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What if you could take the best of Jackie Robinson’s athleticism and defense of civil rights, combined with the legal mind and drive for justice in Former Justice Thurgood Marshall, and refine it into a true kind and caring king just like T’Challa, would you have to live in the African fictional nation of Wakanda or could you have found him in America? A true a heroic king on and off the throne? Some might look for that inspiration in fictional characters. Yet you need to look no further than a real-life person whose noble character made him a true king on and off the throne: no other than Chadwick Boseman!

The star of the movies 42 & Marshall recounting the lives and exploits of Jackie Robinson and Justice Thurgood Marshall, beyond the icons portrayed was Chadwick Boseman. These roles gave him to prominence as an actor. He was born on November 29, 1976 in Anderson South Carolina. After graduating from High School, Boseman knew that he wanted to direct films and plays so he majored in Directing in college, but he did not expect fame from that. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Boseman confessed, “The only reason I started acting was because I felt like I needed to understand what the actors were doing and their process so that I could better guide them”. Like previously mentioned, Boseman aspired to direct films but figured that he could have a better grasp of directing if he gained more insight through acting. From this, he developed a new appreciation for acting and decided to develop his career through it. Upon graduating in 2000 from Howard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), he went on to study at Oxford. 1

During the early 2000’s, Boseman appeared in different television shows and even starred in some. Shows such as Third Watch and CSI: NY are what helped get his name out. His role in Lincoln Heights was one that was more consistent during his television era, but it was not what really brought him stardom. Boseman started appearing in movies in 2008, but it was not until 2013 when he landed the acting job that jump started his career. 2

Jackie Robinson’s Number In A Statue Form | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Chadwick Boseman knocked it out of the park with 42 when he portrayed the life and struggles of Jackie Robinson. Before Boseman, the only person who played the role of Jackie Robinson was Jackie Robinson himself. Being able to land the role and play it so well adds to the level of acting Boseman reached. 3 This movie received much praise for its historical accuracy and for how Boseman transformed into Robinson. In 42, he demonstrated his ability to fully transform which opened new doors for him:  Marshall depicted the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice.

During an interview with NPR, Boseman spoke about his inspiration for taking the acting job for Marshall. While speaking with his interviewer, he was asked how he knew the type of style to take because he did not grow up in the same era. He responded by stating, “I don’t know if that’s true. You know, I’m from Anderson, S.C., but I grew up in the South…I’ve been called boy and n***er and everything else that you could imagine.” He continued by saying, “I failed at facing it. I get the opportunity in playing the character to relive those things and do things a different way.” 4

Former Justice Thurgood Marshall Portrait | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Boseman describes Marshall as, “… [He is] coming into his own in terms of being known as the attorney that is fighting for civil rights or human rights throughout the nation. This particular case is the one where the stakes are pretty high because if they lose this case, the NAACP will lose its donors and probably cease to exist…” 4

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) set standards and precedents for civil rights. Founded in 1909, the NAACP intended to combat violence against black people and is now considered to be the largest civil rights organization in the nation.6 The reason that is was imperative for Marshall to win that case is because otherwise justice for people of color could be set back further.7 He not only needed to preserve the  credibility of the NAACP but he also needed to preserve their power accrued over forty years of work against the injustices against black people. So, there was no room for error. Winning justice despite a biased law enforcement and rigged court system was the only option!

The movie Marshall opens with the start of the career for Former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and details the struggles that he endured while attempting to become and eventually becoming the first African American Justice to serve on the Supreme Court. In the movie, Chadwick Boseman portrays Marshall during one of his bigger human right cases, Connecticut vs. Joseph Spell. The case is about a black chauffeur who has intercourse with a white woman, and she tries to blame him and say that he raped her. Additionally, she had also claimed that Spell forced her to write a ransom note and tried to throw her off the bridge. Due to this, Spell was facing thirty years in jail despite being innocent. Since Spell was a black man in the 40’s when segregation was fierce and purposefully oppressive. The all-white jury was unduly suspicious and the law team working to defend him had a lot to sort out if they were going to represent him successfully. They decided to work with the fact that there was not enough evidence. 8

