#that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us until we meet again.'

[stevecinematicuniverse]

Ryan Coogler's tribute to Chadwick Boseman:

“Before sharing my thoughts on the passing of the great Chadwick Boseman, I first offer my condolences to his family who meant so very much to him. To his wife, Simone, especially.

I inherited Marvel and the Russo Brothers’ casting choice of T’Challa. It is something that I will forever be grateful for. The first time I saw Chad’s performance as T’Challa, it was in an unfinished cut of ‘Captain America: Civil War.’ I was deciding whether or not directing ‘Black Panther’ was the right choice for me. I’ll never forget sitting in an editorial suite on the Disney lot and watching his scenes. His first with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, then with the South African cinema titan, John Kani, as T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to make this movie. After Scarlett’s character leaves them, Chad and John began conversing in a language I had never heard before. It sounded familiar, full of the same clicks and smacks that young black children would make in the States. The same clicks that we would often be chided for being disrespectful or improper. But, it had a musicality to it that felt ancient, powerful, and African.

In my meeting after watching the film, I asked Nate Moore, one of the producers of the film, about the language. ‘Did you guys make it up?’ Nate replied, ‘That’s Xhosa, John Kani’s native language. He and Chad decided to do the scene like that on set, and we rolled with it.’ I thought to myself, ‘He just learned lines in another language, that day?’ I couldn’t conceive how difficult that must have been, and even though I hadn’t met Chad, I was already in awe of his capacity as actor.

I learned later that there was much conversation over how T’Challa would sound in the film. The decision to have Xhosa be the official language of Wakanda was solidified by Chad, a native of South Carolina, because he was able to learn his lines in Xhosa, there on the spot. He also advocated for his character to speak with an African accent, so that he could present T’Challa to audiences as an African king, whose dialect had not been conquered by the West.

I finally met Chad in person in early 2016, once I signed onto the film. He snuck past journalists that were congregated for a press junket I was doing for ‘Creed,’ and met with me in the green room. We talked about our lives, my time playing football in college, and his time at Howard studying to be a director, about our collective vision for T’Challa and Wakanda. We spoke about the irony of how his former Howard classmate Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing T’Challa’s current arc with Marvel Comics. And how Chad knew Howard student Prince Jones, [whose] murder by a police officer inspired Coates’ memoir ‘Between the World and Me.’

I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that [saw] much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.

That was the first of many conversations. He was a special person. We would often speak about heritage and what it means to be African. When preparing for the film, he would ponder every decision, every choice, not just for how it would reflect on himself, but how those choices could reverberate. ‘They not ready for this, what we are doing...’ ‘This is “Star Wars,” this is “Lord of the Rings,” but for us ... and bigger!’ He would say this to me while we were struggling to finish a dramatic scene, stretching into double overtime. Or while he was covered in body paint, doing his own stunts. Or crashing into frigid water, and foam landing pads. I would nod and smile, but I didn’t believe him. I had no idea if the film would work. I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But I look back and realize that Chad knew something we all didn’t. He was playing the long game. All while putting in the work. And work he did.

He would come to auditions for supporting roles, which is not common for lead actors in big budget movies. He was there for several M’Baku auditions. In Winston Duke’s, he turned a chemistry read into a wrestling match. Winston broke his bracelet. In Letitia Wright’s audition for Shuri, she pierced his royal poise with her signature humor, and would bring about a smile to T’Challa’s face that was 100% Chad.

While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene. We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me, ‘Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?’ In early drafts of the script, Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, ‘What if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else?’

Chad deeply valued his privacy, and I wasn’t privy to the details of his illness. After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.

I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before. I spent the last year preparing, imagining and writing words for him to say, that we weren’t destined to see. It leaves me broken knowing that I won’t be able to watch another close-up of him in the monitor again or walk up to him and ask for another take.

It hurts more to know that we can’t have another conversation, or FaceTime, or text message exchange. He would send vegetarian recipes and eating regimens for my family and me to follow during the pandemic. He would check in on me and my loved ones, even as he dealt with the scourge of cancer.

