April 15th 2020, an actor and human being the world came to love posted an Instagram live video that began unearthing a plethora of questions by fans. Chadwick Boseman is famously known for his outstanding role as the hero Black Panther of the Marvel Universe
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The Instagram live was recorded on a day dedicated to his hero, the late great American professional baseball player Jackie Robinson https://youtu.be/40oypeRNXm8 (0:00-0:17)
Chadwick Boseman also played the character in the 2013 film 42
The purpose of the live was to commemorate a new initiative titled “Operation 42” where Chadwick Boseman was promoting and bringing awareness to the actions of his friend Thomas Tull and medical apparel manufacturer FIGS
who are collaborating on the initiative. Its purpose was to donate 4.2 million a donation of $4.2 million in personal protective equipment to hospitals that service the African American Communities that have been hit the hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic https://youtu.be/40oypeRNXm8 (0:21-1:00)
The caption to the video was an outpour of emotions for those in desperation in African American communities enduring the backlash of the pandemic and shared nothing but love and appreciation for Jackie as he drew the caption to a close.
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It was a touching video with a purpose that should have gotten attention for that fact, but, onlookers were mainly captivated by one thing, Chadwick Boseman’s seemingly unhealthy appearance. The internet has created an atmosphere where people are quick to judge and spew harsh criticism without knowing the backstory or the situation that may be at hand, and that negative trait of humanity was on full display after the video was posted. The blogs, ready to capitalize and push the narrative of how unwell Chadwick appeared, flooded online with what could be said to be articles that were nothing short of, unprofessional and inconsiderate
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Just a couple days later on April 30th 2020, Chadwick Boseman’s appearance was yet again in the tabloids after paparazzi captured a glimpse of the star picking up an Apple TV at Best Buy
The title of the article would play on his name to begin with “SAD CHAD, Avengers’ Chadwick Boseman looks glum as he runs errands after fans worry over his dramatic weight loss”
Little did the public know, what they were witnessing were signs of a man slowly deteriorating in health due to a long battle with something eating away his body.
May would arrive, and Chadwick Boseman would again be spotted outside. This time walking his dog in California
Other times, he could be seen with his mother Carolyn as they take a stroll together
Or him practicing martial arts in the vicinity of his home
All this time, he was secretly fighting for his life unbeknownst to the world. That truth would finally become known on the saddening day, August 28th 2020, just months after the world was shocked by his appearance on his Instagram live video .
Chadwick Boseman, laying on his bed in his Los Angeles home,
was surrounded by family as his life slowly began counting down to his last breath. The day prior August 27th 2020, he would be in the company of his brothers Kevin Boseman, 48, and Pastor Derrick Boseman, 54
Derrick recalls Chadwick Boseman’s final words to him. He said “Man, I’m in the fourth quarter, and I need you to get me out of the game.” It took Derrick a moment, but he finally understood his brother was tired and couldn’t fight anymore.
Up until that point, Derrick was steady in prayer, asking God to bring healing to his brother and save his life, but after Chadwick whispering those words to him, he changed his prayer and began praying for God to let His will be done.
The following day on August 28th 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away surrounded by his loved ones.
Right before then, Marvel chief creative officer Kevin Feige received an urgent email regarding Chadwick Boseman, with no further information, but by the time he read the message an hour later, Boseman already had died.
The world would soon feel the same grief as him when the news would break via his Instagram account, where the details and revelation of his passing were shared with the world. Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV.
Soon, the news station reverberated the tragedy https://youtu.be/zahhswvUcvg
Colon cancer progresses beginning from stage zero where its success of removal is higher, as with any form of cancer. At that point, the cancer has not invaded the wall of the colon or rectum.
Chadwick Boseman caught his diagnosis at stage 3. By that time the cancer would have already spread through the wall of the colon or rectum and has invaded nearby tissue or lymph nodes. It was then that the methods employed for treatment would be surgery to remove the cancer-infected areas to stop spreading and chemotherapy.
Stage 4 was where things would have taken a turn for the worse. The cancer would have already spread to other organs, such as the liver and lungs. At this stage, Chadwick the five-year survival rate drastically drops to about 12 percent
Chadwick Boseman’s fight and loss was a shock to fans and audiences alike. It everyone like a ton of bricks and nothing but heartbreak and grief for the star was poured out in the comments even to this present day
Reports would later state the immediate cause of Chadwick Boseman’s death was due to the result of multiple organ failure, with the underlying cause of colon cancer
According to records, Boseman had surgery to remove the colon cancer in 2016 after his diagnosis, and in March 2020 he underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove cancer that had metastasized.
In hindsight, looking back at his career, Chadwick Boseman was acting in major roles while secretly fighting cancer. As difficult as that would be for someone playing roles that included less strenuous performances, Chadwick Boseman, at the height of his fight with cancer, was championing as the high-intensity, action-packed, stunt-driven franchise Black Panther that saw the first black superhero attain unanimous success
To have pulled off that feat, would take not only strong mental fortitude, but a drive that went beyond simply acting. Chadwick Boseman wasn’t filling a role because looking at his life, he was a real-life superhero. The Black Panther was just another day to bring hope to those in need and inspire people of color to reach for all they want and to let love and kindness lead their path.
