Remembering Chadwick Boseman

Entertainment — By Dion Bickham on October 16, 2020 at 12:13 am

By Dion Bickham

As a Black man and longtime lover of comic books, I felt that it would be remiss of me to start a publication about comic books without first paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman, the actor who brought to life the single greatest portrayal of a Black superhero onto the big screen.

If you’re reading this, then you are no doubt aware that Chadwick Boseman portrayed the African king and superhero Black Panther in a blockbuster movie of the same name. However, what you might not be aware of is the impact his role played within the Black community.

First, a short history lesson. Black people, particularly those in America, have traditionally been viewed as a lost people. Our ancestors were brought to this country long ago as slaves, and America has never stopped reminding us of this fact. Our history was taken from us, replaced by a history of servitude and ineptitude, evidenced by the way our people have been treated as second class citizens at best, cannon fodder for racists at worse.

In the midst of this, the Black Panther movie arose, carrying with it a new legacy that many Black people in America had never been able to experience. This movie brought with it an image of a powerful African King living in a technologically advanced African society. Gone was the typical image of an Africa wherein the people were little more than savages. Gone was the image of broken Black people in need of a “White savior” to make everything okay. Gone was the image of a Black race inferior to all the other races. This was a portrayal of the African nation in a way that had never been seen before…and it was glorious.

 

Chadwick Boseman took on the role of Black Panther and made it his own. He embodied a new narrative that produced a new image of what it meant to be Black. He displayed for all the world to see the pride of Africa and plainly made it clear that Black people around the world were much more than society at large would have us believe.

I, for one, will always be grateful for the legacy left behind by Chadwick Boseman. He treated the role of Black Panther with the respect it deserved, and by doing so inspired an entire nation of people. Although he was prematurely taken from us, his memory will always be preserved and revered among his people.

Dion Bickham is a novelist and writer for hire who has published two books, “Unnatural Selection,” and “Blood Priest.” See more of his work and catch up with him at www.drbickham.com.

#chadwickboseman #blackpanther #marvel #mcu #comics