R.I.P. Chadwick

R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman - 29th November 1976 to 28th August 2020.

When I heard from my wife this morning that Chadwick Boseman had died, I was in shock. At first I thought she must have been referring to a different person, so I didn't think it was him. His family has lost a son and his wife a husband. He kept his illness from the world fighting a battle no one would ever want to fight. He was a hero to many through the characters he played in films, his biggest character being Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Many kids, like my own, will remember him as Black Panther. They may also remember the huge support and backing the film received not only from the black communities but from everyone across the world. We now had a black superhero on the biggest stage. A hero we could get behind.

I was surprised he had an illness. I am not surprised he did not go public with this. He obviously wanted privacy and to keep it within his own circle. This was his right. No one should criticise him for this.

It can be hard to let the people around you know how you are feeling. It can be hard to speak up. I may be easier to keep things inside and hidden. For Chadwick I would imagine it was a very hard last few months. So he had to have the will to be strong for those who were close to him. I am sorry he had to go through this.

I have had had my struggles with keeping things in and not discussing them with those around me. I would imagine we all have. We are scared what people may think. We are unsure of how they may react. Or sometimes we know how they will think and react and so do not say anything. I think this has been the case for me and many people. I write this on here as I know that many people of colour have struggled with speaking up about their feelings not just in relation to racial discrimination but many parts of their lives. This may be because of what they have been through when they were younger and how those feelings of hurt have stopped you from speaking up not just about discrimination but about anything. I would think, why should I speak up, no-one will do anything anyway.

Let us not be scared anymore. We must believe there is hope and that change will endure and not just be another moment in time that we look upon. We must continue to rise up and become part of this change. 

Let us stand up and be counted. Find your purpose in this fight because it is one. It is a fight where you will get hit and be hurt but one which you can get up again and again and each time you get up you will find someone standing next to you ready to help you fight for change.