Following his tragic passing, Chadwick Boseman is being grieved by many as a man who contributed immensely to Black representation as well as positive portrayals of Black men in film. For many, he is best known for his role as T’challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having appeared in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. But beyond his presence as Black Panther, Boseman established a legacy of films that are more than of recognition.
Alongside his role as T'challa, Boseman had numerous other action flicks such as Message from the King and the more recent 21 Bridges. In Message of the King, he plays a man is searching for his younger sister, much like Liam Nissen in Taken, and in 21 Bridges, he takes on the role of an NYPD detective. Rather than playing a corrupt official, a la Denzel Washington in Training Day, or a man with a dark past, Boseman stood alongside the likes of earlier action greats as a paragon of good and justice.
Though, perhaps more notably, Boseman has also acted in historical pieces where he took up several roles of prominent figures in the Black community. From James Brown to Thurgood Marshall, there was no shortage of iconic and powerful portrayals for the actor at the peak of his career.
In 42, Boseman stepped into the shoes of Jackie Robinson, following his journey from a career in the segregated Negro leagues all the way to his joining of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The film focuses on Robinson’s rookie year where he would contribute to winning a National League pennant that sent the Dodgers to the World Series. Alongside acting great Harrison Ford, Boseman gave a profound performance that served as an uplifting tale of Robinson’s struggle against the racism within the MLB from both opponents and teammates alike. On a larger scale, the film also tackled the immense discrimination that Blacks and minorities faced in the United States during this period, a theme that’s consistent in some of his other films.
This persisted in Thurgood, a film that followed America’s first black Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall (B0seman), in his early years as a lawyer. The film shines a light on the extent of the United States’ deep-rooted systematic racism, as it focuses on the justice system. With Josh Gad co-starring, the film focuses on a trial of a Black man accused of the rape of a white woman, a case that was all too common during the intense discrimination of the Jim Crow era.
Even in recent years, after he began to take over the MCU, Boseman sought to continue his portrayals of historical figures with the upcoming film Yasuke, which was set to follow the story of Japan’s first samurai of African descent. Unfortunately, the film was still in pre-production at the time of Boseman's passing, so his portrayal of the character will never fully realized on screen.
But the legacy that Boseman leaves behind is more than can be defined by any one role. He served as a shining example of minority representation and excellence in film, with a flexibility that made him just as versatile as he was impactful. With his passing, Hollywood’s greatest way to honor him would be to continue to put in the work that Boseman constantly contributed to. By giving more opportunities and roles to Black actors and actresses, as well as other minorities, it would go a long way to finally creating a more inclusive environment for everyone. While he may no longer be with us, Boseman's immense legacy will live on in the films he’s left behind as well as the countless future stars of color he helped pave the way for.