Death Of The Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman At The Age Of 43 Is A Gut Blow And Just Adds To The Grief

 

 

 

2020 so far has been devastating for all where the world has witnessed the loss of some great figures like Kobe Bryant, Rep. John Lewis, and now Chadwick Boseman. The trail of bad news and tragedy seems never-ending this year with the increasing deaths of several popular Black icons with Boseman losing his life to cancer this Friday. All the three deceased were looked up to as leaders in their respective fields of sports, politics, and film, the places where people, particularly in the Black Community, have often looked for inspiration during a year where there has been racial tension and protests against the police brutality of unarmed Black people.

But the loss of a major figure like Boseman has taken a toll on everyone. The actor who starred in the blockbuster superhero Marvel movie Black Panther had a shocking demise at the age of 43 in his home in Los Angeles after he privately battled colon cancer for the past four years.

Rev. Al Sharpton while speaking of the tragic incident said that these are pillars in the community and in times of instability, it is the pillars on which you depend. It is already bad enough to know that there is a storm outside and people can hear the lightning and the thunder. And, the situation only gets worse when the pillars that you’re building and standing on start shaking he added. It seems that they’re chipping away at the foundation. At this moment, the very building is shaking down because the things that under guard and protect everyone from the storms are now being removed.

Sharpton referred to Boseman as an important pillar who humanized several Black historical trailblazers in his roles like including color-line breaking baseball star Jackie Robinson, legendary singer James Brown, and the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. As per Boseman’s family, the late actor endured multiple surgeries and chemotherapy while he was portraying King T’Challa of Wakanda in the Oscar-nominated Black Panther, a film that proved how a person of color could lead in a successful superhero film.

Sharpton added that for him to pass at a time when everyone is disproportionately affected by COVID and have been facing all these attacks by law enforcement where he was the symbol who brought everyone to Wakanda, is just a blow. And, to hear that the superhero who has projected a positive light has now departed, is just a gut blow he said.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said that Boseman was ranked to a stage that many Black actors don’t even get the chance to occupy and his ability to be transcendent on that stage had significantly given life to a comic book character for many in the Black Community.

James further said that even though it was a fictional story but Boseman made it feel real. It seemed that the world has its Black superhero and that nobody could harm, and to lose that it is a matter of great grief in the community he said while lamenting on the loss of the Black Panther and the Black Mamba in the same year.

It was in January when Bryant died in a helicopter crash that involved eight others including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. In July, Lewis died after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year.

There have been other notable deaths this year with the death of actress Naya Rivera, civil rights leader C.T. Vivian, and music executive Andre Harrell.

Milwaukee Bucks player, Giannis Antetokounmpo said the year 2020 has been rough for everybody and added that Boseman has left so much behind him.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard, Chris Paul said that it’s a lot to unpack as Chadwick was a special guy and everyone especially the Black Community took the news hard. He was the black superhero, the Black Panther was something so powerful, and he along with his kids went to see a superhero that looks just like them. The way he played the role with such class and elegance was tough, he added.

Activist Martin Luther King III called Boseman’s death as another great loss but he encouraged people not to lose hope even in this year of turmoil.

Son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said that everyone could easily exclaim God’s name and say that this has been the worst year in history, but rather he chooses not to say such things. He went on to say that the ancestors had to go through so much and yet everyone is here today. He also said that even though the world is not where it needs to be, but there’s always progress happening.

Co-founder and President of the African American Film Critics Association, Gil Robertson said that Black People are currently at a critical crossroads of their survival in America. He stated that the Black Community is getting it from all sides of the fort. It’s like they are losing out on all the strong men, the men who operated with a level of integrity, a level of authenticity. Robertson added that all of this is alarming and that the community has to come together not just for one cause but has to make consistent efforts to rehabilitate the community.