‘Chadwick Boseman has given me the courage to carry on’
Black Panther star leaves behind profound and powerful legacy that will never be forgotten, writes Cydney Henderson
“WAKANDA Forever.” A beloved cross-armed salute that signifies so much more following the death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who passed away on Friday aged 43.
I will never forget bursting with pride when I saw Black Panther in cinemas (twice) in February 2018 during Black History Month.
I accompanied several children eager to see someone with the same skin colour as them grace the big screen, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t just as giddy.
I understood what this moment meant for myself and so many people.
In the plush cinema seats, I was surrounded by so much rich culture: moviegoers wore traditional African headdresses and garments to celebrate our ancestry and the audience collectively burst into applause when Boseman’s character King T’challa reigned victorious.
In that moment, we all felt victorious because it was so much more than a movie.
Boseman was a hero in the Black community. Our hero. No longer cast as a sidekick, Boseman’s Black Panther proudly symbolised so much progress. I can say that so many people felt celebrated for everything Black culture is in a world that frequently reminds us of what we aren’t.
It wasn’t until Boseman’s death that I learned he was a superhero off-screen as well. Boseman was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016, his family said in a statement, meaning the star was secretly battling the insidious disease while filming a movie that would galvanise us all.
He showed up between surgeries and chemotherapy. The courage. The strength. The selflessness. The resilience.
Boseman fearlessly and silently fought for his life while inspiring a generation of boys and girls by pushing boundaries and ushering in a new era of representation.
I saw it in the eyes of the children who were mesmerised by the screen. They could be anything they wanted. They could dream the wildest of dreams and see themselves as royalty.
Black Panther wasn’t just another stereotype. Boseman’s character was the king of the fictional country of Wakanda, a nation rich in history, tradition and technology – a far cry from the bleak and desolate images of Africa that are often portrayed in films.
Boseman not only brought King T’challa to life on the silver screen, but also Black icons Jackie Robinson (2013’s 42), James Brown (2014’s Get on Up) and Thurgood Marshall (2017’s Marshall).
He was a prime example of Black excellence. As the Black community continues to fight for equality against racism and injustices, this feels like another blow.
Further insult to injury, his death hurts, more so after the recent death of another Black icon, Kobe Bryant.
The pain that myself and the Black community feels is unrelenting and at times unbearable. But the way Boseman selflessly faced his battles should give us the courage to keep
He fearlessly and silently fought for his life while inspiring a generation of boys and girls by pushing boundaries and ushering in a new era
going. If he can do it, we must try.
“In times of crisis, the wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers,” Boseman’s T’challa said to the UN Assembly during the post-credit scene of Black Panther. “We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.”
Following the 2018 release of the film, I proudly participated in the “Wakanda Forever” salute with my peers as a sign to say that I truly see you. And I will perform the salute again for Boseman.
I truly see the sacrifice he made and his legacy will forever live on in the generation he inspired. Rest in power, King.