In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse with bluescreens and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.”

#'He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days.' #😢😢😢 #'It is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence #that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us until we meet again.' #🙏🙏 #this was really beautifully written #chadwick boseman #ryan coogler #black panther #t'challa

[wakandaiscoming]

Ryan Coogler’s statement on Chadwick Boseman’s death has gutted me again. “He’s an ancestor now.”

Before sharing my thoughts on the passing of the great Chadwick Boseman, I first offer my condolences to his family who meant so very much to him. To his wife, Simone, especially.

I inherited Marvel and the Russo Brothers’ casting choice of T’Challa. It is something that I will forever be grateful for. The first time I saw Chad’s performance as T’Challa, it was in an unfinished cut of “Captain America: Civil War.” I was deciding whether or not directing “Black Panther” was the right choice for me. I’ll never forget, sitting in an editorial suite on the Disney Lot and watching his scenes. His first with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, then, with the South African cinema titan, John Kani as T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to make this movie. After Scarlett’s character leaves them, Chad and John began conversing in a language I had never heard before. It sounded familiar, full of the same clicks and smacks that young black children would make in the States. The same clicks that we would often be chided for being disrespectful or improper. But, it had a musicality to it that felt ancient, powerful, and African.

I learned later that there was much conversation over how T’Challa would sound in the film. The decision to have Xhosa be the official language of Wakanda was solidified by Chad, a native of South Carolina, because he was able to learn his lines in Xhosa, there on the spot. He also advocated for his character to speak with an African accent, so that he could present T’Challa to audiences as an African king, whose dialect had not been conquered by the West.

I finally met Chad in person in early 2016, once I signed onto the film. He snuck past journalists that were congregated for a press junket I was doing for CREED, and met with me in the green room. We talked about our lives, my time playing football in college, and his time at Howard studying to be a director, about our collective vision for T’Challa and Wakanda. We spoke about the irony of how his former Howard classmate Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing T’Challa’s current arc with Marvel Comics. And how Chad knew Howard student Prince Jones, who’s murder by a police officer inspired Coates’ memoir Between The World and Me.

I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that seen much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.

That was the first of many conversations. He was a special person. We would often speak about heritage and what it means to be African. When preparing for the film, he would ponder every decision, every choice, not just for how it would reflect on himself, but how those choices could reverberate. “They not ready for this, what we are doing…” “This is Star Wars, this is Lord of the Rings, but for us… and bigger!” He would say this to me while we were struggling to finish a dramatic scene, stretching into double overtime. Or while he was covered in body paint, doing his own stunts. Or crashing into frigid water, and foam landing pads. I would nod and smile, but I didn’t believe him. I had no idea if the film would work. I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But I look back and realize that Chad knew something we all didn’t. He was playing the long game. All while putting in the work. And work he did.

He would come to auditions for supporting roles, which is not common for lead actors in big budget movies. He was there for several M’Baku auditions. In Winston Duke’s, he turned a chemistry read into a wrestling match. Winston broke his bracelet. In Letitia Wright’s audition for Shuri, she pierced his royal poise with her signature humor, and would bring about a smile to T’Challa’s face that was 100% Chad.

While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene. We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me “Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?” In early drafts of the script. Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, what if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else?

Chad deeply valued his privacy, and I wasn’t privy to the details of his illness. After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.

I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before. I spent the last year preparing, imagining and writing words for him to say, that we weren’t destined to see. It leaves me broken knowing that I won’t be able to watch another close-up of him in the monitor again or walk up to him and ask for another take.

It hurts more to know that we can’t have another conversation, or facetime, or text message exchange. He would send vegetarian recipes and eating regimens for my family and me to follow during the pandemic. He would check in on me and my loved ones, even as he dealt with the scourge of cancer.

In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again."

