Approximately 400 children received free tickets to see the new movie "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" last weekend.
"It was, like, such a cool experience!," moviegoer Aliyah Mumba told KOB 4. "I'm so grateful that we're able to get free tickets. It's crazy. See how many Black students are out here? Like supporting and, like, it was ridiculous."
The local business leaders who hosted the event were pleased with the outcome.
"It's just another one of the things that we want to do for Albuquerque, where we get young Black and Brown kids out and expose them to superheroes who traditionally don't look like themselves," organizer Charles Ashley III said.
Some kids in the audience said that "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" has a special meaning for girls, KOB 4 reported. They said the movie encourages young Black girls to feel comfortable in their own skin. Other messages in the movie benefit young minds as well.
"It's great because then it's not just the movie," organizer Mike Silva said. "It's all of the imagery, the characters, them seeing the African roots and seeing young people take pride in that."
The movie has received praise from fans, according to KOB 4. They remember actor Chadwick Boseman, star of the original movie, with fondness. He died from cancer in August 2020.
"This movie was, like, really sad," moviegoer Addison Love said. "There were a bunch of hot twists in there and, like, I wanted to cry in some parts. It was just sad."
Though it was described as a tear-jerker, the movie's ending was consistent with that of other Marvel films.
"... The end was like, 'Oh my God, that can't be the end!'" moviegoer Jordisan Webb said.
Organizers said they want to offer another screening of the film due to the success of the event.