After a four-year-long battle with colon cancer, Chadwick Boseman, 43, died on Aug. 28 in his home, alongside his wife and family. Best known for his lead role in the movie “Black Panther,” Boseman has gone down in history as a hero beyond just the character he played. Despite battling his illness, he continued to follow his dreams of being an actor and an activist. He has left a lasting cultural footprint by showing America, through the portrayal of the first popularized African American superhero, what it means to be Black in America, Africa, and this world.
As a symbol of pride and Black power, his passing has an even greater detriment on the Black community. Many children of color see Boseman as their own personal superhero, and with his absence things will never be the same. With such captivating depth and honesty, he played the roles of the Black legends T’challa, Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and Thurgood Marshall. Boseman’s talent has shed light on the power of opportunity and representation. This reassurance that it is possible to be successful, blessed, and powerful as a Black man in America is another reason why losing this on- and off-screen hero has given way to much mourning, especially for the Black community.