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On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman, the star of the world-renowned film “Black Panther” (2018), passed away after a four-year battle with colon cancer. The 43-year-old actor had decided to keep his 2016 diagnosis private, only telling a handful of people outside his family. The news stunned his friends and co-stars at Marvel Studios, who were unaware of his struggles. Her “Black Panther” co-star Letitia Wright recently spoke of not being aware of what Boseman was going through and said she wished she had a chance to say goodbye. Even Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, received an urgent email on the day of Boseman’s passing saying that the actor’s condition had worsened, but when he opened the email, it was too late.
To say that the news was sudden would be an understatement. Friends and fans shared the shock of losing one of the most prolific black actors in modern Hollywood – the man who helped bring Black Panther and many other black icons to life. His role as King T’Challa inspired a generation of black children, who for the first time saw heroes who looked like them on screen.
Unlike much of Hollywood, Chadwick Boseman had a special connection to his fans in the sense that he was not only a celebrity, but an uplifting story of black success. The success of “Black Panther” was based on his ability to bring the complex character to life, prompting Hollywood to think critically about what stories of black excellence should look like. The film spread around the world and changed the way audiences viewed black characters on screen. Rather than being yet another big-budget movie in which black actors are trapped acting as the comic relief, or relegated to the role of the sidekick, the entire film was unapologetically a celebration of African culture, a fact that was intertwined throughout. the aspects of his creation from the cast to the costumes and the music.
In a moment of renewed dedication to the Black Lives Matter Movement, Boseman’s death feels to many in the black community like a kick in the stomach. His character changed what it meant to be a “hero”, altering his view of society and his own actions after the death of “Black Panther” villain Killmonger. Unlike other films in which the hero is shown to be strong only if he sticks to his ideas, King T’Challa displayed grace and power in the ability to change his mind. T’Challa’s final speech in the film rings true in response to the current situation in our country. He states that “Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than it separates us. But in times of crisis, wise men build bridges, while fools build barriers. ”
Boseman not only showed grace on screen, he brought it into his personal life. He took on the role of “Black Panther” and felt especially responsible for doing the character justice for the younger generations, who were able to grow up with characters like T’Challa, his sister Shuri, and the misunderstood villain Killmonger. Ryan Coogler, the director of “Black Panther,” revealed that Boseman probably kept his diagnosis a secret from those around him for “[shield] his collaborators of his suffering ”. Boseman made it his personal goal to finish the role and return for the sequel film because that was the kind of person he was. The inspiration the role would provide was more important to him than people “making a fuss” about his diagnosis. It was this immense disinterest that will define his legacy as an actor and as an off-screen hero.
