Chadwick Boseman died on August 28, 2020 after suffering from stage 3 and 4 colon cancer since 2016. While Boseman has acted in many shows and movies, such as 42 and Get On Up, he is most known for his role as King T’Challa in Black Panther. Boseman’s role in Black Panther has inspired many, as his character was one of the few leading black superheroes that many black youth and adults looked up to. Alongside his character KIng T’Challa, Chadwick Boseman also inspired many.
Andrew O’Day reflected on Boseman’s legacy in a Radio 1 Newsbeat interview with BBC News.
“The fact that he was actually African – and had an African accent – was another reason for me to be proud of where I’m from: to be black, to be African,” said O’Day.
The setting of the movie and how Africa was portrayed in Black Panther was also refreshing to many black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC). Many are used to seeing the negative parts of Africa portrayed in movies and in the media, however, Black Panther showed the opposite. The film is set in a strong and technologically advanced fictional nation called Wakanda.
In addition, according to Andrew O’Day, “They encompassed the whole of Africa so it didn’t really matter where you were from as a black person, Whether you’re Nigerian, South Africa, Kenyan, Ghanaian, you can see a piece of your culture in the film.” O’Day says.
Regarding Black Panther 2, rumors have been circling that King T’Challa will die off-screen, leaving his younger sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, to take over his role and responsibilities. However, Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, and Ryan Coolger, Balck Panther 2’s director, have only confirmed their plan to refocus the film onto Shuri.
Chadwick Boseman not only affected the lives of BIPOC through his roles on screen but he also dedicated his time to inspiring kids affected by cancer. The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee said in a tweet on Saturday, August 29, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend Chadwick Boseman. Two years ago, Chadwick visited the St. Jude campus and brought with him not only toys for our patients but also joy, courage and inspiration. He was an incredible role model for our patients and children from all around the world.”