South Carolina man raising money to send low-income children to see 'Black Panther'

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) - One South Carolina Lowcountry man is taking a stand for African-American youth.

He's giving children in the community a chance they wouldn't normally have. Sha-Sha Steadman is raising money to send low-income children in Charleston to see Marvel's "Black Panther."

He says it's a monumental movie and he believes it can inspire and even spark change in a child's' life. "Black Panther" is Marvel's first-ever black superhero movie. Steadman wants to make sure children can see it when it hits the big screen.

He moved to South Carolina from Brooklyn, New York, in 2005 and says he's noticed there aren't many programs for lower-income children to participate in.

Steadman is the Rev. Thomas Dixon's son-in-law. Dixon says "Black Panther" was an inspiration to him when he was a child.

"There's too much of a lack of African-American heroes, especially black male heroes," said Dixon. "If we can give one child that hope for a future that's beyond incarceration, that's beyond drug abuse, that's beyond alcoholism and poverty -- if we can give one child that hope, then we've done what we're supposed to do."

Steadman started this GoFundMe page two weeks ago. It's raised more than $400 so far. The GoFundMe page has a $3,000 goal.

The funds will go toward each child's movie ticket and concessions. Here's a link to the page if you want to make a donation.

Steadman hopes to have the money raised before "Black Panther" comes out. The movie hits theaters Thursday, Feb. 15.