As the world mourns the death of Chadwick Boseman on Friday, Aug. 28, many remember him as a strong, courageous and talented figure that was much more than just a Hollywood film icon. His work shed light on Black culture and normalized the celebration of it, while also bringing attention to the injustices the Black community faces. Boseman fought a tough battle for four years after being diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016. 

Being the altruistic person he was, Boseman kept his own diagnosis private and instead brought awareness to childhood cancer. He visited the patients at the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and many of the children he visited looked up to him as a role model. He gave them hope, inspiration and the courage to keep fighting. 

In an emotional interview video done by Sirius XM, Boseman mentioned that throughout filming Black Panther, he kept in touch with two boys that were both terminally ill with cancer. They were trying to make it to the release date of the movie. Although they passed soon before it came out, Boseman recognized the value and impact he had on not only them but also children around the world. 

In the end stages of his cancer, his looks changed drastically. Because most people didn’t know about his diagnosis, they took it to the media and body-shamed Boseman. Not until he passed did people understand the real reason behind his extreme weight loss. This was brought to the attention of many, reminding people to think before making assumptions about a person based on looks. 

During his fight with cancer and in between chemo treatments, Boseman also was beginning to change the ideals of an industry well known for its lack of diversity. 

The Hollywood film star took on many prominent roles, and as an African-American male in a mostly white-dominated industry, he embodied the celebration of Black culture in the work he did. Some of his most famous roles include Jackie Robinson in the film 42, Thurgood Marshall in the movie Marshall, as well as his most famous role as King T’Challa or Black Panther. He starred in Black Panther and appeared in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. 

Boseman’s most famous movie, Black Panther, was released in January of 2018. It broke box office records after making over $1.2 billion within four months of its release date. This was also the first big superhero film starring a Black man as the protagonist along with a predominantly Black cast. It was not only a turning point for the film industry, but also for the Black community. 

Many young children looked up to Boseman as a hero in his role as King T’Challa because there was finally a superhero that they related to who looked like them. He showed the world that diversity and representation are imperative in order to diminish discrimination and allow others a sense of worth and belonging. 

“In times of crisis, the wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers,” Boseman said. 

He encompassed these ideals in both his career and personal life. As the world mourns his death and reflects on this major loss, they look back on the legacy he left behind.