Children Everywhere Are Honoring Chadwick Boseman At Home With Their Avengers Action Figures And It's Really Emotional

Heartbroken children everywhere are saying goodbye to one of their favorite superheros, Black Panther, to honor the untimely passing of actor Chadwick Boseman.

Elana

• Published in Disney
• September 4, 2020

South Carolina born and raised Chadwick Boseman was no stranger to iconic roles as an American actor. Prior to his undeniably incredible performance as Black Panther (for which he won an NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award,) he also played Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get On Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall.

Still, playing the Black superhero Black Panther propelled Boseman into international stardom, winning over the hearts of countless fans from all ages. While Black Panther is an inspiration to Black children and adults alike, it's safe to say that for Boseman's young, devoted fans, his untimely passing at 43 from a 4-year old battle with cancer was devastating.

As the world mourns the loss of a truly great man, children all over have found their own special way to honor their favorite superhero and it's equally inspiring and heart breaking. Rest in Power, Chadwick Boseman!

Black Panther was the first high-profile black Marvel superhero.

In Marvel, Wakanda was a strong country with the most advanced technology on Earth.

This father also said:

"Kian wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of his heart for all the loving and kind words given to him for this post. When he found out about Chadwicks passing, he was heart broken. But he knows death is a part for being human, and wanted to cope with losing his hero this way."

The Black Panther movie was praised as a cultural milestone for having a primarily all Black cast.

The film launched at a time when the awareness for the sincere importance of diversity and representation in media was taking a front seat in Hollywood.

Black Panther was also inspiring for featuring strong female character, like T'Challa's sister Shuri. Shuri is a genius and the chief science officer of Wakanda.

According to a report by the Washington Post, King T’Challa "was seen in Africa as more than a Marvel Comic hero battling for his country. He also waged a fight against stereotypes about the continent and its place in the world."

Black Panther was the 12th highest-grossing film ever.

Black Panther was even directed by a Black man, Ryan Coogler, who also directed Creed and Creed II and will direct the inevitibly Black Panther II.

Speaking on Black Panther's cultural impact, Kunle Olulode, director of BAME advocacy group Voice4Change, told Sky News:

"It excited particularly young people - anybody who went to the early screenings felt the excitement and the interaction between audiences and what was happening on the screen."

Journalist Jamil Smith wrote in Time Magazine more about the cultural impact of the film:

"Rather than dodge complicated themes about race and identity, the film grapples head-on with the issues affecting modern-day black life.

Those of us who are not white have considerably more trouble not only finding representation of ourselves in mass media and other arenas of public life, but also finding representation that indicates that our humanity is multi­faceted."

The New York Times called the film a "defining moment for Black America."

The founder of the British Urban Film Festival, Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe noted:

"Disney, who were behind the film, decided to take the film out the traditional summer window, put it in February - which in America is Black History Month... They really did think about the marketing and the cultural impact."

Chadwick Boseman was married to Taylor Simone Ledward.

Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, which eventually progressed to stage IV before 2020.

Boseman never spoke publicly about his cancer diagnosis and during his time battling he visited the cancer ward of Children's hospitals as a guest to interact with, support, and inspire children battling cancer themselves.

Marvel Studios president and CCO Kevin Feige called Boseman's death "absolutely devastating." He wrote:

"Each time he stepped on set, he radiated charisma and joy, and each time he appeared on screen, he created something truly indelible [...] Now he takes his place [as] an icon for the ages."

Former First Lady Michelle Obama wrote about Chadwick at the news of his passing:

"To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years."

Democratic Presidential Candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris wrote:

"The true power of Chadwick Boseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen. From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even superheroes."

Boseman's impact continues to thrive.

On August 28, 2020, a Change.org petition was started, with the goal of replacing a Confederate monument in his hometown of Anderson with a statue of Boseman, and as of August 31, 2020, it had collected more than 13,000 signatures!

Our condolances to his family.

Elana