Farewell, Black Panther </3

A bit of a different post today guys...

I've been a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since 2015, the year the second Avengers movie was released. One year later, the character of Black Panther was introduced in Captain America : Civil War. I loved Prince T'Challa for his style, his sass, and his status as the first African-American actor to take on a main hero role in the MCU.

In 2018, I remember feeling so excited for the release of Black Panther. The fact that so many of the great Black actors and actresses of our time were all a part, as well as finally having a story I felt a real and true connection.

But I think what I remember feeling most is an overwhelming sense of pride, for my people and culture as a whole. I felt seen. I felt understood. The film was received with overwhelming positivity from audiences and critics alike. It proved to the whole world what a majority Black cast and crew could accomplish if only they were given the chance.

As the credits rolled I was near tears because of the hope and optimism I had started to feel in my heart, that maybe the world was becoming more accepting of minorities being featured in the entertainment world.

This morning, Black Panther/King T'Challa himself, Chadwick Boseman, passed away at the age of 43. He'd been battling cancer since 2016, filming, touring, interview after interview, one award show after another - all while undergoing painful and strenuous chemotherapy and surgeries. The man at the heart of one if, if not the most inspiring movie of my life, did all of that while in the midst of one of the toughest trials a human can face.

I don't know if people outside of the culture will ever be able to truly understand how much that movie meant to the Black community. But Chadwick will always hold a very special place in my heart and is one of my favorite people to have ever walked the face of the earth. He truly was Black Panther, both on and off the screen.

Rest in Power. Wakanda Forever.