In his final moments, Chadwick Boseman used his life to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Outside of supporting the Operation 42 initiative, he was a fierce advocate for people of color in the entertainment industry through non-partisan organizations like BLDPWR.com
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What’s even more admirable, was that Chadwick gave his time to kids enduring the same illness as him, and never once made it known he was going through the same https://youtu.be/K5qWyZnvqw4 (2:11-2:18)
Chadwick Boseman was selfless and loved inspiring others. Looking back at his dedication to making the lives of others better, there are moments that showed the signs he was dealing with something himself. In a 2018 Black Panther press tour, Chadwick Boseman broke into tears as he spoke about two kids with cancer whom he came to build a connection with. They were terminal and all they wanted was to survive long enough until the film’s release. Recalling how they lost their lives before seeing the film was emotional and heart-wrenching for Boseman https://youtu.be/6J-D86wfxiE (1:33-2:33) With the information we have now, it probably was also due to his own personal fight trying to preserve his life with the battle against cancer.
Around the time, Boseman was also a cast in the Avengers Infinity War press conference and throughout the interviews, Boseman can be seen dosing in and out of slumber.
His face looked exhausted, his eyes heavy but he tries to stay awake and keep up appearances https://youtu.be/fLR2nhq7cf8 (2:05-2:14) At one point, Paul Bettany who plays Vision in the Avengers films
notices Boseman drifting off and touches him to ask if he’s doing okay. Chadwick Boseman playfully laughs it off, continuing to remain strong while fighting his illness https://youtu.be/NDteQRNKiEs
In a 2017 interview with the Huffington Post, the interviewer draws reference to his movie rolls and goes on to ask, “Did you bulk up, slim down, and then bulk up again?” Boseman nods his head, looking exhausted. The interviewer exclaims, “You’ve been through the wringer,” to which Boseman responds with a laugh, “Oh, you don’t even know. You have no idea. One day I’ll live to tell the story.”
Sadly he never lived to tell of his victory over cancer, but even in death, cancer never defeated the will and character of the humble celebrity.
Probably the most telling sign of his illness was in the moments leading up to his passing. Boseman was seen taken into a hospital in a wheelchair, indicating that something might have been terribly wrong https://youtu.be/K5qWyZnvqw4
Many were left in regret in the aftermath of his passing for critiquing the star’s appearance as they did after he posted his Instagram video.
Chadwick Boseman leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in Hollywood with films like 42, Get On Up where he plays James Brown, Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and The Avengers and Black Panther as the iconic King T’Challa https://youtu.be/ns6Xu5dbva4 (0:26-0:58) His final film he stared in before he passed was August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom alongside Viola Davis which won him the golden globe for best actor https://youtu.be/vxKgelEP15c (0:00-1:36) https://youtu.be/49mkvwBI7wA (0:21-0:55)
Chadwick Boseman did the impossible, working on approximately 7 films during his fight with the dilapidating disease https://youtu.be/BS3OoPCJQ1Q (0:12-0:17)
The outpour of love and respect for who he was as a person has been a non-stop cycle from peers and fans alike
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” Director Ryan Coogler issued a statement
referring to Chadwick Boseman as a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity, and pride who shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He went on to iterate that Boseman lived a beautiful life and made great art that will forever leave his mark in history
Chadwick Boseman was a cultural treasure. He not only created amazing pieces of work on camera, but he changed lives in reality and inspired many kids to chase their dreams and live their lives along the right path. His passing saw many with their Black Panther toys paying their respects to their hero https://youtu.be/RXxIBP2CeS8 (0:52-1:21)
His wife, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman
continues to honor his legacy while dealing with the loss of the love of her life https://youtu.be/49mkvwBI7wA (1:08-2:55) She has now become the face of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts through their Chadwick Boseman Foundation and Howard University
The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts supports the intellectual, spiritual, and artistic growth of Black storytellers, and through this rising initiative, they are molding and nurturing upcoming black scholars that will continue Boseman’s legacy and impact the world through art as he did https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr35FIngGQn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
From becoming one of 9 students whose school tuition was paid by the legendary Denzel Washington, https://youtu.be/LUoKRScpaVs (0:23-1:03) To being a Howard graduate and inspiring students with his Commencement Speech https://youtu.be/RIHZypMyQ2s (31:19-32:15) To becoming one of the best superheroes respected and admired to the world https://youtu.be/4VSx2E7WE50 (0:28-1:07) Chadwick Boseman will surely live on as someone we should all aspire to emulate for his pure heart, kind soul, and personification of a real-life hero https://youtu.be/7YHmY_YOcTU (1:49-1:53)
Rest in peace Chadwick Boseman, King T’Challa The Black Panther
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Chad is a professional journalist specializing in Hip-Hop culture and writing music reviews.