#ryan coogler #chadwick bosemen #black panther #marvel #t’Challa #creed #m’baku #winston duke #shuri #letitia wright #xhosa #john kani #prince jones #ta nehisi coates

[londonspirit]

“I inherited Marvel and the Russo Brothers’ casting choice of T’Challa. It is something that I will forever be grateful for. The first time I saw Chad’s performance as T’Challa, it was in an unfinished cut of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. I was deciding whether or not directing BLACK PANTHER was the right choice for me. I’ll never forget, sitting in an editorial suite on the Disney Lot and watching his scenes. His first with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, then, with the South African cinema titan, John Kani as T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to make this movie. After Scarlett’s character leaves them, Chad and John began conversing in a language I had never heard before. It sounded familiar, full of the same clicks and smacks that young black children would make in the States. The same clicks that we would often be chided for being disrespectful or improper. But, it had a musicality to it that felt ancient, powerful, and African.

In my meeting after watching the film, I asked Nate Moore, one of the producers of the film, about the language. “Did you guys make it up?” Nate replied, “that’s Xhosa, John Kani’s native language. He and Chad decided to do the scene like that on set, and we rolled with it.” I thought to myself. “He just learned lines in another language, that day?” I couldn’t conceive how difficult that must have been, and even though I hadn’t met Chad, I was already in awe of his capacity as actor.

I learned later that there was much conversation over how T’Challa would sound in the film. The decision to have Xhosa be the official language of Wakanda was solidified by Chad, a native of South Carolina, because he was able to learn his lines in Xhosa, there on the spot. He also advocated for his character to speak with an African accent, so that he could present T’Challa to audiences as an African king, whose dialect had not been conquered by the West.

I finally met Chad in person in early 2016, once I signed onto the film. He snuck past journalists that were congregated for a press junket I was doing for CREED, and met with me in the green room. We talked about our lives, my time playing football in college, and his time at Howard studying to be a director, about our collective vision for T’Challa and Wakanda. We spoke about the irony of how his former Howard classmate Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing T’Challa’s current arc with Marvel Comics. And how Chad knew Howard student Prince Jones, who’s murder by a police officer inspired Coates’ memoir Between The World and Me.

I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that seen much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.  

That was the first of many conversations. He was a special person. We would often speak about heritage and what it means to be African. When preparing for the film, he would ponder every decision, every choice, not just for how it would reflect on himself, but how those choices could reverberate. “They not ready for this, what we are doing…” “This is Star Wars, this is Lord of the Rings, but for us… and bigger!” He would say this to me while we were struggling to finish a dramatic scene, stretching into double overtime. Or while he was covered in body paint, doing his own stunts. Or crashing into frigid water, and foam landing pads. I would nod and smile, but I didn’t believe him. I had no idea if the film would work. I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But I look back and realize that Chad knew something we all didn’t. He was playing the long game.  All while putting in the work. And work he did.

He would come to auditions for supporting roles, which is not common for lead actors in big budget movies. He was there for several M’Baku auditions. In Winston Duke’s, he turned a chemistry read into a wrestling match. Winston broke his bracelet. In Letitia Wright’s audition for Shuri, she pierced his royal poise with her signature humor, and would bring about a smile to T’Challa’s face that was 100% Chad.

While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene. We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me “Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?” In early drafts of the script. Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, what if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else?

Chad deeply valued his privacy, and I wasn’t privy to the details of his illness. After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.

I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before. I spent the last year preparing, imagining and writing words for him to say, that we weren’t destined to see. It leaves me broken knowing that I won’t be able to watch another close-up of him in the monitor again or walk up to him and ask for another take.

It hurts more to know that we can’t have another conversation, or facetime, or text message exchange. He would send vegetarian recipes and eating regimens for my family and me to follow during the pandemic.  He would check in on me and my loved ones, even as he dealt with the scourge of cancer.  

In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.”

