Chadwick Boseman: Why The Black Panther Actor Was A Real-Life Hero

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Chadwick Boseman: Why The Black Panther Actor Was A Real-Life Hero

The late Chadwick Boseman was best known for his iconic portrayal of Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — but the actor himself was just as important to society as his superhero character. The MCU has been one of the greatest successes in the history of Hollywood, but 2018's Black Panther was easily one of its most important films. It was as much a cultural event as anything else, confronting themes of Black identity, prejudice and racism, and exhibiting a boldness that's quite unusual among superhero tentpoles. This cultural relevance is actually increasing with time, as discussions about racial identity and prejudice become even more pressing.

That, in part, explains why the news of the death of Chadwick Boseman is such a tragic shock. Black Panther's star passed away on August 28, 2020, due to colon cancer. He received the diagnosis 4 years ago, and has been battling it in private for almost the entirety of his MCU career. "From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more," his family observed in an official statement, "all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther."

But, while it's easy for Marvel fans to focus on his impact as Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman should also be honored for his own activism and the strength of his ethical convictions. In May 2018, when the success of Black Panther was at its height, Boseman gave a speech at his alma mater, Howard University, that outlined his philosophy perfectly. "Purpose is the essential element of you," Boseman told graduates. "It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill." These words take on fresh meaning now that the world knows that Boseman was battling cancer at the time he said them; yet, in truth, he lived by this mandate long before the diagnosis.

Boseman's initial attempt to break into TV hit a brick wall when he realized a role he was playing was stereotypical; he was fired after questioning the way it was written. Never afraid to choose conviction over convenience, Boseman lived by the words he spoke: "Take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures at first than successes," he recommended in his speech, recalling this incident. "Then you will not regret it."

Boseman rightly gained a reputation for diving deep into the souls of Black activists in some tremendous biopics, playing James Brown and civil rights champion-lawyer Thurgood Marshall. The release of Black Panther was accompanied by a tremendous amount of charity work, with the launch of the "Black Panther Challenge" to help disadvantaged Black children go see the film for inspiration. Disney themselves celebrated Black Panther's success by donating $1 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, to help develop their science, technology, engineering and math programs. Boseman stood at the forefront of all these campaigns and more, ensuring Black Panther stood for more than just its box office. On several occasions, Boseman visited sick children to help bolster their spirits, meeting children dying from cancer at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in September 2018. That visit, too, now takes on a much more personal hue given what is now known about its context. Meanwhile, Boseman was a prominent supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, opposing prejudice and bigotry in the United States and worldwide.

One of Boseman's final public acts stands as a testament to his life. In April 2020, Boseman posted a video on Instagram celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, announcing a partnership between former Legendary Entertainment CEO Thomas Tull and surgical scrubs manufacturer FIGS. Known as "Operation 42," this included a $4.2 million donation of medical gear to Black communities hit hardest by coronavirus. He posted the video in spite of the fact Jackie Robinson Day had been rescheduled due to the pandemic; in a strange twist of fate, it was finally celebrated on August 28, the same day Boseman passed away. While Boseman will be remembered for his iconic portrayal of Black Panther, this alone should serve as an important reminder he was more than just a Marvel superhero. He was a hero in his own right.