To start, there was no note or rope that had been allegedly used. When Strubing, the accuser, claimed that she could not cry for help, Friedman who was working with Marshall attempted to scream with a gag and prove it was possible. When a doctor was asked about other evidence, he mentioned that there was none. The fact that this trial was even being held was a violation of Article 9 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states, “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”. 9 According to the Center For Justice and Accountability, “Arbitrary or unlawful detention occurs when an individual is arrested and detained by a government without due process and without the legal protections of a fair trial, or when an individual is detained without any legal basis for the deprivation of liberty”.[9 “Arbitrary Detention,” The Center for Justice & Accountability, https://cja.org/human-rights-issues/arbitrary-detention/] Not having any evidence meant that Spell was arrested without any legal basis. Another violation was against Article 10 which states, “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.” 9 This was violated because Spell was a black man who was being tried in an all white jury. According to Article 10, it is in Spell’s human right to be tried in a jury with his peers, and since he was not, Marshall and Friedman were worried that because she was a white women, there was a strong chance that the all white jury would side with her. In the eyes of white people at the time, any sexual encounters could only have resulted from assault. But, despite this, the jury still came to the verdict to acquit Joseph Spell which was a surprise to his defendants. 8 Marshall and Friedman believed that she lied about the rape in order to escape her fear and guilt and because her story was so inconsistent, the jury found Spell not guilty. 12 Had Marshall not taken this case, circumstantial evidence would have likely condemned him in a society that was against him from the very start due to the color of his skin.

Marshall, among others, was a very inspirational and great movie to add the credibility of Chadwick Boseman. While Marshall was not his highest grossing film, it is one that deserves to be mentioned because of his role in the movie, and because it was a part of his journey in his acting career that got him to the stardom that he attained before he passed away. When remembering the life that Chadwick Boseman lived, it is also important to assess the life he lived outside of films. He was not just an actor, he was also an activist in his own right and believed in doing the right thing.

One of many heroic moments that Boseman displayed was his trip to St. Jude’s Research Hospital right after filming for Black Panther. The CEO of the hospital’s fundraising organization mentioned that Boseman wanted to visit the patients who were battling cancer and other diseases. 13 To be able to go straight to a hospital to support others who are fighting against diseases right after filming is a very notable feat that must not be ignored. Boseman really cared about other people and showed this through his actions. This was just one thing that Boseman did in his heroic lifetime off screen.

Boseman defined another heroic moment when he went back to his alma mater and gave a speech in front of the 2018 graduating class honoring all his professors who had passed on and all present. During Howard University’s 150th Anniversary commencement, Boseman spoke about his time at school and commended the students for their, “nine-day protest for officials to amend policies related to housing and campus policing”. 14 Boseman of course gave a motivational speech but also mentioned that he was fired in his early career for raising questions about inclusion and stereotypes. 15 Boseman believed in fighting against injustice and standing up for what was right, and that was a message that he wanted to convey to the students as well. He mentioned to the students some experience with standing up for what he believed in during his speech with one of his acting jobs. One of the characters he was asked to play was made out to be a stereo typically black character; absent father, hopeless mother, prone to crime. Boseman did not like this image and pitched ideas that would put the character in a better light and the people on set fired him for it. “Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how [you] need to fight it”. 14.

Chadwick Boseman at the 2016 Comic-Con | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

His toughest challenge came in 2016, Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer, and battled it until the day he passed as it progressed to stage IV. 17

While shooting Marshall and Black Panther, visiting children in hospitals, and giving a most inspirational speech graduates and future leaders, Chadwick Boseman perfected his acting putting on a brave face while persevering through chemotherapy treatments to battle against colon cancer. Chadwick Boseman fought against colon cancer for over four years while still fulfilling his everyday responsibilities. He was a king, not only playing one on screen, but acting like one off screen showing his compassion towards others. He was a hero, a role model, who brought hope. Boseman has shown people that it is possible to become a man, hero, and king while still being a regular humble and kind human being. Through his life and actions, Boseman has granted people hope that it is possible for anyone to be these things and that all it takes is effort and a lot of heart. May the man, hero, king, named Chadwick Boseman forever rest in peace, and may he sit on his eternal throne in Heaven. As he once stated through a character he portrayed, “Wakanada Forever”, and as everyone shall remember, “Chadwick Forever”.

