'Black Panther' inspired GoFundMe campaign aims to help underprivileged kids in Nashville

The release of Marvel's film "Black Panther" is set for next month and two Nashville-area people are raising money so underprivileged kids, primarily of color, don't miss out on the African superhero's exploits.

Corey Johnson, 36, of Murfreesboro, has started a GoFundMe campaign so Music City youths who could not otherwise afford it, can go see the movie when it comes out.

All proceeds, he said on Tuesday, will go to paying for a private screening ticket.

"I want to give kids the opportunity to see a major superhero that looks like them portrayed on the big screen," said Johnson, an operations manager at a local medical insurance company. "Image is important to children and it may inspire them to write a story like this of their own one day."

Johnson, who plans to donate the money raised to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, called it a rare opportunity for kids of color to see a black major cinematic and comic-book character come to life.

"This representation is truly fundamental for young people, especially those who are often underserved, unprivileged, and marginalized both nationally and globally," he wrote on the GoFundMe page created this week. "It is important for them to see characters that look like them portrayed in positive, powerful ways on the big screen."

Within two days, the campaign has nearly met its original goal of $3,200. More than 20 people have donated including The GoFundMe Team who donated $100.

"Mr. Johnson is working with us so that our Club members may go see the Black Panther," said Dan Jernigan, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee. "Our youth are beyond excited…they are stoked."

Jernigan also confirmed that a GoFundMe account by Nicole Drake, of Antioch, will also benefit the Boys and Girls Club.

As of Tuesday evening, Drake had raised $750 of her $800 goal.

The children are slated to view the movie on Feb. 21, Jernigan said.

Natalie Allison contributed to this story.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.