My husband and I were watching a movie together on Friday night (8/28/20) when I decided to check my news feed. There is was:
CHADWICK BOSEMAN; DEAD AT THE AGE OF 43 FROM COLON CANCER
I couldn't believe it! I thought it had to be some kind of mistake or joke---you know those false celebrity death reports that pop up from time to time based on a quarter of the story being told. I immediately went to Twitter because I figured that would be my best source for this information because we all know the major networks wouldn't consider this "Breaking News."
And there it was..........
My Twitter feed was cluttered with reports of his death. Then I went to his Twitter page and saw the official announcement from his Publicist. I shared the news with my husband and then we proceeded to watch one of his movies, A Message From the King.
The next morning I woke up and decided to look at a link my daughter shared. It was of Chadwick surprising fans on The Jimmy Fallon Show. As I was watching I just burst into tears. I kept thinking that a bright light, in all of this dark and gloom we've been experiencing here in America, had suddenly gone dim--and without warning. No one knew. His inner circle never said a word (By the way, that's what you call true friendship and loyalty) and he continued to share his gift with the masses on the big screen.
I then became obsessed with wanting to learn everything I could about him. Besides being born and raised in Anderson, SC, he reportedly got his start in TV in 2003 on the ABC Soap All My Children. He played a character named Reggie Montgomery. I have to say I don't remember his character even though I watched the ABC Soap faithfully. He ended up being replaced by Michael B. Jordan (who I do remember ironically). The next time I would hear his name (more than once or twice) was when the movie 42: The Jackie Robinson Story came out, followed by his James Brown impersonation in the Movie Get On Up and then the year-long anticipation for his role as T'Challa, our Black Panther King.
And here's what else I discovered....In the four years since he was diagnosed with cancer, he became a strong cancer advocate for others. He visited a number young cancer patients without getting any fanfare. He knew then what his medical fate was but he kept going. That probably explains why he was so overcome with emotion when talking about two young boys who told him they were trying to hang on so they could see Black Panther---but they DIED before the premiere. He was living out Jimmy Valvano's "NEVER GIVE UP!" mantra in ways that many of us can't begin to imagine. I know people still living who haven't done half of the things Chadwick did. Hopefully, those of us older than 43 will take this extra time we've been given to fulfill our purpose without regret.
In the four years since Chawick was diagnosed with cancer, he made 10 films! And these weren't "I need mindless entertainment" pictures. These were movies that gave you some insight into historical figures who helped shaped this country (Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson) and to allow us to see how powerful we can be (Gods of Egypt and 21 Bridges)
But he will forever be known as The Black Panther---a superhero who some parents have said was just as inspirational to their children as former President Barack Obama. His Black Panther character gave black children hope and showed them there were strong intelligent people of color who looks just like them. He gave black adults a sense of pride. In addition, he showed white children they could love a superhero who DIDN'T look like them.
Chadwick Boseman has demonstrated what determination, fighting against all odds, willpower and not letting your circumstances define you looks like. What will you see when you look in the mirror?
#WakandaForever
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