  1. Ring, Deborah A.Boseman, Chadwick 1982— In Contemporary Black Biography, edited by Deborah A. Ring, Derek Jacques, and Paula Kepos, 34-36. Vol. 111. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2014, Gale eBooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3717700018/GVRL?u=txshracd2556&sid=GVRL&xid=bea14444
  2. “Chadwick Boseman.” Biography.com, September 14, 2020, https://www.biography.com/actor/chadwick-boseman.
  3. David Sims, “The Profound Heroism of Chadwick Boseman.” The Atlantic, August 29, 2020, https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/chadwick-boseman/615868/.
  4. “Actor Chadwick Boseman On His New Role As ‘Marshall’.” NPR, October 14, 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/10/14/557832715/actor-chadwick-boseman-on-his-new-role-as-marshall.
  5. “Actor Chadwick Boseman On His New Role As ‘Marshall’.” NPR, October 14, 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/10/14/557832715/actor-chadwick-boseman-on-his-new-role-as-marshall.
  6. “About the NAACP.” NAACP, https://www.naacp.org/about-us/.
  7. “Who Was Thurgood Marshall?” NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, July 31, 2020, https://www.naacpldf.org/about-us/history/thurgood-marshall/.
  8. Lorraine Boissoneault, “The True Story Behind “Marshall”.” Smithsonian.com, October 06, 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-behind-marshall-180965148/.
  9. “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
  10. “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
  11. Lorraine Boissoneault, “The True Story Behind “Marshall”.” Smithsonian.com, October 06, 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-behind-marshall-180965148/.
  12. Lily Rothman, “Marshall: The True Story Behind the Thurgood Marshall Movie.” Time, October 13, 2017, https://time.com/4972645/marshall-movie-true-story/.
  13. Kara Warner “Inside Chadwick Boseman’s Emotional Visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: ‘Grace and Love’.” PEOPLE.com, September 03, 2020, https://people.com/movies/inside-chadwick-bosemans-emotional-visit-to-st-jude-childrens-research-hospital/.
  14. Lauren M. Johnson, “Howard University Alum Chadwick Boseman’s Powerful Commencement Speech Challenged Students and Praised Protesters.” CNN, August 29, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/29/us/howard-university-commencement-speech-chadwick-boseman-trnd/index.html.
  15. Lauren Thomas, “Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Actor, Activist, King.” The Gonzaga Bulletin, September 10, 2020, https://www.gonzagabulletin.com/arts_and_entertainment/remembering-chadwick-boseman-actor-activist-king/article_e775a9c0-f21d-11ea-917a-63d4b2fe0e51.html.
  16. Lauren M. Johnson, “Howard University Alum Chadwick Boseman’s Powerful Commencement Speech Challenged Students and Praised Protesters.” CNN, August 29, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/29/us/howard-university-commencement-speech-chadwick-boseman-trnd/index.html.
  17. Michele R. Berman, MD, “Chadwick Boseman Dies of Colon Cancer.” Medical News and Free CME Online, September 1, 2020, https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/celebritydiagnosis/88400.

Recent Comments

27 comments

  • Carolina Wieman

    Chadwick Boseman was not only an amazing actor creating a superhero who represents the African American community and culture but also an amazing activist and intellectual who fought to change the racist structure of our country. Having created platforms and participated in rights movements he opened people’s minds to creating a safer and more inclusive world. Winning awards and being the face of one of the most memorable marvel superheroes in the movie “Wakanda.” He single handily left an unforgettable mark on the world as one of the best actors and leaders that the youth will forever look up to.

  • Barbara Ortiz

    Great Article! Thank you for more information on his activism and philanthropy. I did not know much of his work before his Marvel start, in Civil War and then Black Panther. And while these were great performances, I am so happy that I can go back and see his previous work, and phenomenal performances in movies like 42, Marshall, Draft Day, The Express and his final movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. And your comment on him “perfecting his acting” is 1000% on target. I had no idea he was battling anything until they announced his death.

