Honoring Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman, known for his portrayal of famous Black figures such as Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall, passed away on Aug. 28, 2020

Taylor DeGuzman / Arts and Culture Editor

There will forever be only one Chadwick Boseman. A king. A warrior. A lover. On Aug. 28, 2020, the world stood still. After just 43 years, Boseman’s life became a legacy.  

The words that Boseman spoke so clearly at his alma mater Howard University’s commencement ceremony in 2018 ring powerfully today and echo his life on earth.

“Sometimes you need to feel the pain and sting of defeat, to activate the real passion and purpose that God predestined inside of you,” Boseman said. “Purpose is an essential element of you, it is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.”

Boseman’s purpose was multifaceted. By playing iconic roles such as Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, James Brown, known as the “Godfather of Soul,” and Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice in the Supreme Court, Boseman took the responsibility of representing influential Black figures in history that made his cultural footprint admirable.

Though he was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, Boseman was a fighter. He continued to make films and persevere despite the reality of his health and possibilities of his future. In the public statement his family posted on behalf of his passing on Boseman’s social media platforms, the family said that several of the films he completed were filmed “during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.”  His role as T’challa, king of Wakanda, in the Marvel movie “Black Panther” unveiled that there is no limit to what a superhero could look like, and that there is more to be said about a superhero’s grace, kindness, and humility than their powers alone.

Many agree that it is difficult to even begin to put into words the gravity of Boseman’s impact and influence on this world. The weight of his passing hits home, especially extending to the sentiment felt by the USD community.

Eric Pierson, Ph.D., director of film studies at USD, spoke highly of Boseman’s career and how his 43 years of life will continue to be magnified. 

“Dying as suddenly as he did always enhances an individual’s legacy, because whatever work you had, that is the only work you will ever have,” Pierson said on behalf of Boseman’s larger-than-life roles that spoke to Black culture.

Pierson shared his thoughts on what the future may hold for the next Black Panther character after Boseman.

“What a lot of people might not know is that Black Panther is the spirit that inhabits the person,” Pierson said. “Because the spirit can be transferred, the structure of the story is more flexible. The spirit can be housed in any number of individuals, including T’Challa’s sister, which would be such an interesting, different kind of film.” 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Boseman was set to prepare for “Black Panther II” this month. Production for the film was set to begin in March 2021.

What Pierson admired most about Boseman in each of his films was his ability to inhabit each character he played.

“When I see his work I’m always fascinated by his acting, I forget that he’s playing a character,” Pierson said. “It’s one thing to inhabit a character whose life begins on the page and then you get to interpret what comes off the page. It’s another thing to inhabit a character that has a long history, and history that needs to be researched by the actor in order to accurately and authentically portray them.”

Pierson expressed how Boseman stood out as an exceptional actor to him.

“What I’ve really enjoyed about his work is that there are things that aren’t on the page of the script that Boseman brings to the conversation. He was one of those actors that saw more than the words,” Pierson said.

Not only does Pierson appreciate Boseman for what he was capable of doing on the screen, but he also appreciates the poise and grace Boseman carried into any space he entered. 
“His humility was so apparent, I think he always understood how fortunate he was to be in this space at this time and his ultimate goal was to make the most of it,” Pierson said. “The fact that he was able to do seven films after his diagnosis, and three of them were his Marvel films, is an amazing show of his commitment to his work and to his craft.”

Pierson believes the best example of Boseman’s impact on others is showcased through a Jimmy Fallon Youtube video where fans thank a Black Panther poster and thank Boseman for what he and the movie mean to them.

“I cannot tell you how much it means to have you step into the role as a King and hold that position with so much grace, so much poise and so much joy,” a fan said.

 Shortly after she says these words, Boseman comes out from hiding behind the curtains to thank her with a huge smile and a huge hug. 

Pierson shared that though Boseman only had the opportunity to live 43 years, each of those 43 years were incredibly influential and will continue to sustain for years to come.  

“What’s interesting is if I were teaching a course on African American images in film, I’d have to include three or four of his films in the course,” Pierson said. “He would probably have the biggest contribution to that conversation, and that is what people are gonna know him for.”

Anica Quizon, junior, is a fan of Boseman and all that he represented as well. She explained how much of a cultural influence Boseman had in Hollywood and beyond.

“Boseman’s impact in Hollywood and the film industry was remarkable,” Quizon said. “I understand how important and necessary representation in media is, especially for young people of color. His portrayal of such powerful roles, such as Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall, brought black history to life and to the forefront of mainstream cinema.” 

As a big Marvel fan, Quizon remembered how excited she was when the cast of Black Panther was announced, and talked about what the movie meant to her.

“The idea that younger generations would grow up seeing a Black man and an all Black cast, in a Marvel superhero movie was so uplifting to me,” Quizon said. “The story of Black Panther and the idea of a powerful African nation, untouched by colonization and left to thrive was a game changer. I also recently learned that Boseman advocated for the use of African accents in the film, rather than European accents, and this just showed how deeply he cared about Black culture and Black representation.”

Boseman’s life made an exceptional impact on Marvel superfan Shane Wilson, junior. Because Wilson also loves baseball, Boseman’s role as Jackie Robinson struck a chord in him and made him a fan before he had watched Black Panther. 

“Baseball and comic books are two of the greatest influences on my life,” Wilson said. “After hearing the man who portrayed one of my favorite ball players and then one of my favorite
superheroes had passed, the rush of sadness and melancholy flooded in.”

To Wilson, Boseman’s cultural influence in Hollywood was a victory for representation, especially opening up doors for more diverse representation of superheroes in the future.

“When one thinks about all of the Avengers, or any heroes in general, their ethnicity is primarily white or caucasian,” Wilson explained. “Prior to Black Panther, I believe the only two Black heroes many could remember were the characters Lando Calrissian and Mace Windu, both from the Star Wars Universe. That alone should speak truth to why he had such a strong cultural influence on Hollywood and beyond.”

Wilson explained that Boseman was much more than a superhero on screen.

“Boseman was not just a superhero on the big screen,” Wilson said. “I feel that the selfless and giving person that T’Challa is in the film, is merely an extension of Boseman, a real life king fighting each day to inspire others to fight just like he did in this life.” 
The “short, but powerful legacy,” as Pierson said, of Boseman is a legacy marked by strides in representation for Black culture and an inspiration for all those with a purpose, ready to be fulfilled.

Boseman ends his commencement speech at Howard University with: “The light of new realization shines on you today how his legacy is not wrapped up in money that you will make, but the challenges you choose to confront. As you commence from your past press on with pride and press on with purpose. God bless you. I love you.”