As one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, “Black Panther” is expected to break some box office records and bring in millions. But now a petition has begun to have part of the profits be invested in the Black community.
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A petition on Change.org is asking Marvel to invest 25 percent of the profits into Black communities. Creator of the petition, Chaz Gormley wrote, “Through a clever, well-manufactured marketing campaign Marvel Studios and their parent company The Walt Disney Company have targeted the Black community with their advertisements for the upcoming Black Panther film, due to release on February 16, 2018. As marginalized groups have become more vocal, corporations and their savvy public relations departments have turned to catering to these groups – to turn a profit – and this film by Marvel Studios is no different.”
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Gormley also notes Marvel’s obvious appeals to the black community such as the film being released during Black History Month and Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ playing in the film’s initial trailer.
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The petition is asking those in the Black community to regain their power and demand that Marvel and its parent company, Disney, invest profits back into the community that is most connected with the film and have been faced with “police brutality and substandard living conditions.”
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“You have the ability to not only be entertained but to leave the theater in February knowing that a portion of your money will be coming back into your community” Gormley adds.
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“To not only go see a film about a fictitious country in Africa with advanced technology but the opportunity to invest in programs which focus on the fields – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – that make such advancements possible, in real life.”
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What do you think about this idea?
Petition Asks Marvel to Invest 25% of “Black Panther” Profits into the Black Community
