“Premiere for the People”

COC hosts special screenings of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in three cities

 

By Color Of Change staff

Color Of Change rolled out the red carpet for members at three complimentary special screenings of Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

More than 1,700 people answered COC’s “Premiere for the People” invitation to enjoy the blockbuster film. While the event celebrated Black joy, attendees also helped build power by strategizing new ways for Black people to win in their communities.

The events were held Nov. 11 in Los Angeles, Nov. 12 in Charlotte, N.C., and Nov. 20 in New York City. Hundreds of participants in each city turned out in Ankara prints and costumes reminiscent of Wakanda, the fictional country where Black people thrive and lead the world’s most advanced society.

Because the original 2018 film, “Black Panther,” stirred so much excitement in the Black community, COC organizers envisioned the new sequel as an opportunity. Besides bringing the glamor of a Hollywood premiere to Black people, hosting events tied to the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” premiere could be an opportunity to build community around a superhero film centered on Black people and to inspire Black people to take action and fight for racial justice.

 

Kaya Dantzler, COC’s regional field manager in South California, came up with the idea to host the events.

“I think it’s safe to say that most Black people are fans of ‘Black Panther’ and feel empowered by the film and inspired by the fictional nation of Wakanda, which we wish we could exist in and a world we are working to build at COC,” Dantzler said. “Why not take that inspiration and give people an avenue to make better conditions for Black people in real life so that we don’t always have to retreat to fantasy to be celebrated and to have the community that we deserve.”  

At the Los Angeles event held at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, three information stations were set up where attendees could learn more about Color Of Change and its mission and work. 

One station was devoted to COC’s work promoting Black history through Children’s Carnivals, a series of events to promote an accurate telling of Black history in classrooms and textbooks. 

 

Another station highlighted COC’s Black Tech Agenda, which calls for major tech companies to end digital discrimination in their products and business practices. Members of COC’s Black Geek Squad shared information about the agenda along with copies of COC’s Digital Self-Defense Guide and details about actions people can take to make themselves and their communities safer. 

At a third station, attendees could engage with current COC “squad” members and hear what they do and why they have chosen to become active with Color Of Change.

Movie attendees in Charlotte, New York City and Los Angeles also were given connection cards on which they could fill out their interests and find out more about Color Of Change.

Host committees made up of COC member volunteers worked to plan the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” premieres in each city, said Shannon Talbert, senior director of COC’s Movement Building Team. 

 

And volunteers such as Khalil Edwards and Nichole Simms helped to check in and pass out tickets to the more than 700 attendees at the Los Angeles premiere, which was no small or quick feat.

“They had a smile the whole time, which reminded me why we spread Black joy as a form of resistance,” said Destanie Newell, COC’s senior western regional field manager. 

In Charlotte, families began lining up 3 hours before the event began at the AMC Park Terrace 6. COC volunteers greeted them, and many instantly flocked to a 360 photo booth where they stepped into the Wakanda experience with props and poses to music and laughter.

 

Later, when the film ended, a youngster stood up and began clapping. The entire audience joined in, said Siera Brown, COC’s senior southeast regional field manager. “Seeing young children and their parents in absolute awe truly represented the meaning of a ‘Premiere for the People.’ ”

“This was the largest event that our members have been most excited about this year,” Talbert said. “And the fact that they wanted to experience (the film) with Color Of Change is kind of special for us. We are always looking for new and different ways to bring people in and expose them to our programs in a way that is authentic.”