  • Virginia Alonso

    Reading further into the life of Boseman, your words reflected him past the fame all had known him for . In the case of his character , he is a pure king who’s heart is filled with nothing other than compassion, honor, strive, and growth that followed him and descended into the fictional figure he made come to life . Not only in a moral standing, but the discrimination he wanted to act against as an activist and sentient for civil rights . Watching T’Challa on-screen, the same could be said as seeing Boseman’s unleashed persona for who he lived as , and forever more will be remembered to be . That is why I think the words “Wakanda Forever” strike anyone who hears it from him, the power (the good)lied in him all along not the fame he carried.

  • Madison Goza

    You had such a cool introduction with a hook that really caught my attention! I’m a fan of Chadwick Boseman and learned so much through your article! Your use of descriptive language throughout the article really made the moments you highlighted come alive. I also appreciate how you explained the history behind his roles and the significance of the characters and real-life figures he portrayed. Your conclusion about his legacy is especially powerful! Great article!

  • Peter Alva

    Chadwick Boseman was such a great actor and I never knew about the things he did off the screen. His role as Black Panther was insane and really made me think he was a king because his acting is so great. Figuring everything out about him after his death was saddening because I wish I had known about this while he was alive to appreciate everything they do. This article was great in informing me about what he had done off screen

  • Anissa Navarro

    Your article explains the importance of the roles Chadwick Boseman played and it explained why those roles were more than just a character on a screen. His better-known movies are him portraying people who made a movement in everyday life, your article perfectly explained how he fought for what he believed in and how he fought other battles as well. he definitely knew how to put on a brave face and persevere in all his activities from acting to visiting at st. Judes and to making speeches. I think your article explained Chadwick Boseman as a person well.

  • Paulina Gonzalez

    Chadwick Boseman was such a talented person that was gone too soon. He was such a successful actor who always give his all in his roles. the article does a great job explaining his career and how he picked roles. He managed to make several people happy by not only playing Black Panther but a lot of Iconic African American figures such as James Brown and Jackie Robinson. This was a great article with great sources.

  • Eliana Villarreal

    I really enjoyed how you tied in Boseman’s works and characters into the person he truly was. It is evident that he had a passion for acting and also for humanity. He was not just concerned with portraying a character but he also made it a point to understand what actors go through in front of the camera. His ability to take a role to heart is truly inspiring. Despite his own daily struggles, his efforts to entertain and support everyone else around him really shows how much of king he played on and off the screen. Job well done with your article!

  • Monserrat Garcia

    Chadwick Boseman will forever be remembered as a King on and off the throne. The roles he played, mindset he had, perspective he gave will forever be looked back on to learn and persevere. I did not know he originally intended to be a director and took up roles to get in the mindset of actors and that is truly the definition of dedication. Thank you for writing this article and informing me about such a legend.

  • Enrique Woolfolk

    Chadwick Boseman was a real hero who passed away far too soon. Many of us may recognize him from the film Black Panther, which was a huge hit when it was released. To be honest, I was unaware of some of his projects. What I knew was that he was and still is really a king and a leader, and that he will always be. A king/leader is someone who tries to make a difference for their people and the world they live in, not someone who rules and gives orders. He is an example of what we can aspire to be, someone who is moral and has genuine ideas on how to make the world a better place. He suffered and struggled as well, but instead of seeking “vengeance” or seeking retaliation from those who had wronged him, he took it all and turned himself into someone we should be proud of, someone who spent their life doing good and creating programs to make the world a better place to live in. He was an actor by profession, but a hero by heart; he set aside discrepancies and prejudices, even if it was to his detriment, to demonstrate that there is more to life than the barriers that society has erected to depict a “typical” type of individual and what they “must” look or behave like. This is a truly eye-opening article. He left us too soon, as I previously said, but he left us with what we needed, what society needed, and that is a ton of knowledge for future generations.

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