Chadwick Boseman, Who Starred in ‘Black Panther,’ Is Mourned as a ‘Superhero’
Chadwick Boseman, Who Starred in ‘Black Panther,’ Is Mourned as a ‘Superhero’ Oprah Winfrey and Joseph R. Biden Jr. were among those who praised the actor, who died on Friday at 43, for his portrayals of Black leaders and his perseverance against cancer.
After the announcement late Friday that the “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman had died, tributes began pouring in on social media from prominent figures in entertainment, politics and beyond. Mr. Boseman, 43, had portrayed pathbreaking Black Americans onscreen, including Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall. He died on Friday after a yearslong battle with colon cancer.Within minutes, Martin Luther King III, a human-rights activist and the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said that the actor had “brought history to life on the silver screen" in his portrayals of Black leaders. “As Black Panther, he was also a superhero to many,” Mr. King wrote. “And despite his 4 year long battle with cancer, he kept fighting and he kept inspiring. He will be missed.”
Chadwick Boseman brought history to life on the silver screen, from Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall. As Black Panther, he was also a superhero to many. And despite his 4 year long battle with cancer, he kept fighting and he kept inspiring. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/f0Tc8ByaXj — Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) August 29, 2020
Former President Barack Obama recalled Mr. Boseman’s visit to the White House for a student-focused Jackie Robinson workshop.
“You could tell right away that he was blessed,” Mr. Obama wrote. “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.” Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic nominee for president, wrote that Mr. Boseman’s “true power” stretched far beyond Hollywood, and that he had “inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes.”
The true power of @ChadwickBoseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen. From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes. Jill and I are praying for his loved ones at this difficult time.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 29, 2020
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recalled how Mr. Boseman had visited young cancer patients on the Memphis campus two years ago.
*Article by The New York Times