The Man Who Would Be King

While Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing has sent shockwaves through the Hollywood community, reflections on his life prove his heroism went beyond the silver screen

Superheroes are in charge. Once considered disposable entertainment for children, they have been interwoven into the fabric of our society. Of the thirty highest grossing worldwide movies of all time (unadjusted for inflation), twelve are superhero films and all of them have been released within the past decade. The movie sitting at thirteen on that list is "Black Panther". The 2018 Oscar-winning record-breaker pulled in over $1.3 billion dollars globally and over $700 million of that was grossed domestically, good enough for fourth all-time. It was a cultural touchstone, spawning endless waves of memes while its merchandise flew off the shelves and flocks of people continued to pack into theaters. There are many reasons, in front of and behind the camera, why the film was a tremendous success, but the man at the center was Chadwick Boseman. He starred as the eponymous warrior-king, anchoring the role with strength and nobility.

However, he was so much more than Black Panther. He was a husband and a son. He was an HBCU grad. He was a praying man that grew up in the church and appeared to stay rooted in that upbringing even as he maneuvered through stardom. He was a go-to guy for Black biopics, portraying legendary figures like Jackie Robinson in "42", James Brown in "Get on Up", Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall" and was tapped to star in "Yasuke" as the titular Black samurai. As he's been eulogized, some of the same compliments have persisted; he was a consummate professional, humble, hardworking, always gracious to his co-stars and deeply dedicated to his craft. He collected awards, rubbed shoulders with the Hollywood elite on red carpets and starred or co-starred in mega blockbusters, all while battling his illness in private.

His meteoric rise allowed him to make a lasting impact in a relatively short amount of time and like a shooting star, his brightness and brilliance was only allowed to be admired by us for a moment. None of the general public knew him closely, but the reverence others have for him would suggest he was the perfect choice to play what would be his career defining role. Like the true professional he is, he embraced it and understood the impact his portrayal of a Black superhero could have. He especially recognized the significance in his representation of historical figures and fully immersed himself each time. 2020 has been a year of immeasurable loss, but this one cuts deep in several respects. Whether it was buying tickets for underprivileged youths or visiting children at St. Jude's, he seemed to have a soul of genuine character. To quote one of my favorite "Black Panther" lines, "You are a good man with a good heart. And it’s hard for a good man to be a king". For Chadwick, it didn't seem to be hard at all.