Like everyone I am still reeling and totally stunned by the news of Chadwick Boseman's passing at the very young age of 43 after an apparently years-long battle with colon cancer. The news would be heartbreaking in any moment, but for it to happen during this dark time of racial unrest is especially bittersweet.
Boseman was one of the most promising and likable young actors of any race -- and he had an incredibly bright future ahead of him. I think like most people I first became aware of Boseman because of his charismatic performance as Jackie Robinson in the hit biopic 42 back in 2013.
He was a breadth of fresh air and a strong leading man -- he took what could have been an impossible role, after all, Robinson is a saint in the sports world, and managed to bring real life to a figure frozen for many people in black and white stock footage.
Then for a while Boseman seemed to be committed to dramatizing the lives of real-life black icons. He was the best thing about the James Brown film Get On Up and although I didn't see it, he apparently acquitted himself well in the film Marshall about the first black Supreme Court justice.
But Boseman will forever be fondly remembered for his titular role in the modern classic Black Panther. Not only is Black Panther one of the most acclaimed and accomplished superhero films -- it's one of the most beloved blockbuster films ever, period.
There can't be enough said about how much Boseman brought to that role -- not just in his standalone film, but in the various Avengers side projects. He was inspirational, he was funny, he was sexy, he was cool and he was ours. Part of the reason Black Panther was such a game-changing event was the fact that Boseman was so unapologetically black and proud in the titular role.
And Boseman lived that persona off-screen too, being a consistent and reliable voice on issues of social justice and a champion of all people of color in the arts.
Most recently, he plays a small but incredibly pivotal role in Spike Lee's latest masterpiece Da 5 Bloods.
As tragic as Boseman's passing is -- I hope that it will motivate more people to check out that film and his luminous performance in it. He was already a contender for Best Supporting Actor and his passing will surely make him a sentimental favorite.
Lee said he cast Boseman because he of his "superhero" image -- after all the character he plays in that film "Stormin' Norman" is the ideal black male role model ("our Malcolm and our Martin" they call him). And who better that Boseman to inhabit him.
It's a beautiful, moving performance and although it will be his second to last performance (he will star in one posthumous release) it should be one he is always remembered for.
Right now people are rushing to social media to speculate about the future of the franchise he launched but I could care less about that. Right now we should be lifting up the name and work of a great, warm-hearted talent that has been taken from us far too soon.
We never got to see the full bloom of his talent -- check out his SNL hosting gig, he clearly had a flair for comedy too. But boy, are we grateful for what we got.
Rest in power Chadwick Boseman.
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