'Black Panther' Viewing Party Celebrates Blackness, History

DALLAS, TX — Two organizations dedicated to celebrating people of color are teaming up to provide the North Texas community with a "Black Panther" viewing party at Alamo Drafthouse on Feb. 15.

Offering more than just a movie night, organizers from Pretty Brown & Nerdy have assembled performances from Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble and DJ sets from Blue, The Misfit, Cosplayers from Wakanda and much more.

Pretty Brown & Nerdy is also raising funds online to be donated to the Excellence and Advancement Foundation, which coordinates prevention and intervention programs to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. The pipeline, The Foundation's website explains, is a system of at-risk youths becoming involved in the criminal justice system at a young age.

The women from Pretty Brown & Nerdy see the February release of "Black Panther" as opportune, as it falls during Black History Month.

"'Black Panther' is one of the first comic films where we can see ourselves on screen," said Jazmine Dudley, a founder of Pretty Brown & Nerdy. "Pretty much an all-black cast, the main character is a black superhero, the way it represents everything about blackness. It shows us in a different lens; and portrays us as heroes, not stereotypes."

Dr. Courtney Robinson, founder of the Excellence and Advancement Foundation, said the organization takes a close look at the impact cooperation can have on the lives of children and adults affected by the criminal justice system.

“Our goal is to answer the questions 'why' and 'what can be done,'” Robinson said.

You can donate to support the Excellence and Advancement Foundation on YouCaring. More event details are available on Facebook.

The viewing party is set for Thursday, Feb. 15 at Alamo Drafthouse Dallas and will run from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Lead Image: Lupita Nyong'o, a cast member in "Black Panther," poses at the premiere of the film at The Dolby Theatre on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)