From a thousand miles away, there was a warmth and humanity that emanated from him. It was palpable. It could be felt by millions.
A champion for his ancestors, he was the driving force behind using Xhosi, the South African language featured heavily in Black Panther, and advocated for T’Challa to speak with an African accent. To represent an African king to black audiences, using a dialect unchanged by the West.
Early on in his career he won a role on All My Children, but voiced his criticism against his character’s stereotyping and clichés. He felt that he could elevate the role, and turn something potentially harmful into something positive. He was fired from the show before he ever aired. But in doing so, it eventually led to a young Michael B. Jordan landing the role, with a script ultimately altered and less embellished, thanks to Boseman’s original efforts.
Black boys and black girls have lost their Superhero, at a time when they need him the most. But he was the closest thing to a real-life Superhero that you could get. An actor whose heart spoke through his work. A true artist.
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