The death of Chadwick Boseman, who lost his battle with colon cancer this weekend, hurts so much. I saw only a few of his films, but seeing him as the Black Panther really connected with me.
It was refreshing to see a Black man, so strong, poised, and heroic, leading the fictional country of Wakanda. The Blackness in the film was so beautiful and elegant, and I was even reminded, as fictional as the universe was, that Black is not only beautiful but powerful. Boseman helped me remember that.
And sometimes I need the reminder, because over the years, I’m not afraid to say, that sometimes the world can make you forget such a thing. In a world that is constantly whitewashed, it was inspiring to see people in the film who looked like me portrayed in a positive light. To see Black people portrayed as saviors and defenders of what is rightly theirs is a wonderful thing. it’s something that I have been heartened to witness this summer while watching the peaceful protests throughout the city and world in the name of racial equality.
Boseman’s death hits so hard as I watch the countless tributes and special showings of his recent films. Just realizing that he persevered and worked so much harder, despite his diagnosis with colon cancer as a young man, makes the hurt that I feel that much deeper.
I can only imagine how those who are much younger than me feel about Boseman’s passing and his portrayal of T’Challa and how heartbroken they are. Boseman was much more than an actor; he was our king. An example of what Black people are and what we will always be, despite what others want to make us out as.
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Dominique “Peak” Johnson is a North Philadelphia journalist. He is one of the founding editors of the North Philly Metropolis. Currently, Peak practices kickboxing, freelances for Generocity.org, and occasionally tweets about “The Walking Dead.” Click here to learn more about Peak.
