Little Miss Flint raises $16,000 so kids in her community can see Black Panther

Hundreds of kids in Flint, Michigan, were treated to a day at the movies, courtesy of Little Miss Flint.

Mari Copeny, 10, raised more than $16,000 through a GoFundMe campaign so local children could see Black Panther. Working with the Flint Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and churches, she put together a list of kids who would benefit from seeing Black Panther, paid for 150 tickets at the Rave Cinema in Flint Township, and distributed 650 tickets on gift cards.

Copeny told MLive that kids in Flint "always see themselves portrayed in the media as victims," and Black Panther gives them a chance to "see themselves represented on the big screen as royalty and heroes." Each child also received a letter encouraging them to chase their dreams, and a comic book featuring a person of color as the hero. "You can be your own hero," Copeny said. "You can be a superhero, but ultimately you're your own hero. Black Panther teaches us that we can be whoever you want to be. And that especially goes for Flint kids."

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