Chapman community reflects on Chadwick Boseman’s legacy

Chadwick Boseman is widely known for being King T’Challa, Marvel Comics’ first Black superhero – a role he received an MTV Movie Award for Best Hero. WikiCommons

Portraying iconic characters on the big screen, whether fictional or real-life, was nothing new to Chadwick Boseman. He tore down societal barriers with his performance as King T’Challa in the 2018 Marvel Comics’ cinematic feature, “Black Panther.” Prior to his stint as the superhero, he was known for his role as the first Black player to break MLB’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson, in “42,” and legendary singer James Brown in “Get on Up.” 

Boseman’s legacy was of great influence to Chapman University graduate student Montez Jennings, an active member of Chapman’s Black Student Union.

“Even if Boseman doesn’t physically look like the characters he’s portraying in these movies, his acting is so good that it seems like you’re watching the real person,” Jennings said.

On the night of Aug. 28, Instagram users were presented with a post on Boseman’s account announcing his unexpected death through his publicist. At the age of 43, he passed away from what was revealed to be a four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman successfully kept his private life out of the spotlight, which meant fans and even some acquaintances had no knowledge of his illness. Dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts Stephen Galloway, who spoke with Boseman in a 2018 round-table discussion in his former role as executive editor of The Hollywood Reporter, was in disbelief when the news broke. 

“I was absolutely shocked,” Galloway said. “When I interviewed him during the round-table talk, he talked about his future as an actor, so there was no hint of any illness. However, I respect him for separating his private and public life.”

A few months prior to Boseman’s death, he had uploaded a video to his Instagram page where he physically appeared much thinner than fans had remembered him. Unaware of his diagnosis, people began to spew hurtful jokes such as  “Crack Panther” at the actor. Jennings told The Panther that we all need to reevaluate how we treat others as humans.

“Human beings go through hardships, and being a celebrity doesn’t make that any different,” Jennings said. “I also think that ‘rise-and-grind’ culture is a part of the problem. We live in a culture that encourages people to work through their ailments and illnesses. I’ve seen posts saying things like, ‘Chadwick Boseman had stage three cancer and still made films and you can’t even get out of bed.’ People shamed him and now they’re using his death to shame other people.”

When reminiscing on Boseman’s character and personality, Galloway stated that heading into the round-table conversation, he had expected him to be aggressive, much like his portrayal of King T’Challa in “Black Panther.”

“He was very sensitive and thoughtful,” Galloway said. “I could feel his soul when I sat next to him. I liked him massively.” 

Senior public relations and advertising major Amanda Goldstein, who worked as a fashion assistant during one of his photo shoots, echoed Galloway’s sentiments.

“He was very kind and poised,” Goldstein said of Boseman. “He made everyone feel seen and appreciated, and he had an infectious personality that made you want to hang around him outside of work.”

The release of “Black Panther” in theaters was groundbreaking for Black representation in film, as Marvel Comics’ first film featuring a Black protagonist, Jennings said.

“Before ‘Black Panther’ was released, all we saw were TV ads that depicted (Africa) as a destitute, impoverished place,” she said. “Although Wakanda isn’t a real place, it can be considered equivalent to Kenya, which has been compared to the industrialization of the Silicon Valley. This was the first time children had something positive to see about Africa.” 

In conjunction with Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa, Goldstein also emphasized the power films have on social climate. She noted how the release of the controversial film “The Birth of a Nation” introduced the reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan during the 20th century, and conversely, how the release of “Black Panther” sparked the revitalization of Black empowerment. She stated that films have the power to change the way people feel and think, as Boseman’s on-screen portrayal of a powerful Black superhero could inspire generations to come. 

“Black people are often portrayed as thugs in movies and never the heroes,” Goldstein said. “Representation is important because if we continue to see Black people as superheroes in movies, we begin to believe it.”

Correction: In a previous version of this article, The Panther identified Montez Jennings as a Chapman graduate instead of a graduate student. This information has been corrected.