Shauna Chin recalls Boseman praying for her
IN HIS role as the Black Panther, US actor Chadwick Boseman wound his way into the hearts of black people across the globe. So much so that to many, he became more than just another actor. The pride he birthed in black people worldwide made him an honorary member of many families. In tributes to the late actor, many described him as the consummate professional, a man who even in his last days refused to be anything less than the ‘superhero’ he portrayed on screen. His strength left many feeling proud to have crossed paths with him. One such person is Jamaican actress Shauna Chin.
In an interview with The Gleaner, Chin recalled her first encounter with Boseman back in March. The actress, who is also a registered nurse, said she had just decided to go back to work to assist with COVID19 care as the virus began running rampant in the
US. She said she met Boseman and his wife while doing rounds at a hospital in Los Angeles.
She revealed that they struck up a conversation and though she did not immediately recognise who he was, she knew he was passionate about film because that was the topic of conversation. “I went back to work in the hospital since the pandemic, so that’s where we met. I didn’t meet him in a Hollywood setting, but because we had film in common (and I think because we were both black), we hit it off really well because we could talk about so much. But I actually didn’t recognise him at first and he just kind of played along,” she said. “I was talking mostly with his wife about politics, and then he gave me his card.
When I read his real name on the card, we just all burst out laughing and he did the Wakanda sign. This was about March.”
Chin revealed that around that same time, her grandmother fell gravely ill and she recalled Boseman paying so much attention to her that he immediately recognised when she was down. “I remember one day he asked why I didn’t have my usual smile, and he and his wife wouldn’t let me brush it aside. He said, ‘What’s grandma’s name?’ and right there they prayed with me. It just sort of happened,” she said. “And then every time after that, they would ask about her. The day she died, they were just as sad as I was. We just kind of talked forever that day, about every and anything. I think we just kind of cheered each other up.”
SPECIAL PERSON
She said in that moment she confirmed what she already knew, that Boseman was a special kind of human being, the selfless type, the kind who would put others before himself even when he was down. “I will always remember him and his wife praying with me and trying to lift me up in strength even though he was going through his own pain. He was just that type of person, and his wife is the same,” she said, also pointing out that even though he was an A-list Hollywood actor, Boseman still made her feel like they were colleagues.
“I think why I clicked with him and his family is because we are so like-minded. His career was grossly farther along than mine, yet when we spoke about film, he would always talk to me as if we were on an equal playing field. His actions reiterated what I always knew ... stay on your grind, don’t think yourself bigger than any man, watch your manners, and don’t pay attention to the noise.”
She told The Gleaner that because she had personal experiences with Boseman and knew what he was going through with his illness, she was gutted by the harsh comments people made about his personal appearance during his final days. “It (the negative comments) broke my heart. He was at home that time, so I sent Simone (his wife) a message with some love and strength.