Chadwick Boseman's Legacy
By: Esteban Barrera
On Aug. 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away, leaving the world to mourn over the loss of a great actor, a powerful influence in African American society and, most importantly, the loss of a great man.
Boseman graduated from Howard University and starred in many television shows in the early 2000s. It was not until 2013 that Boseman landed a role in the movie “42,” where he would be the first African American to play in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers. After his portrayal of Jackie Robinson, Boseman acted in “Get on Up,” where he portrayed another iconic African-American man, James Brown. Despite the successes he had as an actor, Boseman decided he wanted to produce as well. He produced and was the main protagonist for the movie “21 Bridges," which became a major hit at the box office. Boseman acted in many other movies, but none had as much impact as “Black Panther.”
There was speculation that Boseman may not have been a good choice to portray the Black Panther, but as soon as it hit the theatres audiences saw how perfect he was for the role. He brought the African culture and traditions into the character in such a way that it created an everlasting movement that still exists to this day. Whenever you think of Black Panther, you automatically cross your arms, place them over your chest, and say “WAKANDA FOREVER!” This influence was what Boseman brought wherever he was. Boseman’s influence on people was so significant that even after his death people are still sharing remarkable stories of his acts of kindness and unity.
One particular example that was shared this week was by his co-actress Sienna Miller from "21 Bridges." Miller told a journalist from Empire that Chadwick was very interested in her playing the supporting character for this movie. Miller was deeply flattered by Boseman’s interest in her, so she was also interested in working with him for this movie.
Despite the professional friendship that existed between both actors, the studio was not giving Miller the salary she had stipulated in her contract. When Boseman heard about the issue, he willfully gave her a piece of his own salary so she could get what she was asking for. Miller mentioned she was awestruck by what Boseman had done for her, and he even told her:
“You're getting paid what you deserve, and what you're worth.”
This testimony isn’t something out of the ordinary for Boseman. Boseman even visited young cancer patients and made sure they were okay while he was already diagnosed with colon cancer.
All of these stories just show how great of a man he was, not just on-screen as an actor, but as a human being. Boseman will forever be missed, but his legacy will forever live on in our hearts.
Rest in Power Boseman!