Chadwick Boseman | Continuing His Legacy

My husband and I were all set to get to bed at a decent time until Jordan saw LeBron James’ IG post. Confused and in denial, he opened Google for confirmation. That’s how we got the news. 

I can’t even type it. 

The week was already difficult. I was overwhelmed and frustrated by Jacob Blake’s shooting, keeping up with every detail of the protests, his recovery, and the whole “he said she said” story. So after learning of Chadwick Boseman’s passing, I was stunned. Then I started weeping. 

I was surprised by my reaction. He was an actor. Yeah, an actor I had a celebrity crush on. But I didn’t know him. And I never have big emotions towards any celebrity regardless of my positive feelings toward them.

My uncontrollable reaction revealed to me that he meant more to me than I had even realized. And I mourned his loss because I knew, just like many others knew, that he was more than an actor. And Black Panther (like the rest of his body of work) was more than a movie.

LZ Granderson from ESPN Radio Heart said, in response to people who tried to diminish the moral and cultural significance of Black Panther, “Was Rocky just a movie or did it inspire? That’s what Chadwick embodied specifically. He embodied an idea, a promise, a potential.”

That promise and potential was felt throughout the global Black community and beyond. Black Panther was released in February 2018 and that August, Crazy Rich Asians was released. 2018 seemed to be the year of great progress for people of color. Conversations on diversity and proper representation have long been had and to see this change be made--and in my lifetime--was eventful! That change for diversity and representation was ushered in by this Black superhero movie and the impact made through Boseman’s work will ripple throughout all marginalized communities. Actor Simu Liu best expresses his gratitude and reverence towards Boseman’s work, “I know I ride the coattails of his success. That I stand on his great shoulders.” 

As an artist and a woman of color, I’ve reflected a lot on the work I take on and the impact, for better or worse, it’ll have on other women of color and the impact it’ll have on the Asian/Filipino-American community. Last year, I was approached with an illustration job that I found to be degrading and sexually objectifying toward women, and specially to Asian women. I turned down the job, but when I was asked about my decision, I was met with the question, “Isn’t a job a job?” I found myself questioning if I had done the right thing. My explanation then was short and firm, “I don’t want to work with someone who doesn’t share my values because it’ll reflect who I am. 

As I’ve gone through many years where my artistic career seemed uncertain to be viable, I’ve often continued to wonder whether I had an obligation to take any and all paying jobs. But Ta-Nehisi Coates' reflection on Chadwick Boseman and the kind of work he took on strengthened my values and assured me that my decision was right:

“Chad was a very, very conscious dude. And he wasn’t the kind of cat that felt like he had to take a role to make a living. His art was an extension of that struggle. So he wasn’t going to take something that was going to embarrass him, embarrass his people and his community.”

Hearing Coates’ homage to his Howard brother inspired me, not only because it shows that staying true to your values need not necessarily prevent success, but because it helped me see my struggle in the context of the struggles of artists of color more broadly.  I empathize with and recognize the fact that ethical dilemmas face all people who are trying to make a living. I also recognize that unjust systems leave some people with no real choice but to take whatever paid work they can get, and I do not imply judgment of exploited individuals. However, not everyone has to choose between making a living and the objectification or degradation of their racial or ethnic group.

Whoopi Goldbergsaid, “This loss is felt around the world. People in every country. He was pretty amazing. He was Wakanda forever!” We will feel the power of that phrase and the power of Chadwick’s work forever in our lives. Let those of us who can, have the courage, like he did, to decline work that pays but degrades, trusting that the world is capable of being better. And as creatives, no matter what group you belong to, may we continue to  properly represent all people and build opportunities that allow people of marginalized groups to be seen, fulfilling the promise and potential of Wakanda’s noble, powerful King.

All quotes are from the ABC News Live, “Chadwick Boseman - A Tribute for a King.” Watch it on Hulu here.