Chadwick Boseman

https://commons.wikimedia.orgGage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]"Wakanda Forever." Who do you think of when you hear these two words? Black Panther or Chadwick Boseman? Chadwick Boseman is an American actor who took on the roles of many African-American icons and became an inspiration to many. He was born in South Carolina in 1977 and later attended college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He studied directing in Fine Arts and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. After college, he decided to pursue writing and directing. His first encounters with fame were on two popular movies: Lincoln Heights and 42. A hero is someone who is willing to take risks, for the greater good of others. Chadwick Boseman possesses bravery by using his status as a famous actor to better our world, and he is a role model to many, therefore a hero.

Boseman is a hero because of his bravery to make a difference. He acknowledges that together, we can overcome conflict and hatred. “His portrayals of African-American heroes have shown how black America has always been able to transform pain into something powerful” (Combs). Boseman is a hero because of the way he intends to incorporate his perspective on equality and racial injustice into his acting career. It takes bravery to acknowledge such a serious topic while society is watching and judging you. Boseman takes a stand to make our world a more inclusive place for all people, no matter their ethnic background. “But it’s within the fraught dynamic between the hero and his primary adversary where 'Black Panther' deftly explores subversive and probing concerns around race, history, heritage and identity” (Yamato). Knowing that hundreds and millions of people are following his acting career, Boseman continues to encourage peace and positivity within our world. He has communicated to many that no race is better than another. We are all human and this world should be overfilled with love rather than hate. Boseman’s bravery and efforts to encourage people to not judge others by their appearance, and spread more love than hate, is inspiring people all around the world.

Chadwick Boseman is not just a role model because of his acting career. He is also looked up to by many because of what he does for the African-American community. Boseman’s co-star Lupita Nyong'o in the movie “Black Panther” describes how he goes about making his career choices and exploring his characters. When receiving roles for movies and TV shows, “He’s very keen to put human experiences in historical context .... even with a world that was make-believe, he wanted to connect it to the world that we know and could try to understand” (Ugwu). Boseman makes sure to publicize significant events that have occurred in the past. He makes sure that people learn about past experiences so we are all able to better ourselves and others by educating one another. He brings power and purpose to “Black Panther” by relating the story to the real world. Boseman states, “The projects that I end up doing, that I want to be involved with in any way, have always been projects that will be impactful, for the most part, to my people — to black people,” said Boseman, a playwright and theater director turned actor and, now, blockbuster movie star. “To see black people in ways which you have not seen them before. So ‘Black Panther’ was on my radar, and in my dreams” (Yamato). Boseman is a leader to the Black community because of his views on equality. He considers the impact that racial injustice has on our world and puts forward an effort to make a difference, showing Black youth that anyone can be a superhero, no matter their race. Boseman is a brave individual who is a role model to many because of his perspectives on equality.

https://commons.wikimedia.orgGage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]Boseman is determined to make our world a more inclusive, diverse place. Throughout his acting career, he has contributed so much to the African-American community with his immense bravery and status. Using his fame and attention from appearing on screens all over the world and on the Internet, Boseman has been able to bring positivity and power to the topic of racial injustice. Chadwick Boseman is an inspiration to me because of what he does to make our world a more supportive, loving, and connected place. He shows others that diversity should be celebrated, and never shamed. He enforces the fact that race and appearance do not determine who you are and that race does not make an individual better than the other. So next time you see Chadwick Boseman appear on your TV screen, hopefully you will think of him as more than just the superhero who lives by the motto “Wakanda Forever.” Hopefully you will remember him by his actions that make a difference in our world, by bringing all people of different ethnic backgrounds together.

Chadwick Boseman passed away from colon cancer on August 28, 2020.

Works Consulted Page:

Combs, Sean. “Chadwick Boseman.” Time, Time, 2019, time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217574/chadwick-boseman.

Ugwu, Reggie. “How Chadwick Boseman Embodies Black Male Dignity.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Jan. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/movies/chadwick-boseman-black-panther.html.

Yamato, Jen. “How Chadwick Boseman Brought Power and Purpose to Marvel's 'Black Panther'.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2018, www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-black-panther-chadwick-boseman-interview-20180208-story.html.