood as well. “Black Panther is something that is not only wrapped in blackness but is also layered and nuanced,” he explained to The Guardian. “It has aspects of feminism, of black non-toxic masculinity, of loss, of pain, of various black existences – and that’s something very important for our kids to see.”
Douglas further expanded upon his beliefs in his interview with IndieWire. “Seeing yourself in this way is life changing,” he said. “We need to come together to support children and experiences and initiatives like this. We come together when there are times of natural disaster, but it’s also important that we come together and support life.”
A year after the release of Black Panther, Frederick Douglas was still advocating for more representation while continuing his initial efforts as well. When the film Captain Marvel was released in 2019, for instance, Douglas launched the Captain Marvel Challenge in the hope of doing for young girls what the previous Black Panther Challenge had done for African American kids.
“Everyone should have an opportunity to see women in roles they can aspire to one day be, roles that show women as strong, smart and bold,” the corresponding GoFundMe page explained. “From a teacher to a fighter pilot – or a superhero. This is an opportunity to continue to empower girls to be just that. Marvel Studio’s first female led film, Captain Marvel offers this type of important representation. We want to help girls from various backgrounds to see the film by providing tickets and renting out theaters.”
Although not as successful as the Black Panther Challenge, the Captain Marvel Challenge still raised more than $63,000 in support of Girls Inc. of Greater Los Angeles. Similar efforts were likewise launched in Brooklyn and Flint, Michigan. While those numbers may pale compared to the multiple campaigns that brought in hundreds-of-thousands of dollars for the Black Panther Challenge, the benefits cannot be overstated.
“People don’t understand that the seed to the potential of a child – or the potential of a person – could be right in a film or song,” Frederick Douglas told E! News. Thanks to his efforts on behalf of both Black Panther and Captain Marvel, that important message is indeed getting out there.
Anthony Letizia