On Aug. 28 the world received the news that actor Chadwick Boseman died as a result of colon cancer. Boseman had a huge impact on the world and he will be missed by his legions of fans.

Boseman was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016 and battled with it these last four years, as it progressed to stage four. He acted in blockbuster movies people have come to love while he was fighting cancer. Some of his most famous movies include 21 Bridges, 42, Get On Up, and Black Panther.

Boseman never announced his fight with cancer, leaving his death a surprise to his fans. “It’s crazy to think that while he was making all these movies he was also battling against stage four cancer. It’s sad to think about because we didn’t get to appreciate him enough for what he did for the world before he was gone,” junior Reza Abediyeh said.

Black Panther is by far Boseman’s most popular movie, and for a good reason. Chadwick starred as the main character in the movie, which gave the Blackcommunity pride in a time when it was needed. Boseman was an important figure in the media, making his death even more tragic tothe Black community.

Boseman first broke onto the big screen with two movie portrayals of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, in 42, and soul singer James Brown in Get On Up.

Black Panther is so remarkable because of how widely it was watched across the world and how many people it touched. Black Panther showed Black culture in all its glory, and Chadwick Boseman became a cultural symbol.

Boseman’s effect was even bigger than people may think. “I was extremely sad when I first heard about the passing of Chadwick Boseman. He affected so many people. He is an inspiration for the African American culture and he gave me more pride to be an African American. I will never forget Chadwick Boseman and everything he did for this world,” sophomore Matt Nyangjo said.
Two years after Black Panther, kids still run around and put their hands over their chest saying, “Wakanda Forever,” a message of respect for Boseman and the Black community.