Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman privately fought colon cancer for four years. But even
as the acclaimed actor battled for his own life, he spent his final months advocating
for social justice and trying to protect front-line workers from COVID-19.
Boseman died at age 43 on August 28th, 2020, but his final social media messages capture
the character of a man who served as a superhero both on and off the screen.
In a video posted to Boseman's Instagram on April 15th, 2020, Jackie Robinson Day, many
fans were shocked by the actor's gaunt appearance. Boseman had not talked publicly about his
cancer diagnosis, and he didn't address it in that stirring video either. Instead, Boseman
focused the spotlight on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on essential workers,
particularly minority communities.
"The statistics for COVID-19 have shown that the African-American community has been hit
the hardest. The Latino community has been hit the hardest."
Dismayed by the lack of equipment to keep essential workers safe, Boseman sought to
raise awareness and funds through his friend's charity, producer Thomas Tull's "Operation
42" – a cause with added significance because it simultaneously paid tribute to the baseball
legend Boseman brought to life in 2013's movie 42.
But Boseman's activism didn't stop there.
In the weeks before his death, Boseman harnessed his A-list status to bring the Black Lives
Matter movement to Hollywood. He used his social media platforms to promote BLD PWR
a nonprofit for, quote, "harnessing the power of narrative activism".
On June 19th, 2020, also known as Juneteenth, Boseman harnessed his celebrity status again,
calling on everyone to, quote, "support Black owned businesses. Reach back and mentor."
He suggested organizations to support, and even though the star likely knew his future
was uncertain, his social media messages promoted hope, saying,
"155 years later, let's all try to learn from our past so we can create a better future
together. Not just today. Everyday.⁣"
Boseman also supported other efforts to dismantle systemic racism in America. Posting on June
24th 2020, Boseman wrote,
"From this country's founding history; its economic base, its social standard, its penal
system, its protection of property [...] ⁣White Supremacy and Racial Prejudice are its Pre-existing
Conditions. [...] Change is here."
Not all of Boseman's posts were political, and some of his final posts were about the
joy he found in acting. Posting two images from Spike Lee's 2020 move Da 5 Bloods, Boseman
posted a selfie alongside actor Clarke Peters, followed by a joyous water gun fight on the
set of the movie.
In August 2020, in his final post, he urged followers to vote and posted a photo of Democratic
Vice President candidate Kamala Harris.
Following Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing, fans and celebrities alike poured out sympathies
across social media.
Captain Marvel's Brie Larsen recalled that Boseman was "someone who radiated power and
peace." Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo said Boseman is, quote, "one of the all time greats and
[his] greatness was only beginning."
In a full-circle moment Senator Kamala Harris paid tribute to Boseman's legacy by re-sharing
the same photo the actor posted on the day Joe Biden picked her as his running mate.
Posted less than three weeks apart, Harris' Instagram had a much different tone, saying:
"Heartbroken. My friend and fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and
humble. He left too early but his life made a difference. Sending my sincere condolences
to his family."
Harris' "fellow Bison" comment is a nod to their shared alma mater: Howard University.
Boseman's 2018 commencement speech at Howard has been recirculating in the wake of his
death and his words ring extra true:
"Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this
particular time in history."
While he's sorely missed by those in Hollywood, Washington, and beyond, Boseman made sure
his purpose extended well beyond the big screen.