After bringing Black Panther to life with his unbelievable performance and jaw-dropping intensity, actor Chadwick Boseman has tragically died at the age of 43. While battling and fighting through colon cancer since the year 2016, Boseman died in his own home alongside his family and wife, who comforted him the entire time. With his iconic role as King T’Challa in the world-breaking film Black Panther, Boseman acquired the perfect symbol of “black power,” inspiring others around the world to this day.

The news of Chadwick Boseman’s death shocked many prominent figures in the arts world and civic life. Many paid tribute to Boseman while mourning the shock and grief of the sudden news. Martin Luther King III, a human-rights activist, said that in his portrayals of pioneering black leaders, Boseman “brought history to life on the silver screen.”

As a South Carolina native, Boseman attended a historically black college at Howard University, a college in Washington, D.C. While studying there, he became a part of the British American Drama Academy at Oxford in 1998, shortly before graduating in 2000. Boseman also admired T’Challa and Black Panther comics while attending Howard University while working at an African bookstore as an undergraduate.

Boseman’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut began in 2016 as T’Challa/Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War. After fans went wild over admiring Boseman’s theatrical excellence, Black Panther got it’s own stand-alone movie in 2018. Breaking multiple box office records, the president of Marvel Studios presented the announcement of the second Black Panther movie in the saga. It’s still on track to play in theatres May of 2022.

Given the opportunity to play the role in a fictional African homeland known as Wakanda, Boseman embraced the significance of black audiences with his pride and devotion to the film. He pushed for other characters to speak in authentic South African accents and show their ancient African symbolism and spirituality. On top of being in the first major superhero movie with a majority of a black cast starring in the film, Boseman was praised for his dynamic performance and theatrical excellence.

Boseman’s inspirational performance in Black Panther led him to star in many other films like Get on Up and the role of Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. Despite rising to fame, Bosemen always embraced his past and the struggles that came with pursuing his career. In a 2018 commencement speech, Boseman touched on his early acting days, performing in soap operas, and later being fired after he opened up on how he felt being a stereotypical portrayal of black characters.

“The struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose,” Boseman said after ending with his iconic “Wakanda Forever” tribute speach.

Chadwick Boseman has easily presented himself as the perfect example of black empowerment in the world. Boseman will continue inspiring children and adults all around the world, proving that any person can make a change in the world today. Bosmean’s inspiration and power will continue forever because of the model he has left us in his performances.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/movies/chadwick-boseman-dead.amp.html