Chadwick Boseman, at age 43 passed away from stage three colon cancer on August 28th. The actor was suffering immense pain without the world knowing, and his fans and friends alike remember the impact he left. His death impacts us so much more than we imagined because of the life he lived.
His films and work represented what we are all still fighting for now -- a world where people of color, specifically Black people, can thrive. Where they are their own rulers, have their own history undisturbed by colonizers and white supremacy. This is a world we are trying to show to future generations, that their success and greatness is possible. That young Black children will grow up knowing they are worthy and come from a culture that they should be proud of. Chadwick showed them that as King T'Challa.
He then reminded us that Black greatness already exists when he played Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall. He reminded us of the many examples in history of people of color standing up for a world where they can live freely, prosperously. In a time when the rights of people of color are being attacked and threatened relentlessly, we draw upon cinema and actors like Boseman to give us motivation in their telling of stories as we fight. This hope of a world worth fighting for is crucial right now. Black Lives Matter protests need strength to continue fighting, and to maintain worldwide attention.
In his passing, Boseman also taught us to look at each person with empathy, for we never know what one is truly going through. Our present day feels like every man for himself. People refuse to hear one another, and instead look at their own suffering before anyone else's. Boseman taught us his last lesson in his passing, and that is to be compassionate. Our own suffering should make us cognizant of the suffering of others.