#chadwick boseman #ryan coogler #and now I'm crying all over again #the impact that man had #and still has #going by the massive amount of love I see all over my social media #a tribute for a king

[captainsgal]

“In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again”

-Ryan Coogler

#absolutely beautiful and heartfelt words on Chadwick #please read what he said in full #im a dunce on linking but ill figure out how to link it #chadwick boseman #black panther #ryan coogler #marvel #marvel cast

[saint-cecilias]

in ryan coogler’s beauteous tribute to chadwick he said something so poignant  to me given the recent passing of my grandmother: ‘I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again’  

when we think of the ancestors, in the black community, we think of the great great great great grandparents; who lived and died for us. the people, we don’t necessarily know, but are connected to and who are protecting and watching over us. they don’t usually have specific names or faces, they are spiritual concepts of love, protection and guidance. 

but i never really thought of the people that i knew and lost personally in that same way till now.

..and it’s a frightening and powerful realization.

#i know if there is one person who will petition on the other-side on my behalf its Carol-Maureen. #she’d find the person in the great beyond who gets shit done and be like #‘so um listen...........about my family...........’ #and that is comforting #it doesn't sting any less but it is comforting. #gran tag #ancestors on the wall. let the ghosts chit-chat. #🖤

[rebelprintinganddrawing]

“It is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again." -Ryan Coogler about Chadwick Boseman’s death

Instagram | Twitter |

#digital #digital art #chadwick boseman #black panther #rest in power

[youngandhungryent]

Ryan Coogler & Danai Gurira Share Touching Tributes To Chadwick Boseman

Source: Vivien Killilea / Getty

The world is still processing the loss of Chadwick Boseman, but it’s clear that those who worked closely with that actor and had the privilege to call him a friend needed time to find the words to say goodbye.

No one in the world imagined that we would be talking about 43-year-old Chadwick Boseman in the past tense, but that’s 2020 for you. When his family used his social media accounts to inform the world of his passing, the globe was thrown for a loop. We were all shocked to learn our King T’Challa, who was battling stage III colon cancer, undergone multiple surgeries and numerous rounds of chemotherapy while bringing our heroes to life and still working on movies.

On Sunday (Aug.30), following his passing, both Black Panther’s director Ryan Coogler and his Boseman’s co-star in the record-breaking film, Danai Gurira, dropped touching tributes to the late actor.

In his touching tribute to Boseman released through The Hollywood Reporter, Coogler described taking the job to direct Black Panther and how his relationship with the actor quickly went from just being professional to a friendship.  He described Boseman as an “epic firework display,” stating he is an “ancestor now.”

“I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that seen much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.

Coogler revealed just like the rest of the world, he learned about Boseman’s battle with stage IV colon cancer Friday night (Aug.28).

“After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity, and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.”

Coogler closed out his statement by pointing out that he has “grieved a loss this acute before.”

“I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us until we meet again.”

Danai Gurira, who plays his right-hand Okoye in Black Panther and leader of the powerful army of women, the Dora Milaje tasked with protecting the King and his family, opened up about Boseman’s passing. On Twitter, the actress began her tribute by asking, “How do you honor a king?” following that up with “Reeling from the loss of my colleague, my friend, my brother. Struggling for words. Nothing feels adequate.”

“I always marveled at how special Chadwick was. Such a pure-hearted, profoundly generous, regal, fun guy. My entire job as Okoye was to respect and protect a king. Honor his leadership. Chadwick made that job profoundly easy. He was the epitome of kindness, elegance, diligence, and grace. On many an occasion, I would think of how thankful I was that he was the leading man I was working closely with. A true class act. And so perfectly equipped to take on the responsibility of leading the franchise that changed everything for Black representation.”

pic.twitter.com/wzak5LB1pP

— Danai Gurira (@DanaiGurira) August 30, 2020

Boseman’s death was definitely a gut punch to us all. May he rest in power forever.

—

Photo: Vivien Killilea / Getty

source https://hiphopwired.com/903779/ryan-coogle-danai-gurira-chadwick-boseman/

#fucu #fucul #young and hungry ent #boss of bosses #instrumental type beat free

[jillmckenzie1]

A King Has Gone to His Rest

“In African cultures, we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because, from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.”

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler wrote those words recently, about the life of Chadwick Boseman, his friend and collaborator.* Boseman died August 28 from complications due to colon cancer. He initially got the attention of audiences through his skilled portrayals of real figures. Boseman played the barrier-breaking ballplayer Jackie Robinson in 42, future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in Marshall, and James Brown, the hardest working man in show business, in Get On Up.

To look at his career trajectory is to see an actor on the rise, one who gave an indelible performance as the spiritual Stormin’ Norman in Da 5 Bloods while still being able to capably handle action in the cop thriller 21 Bridges. Boseman liked to work, but always ensured his work was of quality.

But that’s not where most of us really know him from. During 2016, he appeared in Captain America: Civil War as T’Challa, the Black Panther. That’s the role he’ll be most associated with, and to paraphrase Joe Biden, it was a big freakin’ deal.

It wasn’t just that T’Challa was the first mainstream Black superhero who stood on his own, though that was significant. Before the bulletproof Luke Cage, before the high-flying Falcon, and before the Green Lantern John Stewart, there was the Black Panther. He was nobody’s sidekick. He was never portrayed as the butt of a joke or a crude racist stereotype. First and foremost, T’Challa was a king. Nobility. A man who honored the memory of his ancestors by not only protecting his home country Wakanda, but by wielding power responsibly.

The profile of the Panther rose further when the Marvel Cinematic Universe decided to add T’Challa to its ranks. The MCU has made billions of dollars and has billions of fans. Its success spawned a backlash, naturally, and it became fashionable for people to loudly complain about how tired they were of superhero movies. As so often happens, these people missed its significance for two sizable reasons.

The first is that, like it or not, superheroes are America’s mythology. The Greeks told stories that examined heroism, humanity, and morality. Comic-book superheroes do the same thing. Spider-Man is all about dealing with guilt and recognizing that you have a responsibility to others. Captain America is about the difficulty of a person living up to the ideals of America. As wildly irresponsible as it is for a white guy to opine on what the Black Panther means, I always read him as a Black ideal; a man who has the physical, intellectual, spiritual, and political power to transcend white supremacy.** Who needs a country that wallows in moral hypocrisy when you’ve got Wakanda?

The second is the power of representation. Regarding Boseman, Barack Obama said in a statement, “Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years.” Boseman understood the cost of the role of T’Challa. He knew that a Black child needed a hero, one that looked like them. He knew that a Black adult needed a role model, one to help them navigate a country that is too often hostile to their very presence. He knew that a Black elder needed hope, the belief that we could move past the bad old days they lived through and that it would get better. Boseman knew the cost of playing the Black Panther and paid it without hesitation.

Don’t believe me? Consider that Boseman lived with cancer since 2016. During that time, he played T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War, twice in 2018 with Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, then a final time in 2019 in Avengers: Endgame. As the MCU primarily shoots its films at Pinewood Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, Boseman needed to wear a full-body costume during brutal Southern summers. He took part in complicated stunt work that required strength, agility, and endurance. He performed scenes of comedy, drama, and pathos. He considered aspects of the character and his world with Ryan Coogler that audiences would never see, and he participated in grueling publicity tours and charitable events with a sunny grin.

Chadwick Boseman did all that while living with cancer.

For many of us, 2020 has taken a great deal from us, more than we felt was fair. This year will undoubtedly take more before it ends, and we’ll lose people and gain outrages. This year we lost Chadwick Boseman. First and foremost, he was a man. During the last years of his life, in particular, he was more than that. He was a king, and he showed us that in the face of life’s unfairness, it’s always possible to behave with nobility.

  *You can, and should, read the entire piece here.

**Interested in exploring the best of T’Challa in comics? Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Black Panther: The Client by Christopher Priest are two excellent places to start.

The post A King Has Gone to His Rest first appeared on The Denver Guide.

from Blog https://ondenver.com/a-king-has-gone-to-his-rest/