Just One More: A Tribute to Chadwick Boseman
By Perdeta Ann Long | North Birmingham Regional Branch Library
"Just one more" is something we often ask for—just one more character, one more movie, one more time to have Chadwick Boseman bring his gift to us in films and life.
Chadwick Boseman, 43, known for his role as King T'Challa in Marvel's Black Panther, has died after a four-year battle with colon cancer. The actor, who also played Black icons such as James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, and Jackie Robinson, died at home with his wife and family. Truly Young, Gifted and Black is how I would describe him, from his emotional outburst in 42 after a horrible racist incident on the baseball field to his offering his cousin forgiveness in Black Panther. He truly gave us something extraordinary, a part of himself that will live on in his films and touch something in all who watch them.
Boseman was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016, and it progressed to stage four, but he continued to work and do films up until 2020. He had to know he was on a time clock because he did seven movies in the last four years of his life. To do that much work would test anyone, but to give the world seven films in four years while fighting cancer had to take much courage and endurance and an iron will strength. But I am thankful for the body of work he did and will enjoy his movies with joy and a little sadness every time I watch one. Upon further thought, to ask for one more movie or work would be unbelievably selfish. I just want to say, Thank you Chadwick Boseman for giving so much of you in your films. Goodnight and goodbye, King T'Challa.
Chadwick Boseman Filmography
2020
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom as Levee
Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues." Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play.
Da 5 Bloods as Stormin' Norman; Director: Spike Lee
Four African American vets return to Vietnam to search for the remains of their squad leader (Boseman) as well as buried treasure.
2019
21 Bridges as Andre Davis
An embattled NYPD detective is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. He comes up with a plan to hunt down the killers before they get away.
Avengers: Endgame as T'Challa/Black Panther
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe. The surviving members of the Avengers and their allies attempt to reverse the damage caused by Thanos.
Boseman was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016, and it progressed to stage four, but he continued to work and do films up until 2020. He had to know he was on a time clock because he did seven movies in the last four years of his life. To do that much work would test anyone, but to give the world seven films in four years while fighting cancer had to take much courage and endurance and an iron will strength. But I am thankful for the body of work he did and will enjoy his movies with joy and a little sadness every time I watch one. Upon further thought, to ask for one more movie or work would be unbelievably selfish. I just want to say, Thank you Chadwick Boseman for giving so much of you in your films. Goodnight and goodbye, King T'Challa.
Chadwick Boseman Filmography
2020
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom as Levee
Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues." Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play.
Da 5 Bloods as Stormin' Norman; Director: Spike Lee
Four African American vets return to Vietnam to search for the remains of their squad leader (Boseman) as well as buried treasure.
2019
21 Bridges as Andre Davis
An embattled NYPD detective is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. He comes up with a plan to hunt down the killers before they get away.
Avengers: Endgame as T'Challa/Black Panther
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe. The surviving members of the Avengers and their allies attempt to reverse the damage caused by Thanos.
2018
Avengers: Infinity War as T'Challa/Black Panther
The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy attempt to prevent Thanos from collecting the six all-powerful Infinity Stones as part of his quest to kill half of all life in the universe.
Black Panther as T'Challa/Black Panther
The new king T’Challa of the African nation of Wakanda gains enhanced strength by ingesting the heart-shaped herb. He ascends to the throne following the death of his father, T'Chaka, with his mother, Ramonda, and younger sister Shuri. He is challenged by his vengeful cousin Killmonger who plans to abandon the country's isolationist policies and begin a global revolution.
2017
Marshall as Thurgood Marshall
This film stars Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, and focuses on one of the first cases of his career, the State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell.
2016
Message from the King as Jacob King
The film's plot revolves around a man from Cape Town, South Africa, who travels to Los Angeles in order to find his younger sister and then to avenge her death.
Captain America: Civil War as T'Challa/Black Panther
Political involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
Gods of Egypt as Thoth
The film portrays a mortal Egyptian hero who partners with the Egyptian god Horus to save the world from Set and rescue his love.
9 Kisses (Short) as Musician
The film cast includes four Oscar winners: Julianne Moore, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon, and Patricia Arquette; and three Oscar nominees: John Lithgow, Steve Carell, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Get On Up as James Brown
The film is an American biographical musical drama film about the life of singer James Brown. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Chadwick Boseman as Brown, Nelsan Ellis as Bobby Byrd, Dan Aykroyd as Ben Bart, Viola Davis as Susie Brown, Craig Robinson as Maceo Parker, and Octavia Spencer as Aunt Honey.
Draft Day as Vontae Mack
An American sports drama film starring Kevin Costner and Chadwick Boseman. The premise revolves around the fictional general manager of the Cleveland Browns (Costner) deciding what to do after his team acquires the number one draft pick in the upcoming National Football League draft.
2013
42 as Jackie Robinson
An American biographical sports film written and directed by Brian Helgeland about the racial integration of American professional baseball by player Jackie Robinson, who wore jersey number 42 through his Major League career. The film stars an ensemble cast that was led by Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey.
2012
The Kill Hole as Lt. Samuel Drake
The shadow of war follows a troubled Iraq War vet as he is forced to pursue one of his own into the Pacific Northwest wilderness to finally confront a war crime that has haunted them both.
(Movie summaries courtesy of IMDB)
Avengers: Infinity War as T'Challa/Black Panther
The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy attempt to prevent Thanos from collecting the six all-powerful Infinity Stones as part of his quest to kill half of all life in the universe.
Black Panther as T'Challa/Black Panther
The new king T’Challa of the African nation of Wakanda gains enhanced strength by ingesting the heart-shaped herb. He ascends to the throne following the death of his father, T'Chaka, with his mother, Ramonda, and younger sister Shuri. He is challenged by his vengeful cousin Killmonger who plans to abandon the country's isolationist policies and begin a global revolution.
2017
Marshall as Thurgood Marshall
This film stars Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, and focuses on one of the first cases of his career, the State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell.
2016
Message from the King as Jacob King
The film's plot revolves around a man from Cape Town, South Africa, who travels to Los Angeles in order to find his younger sister and then to avenge her death.
Captain America: Civil War as T'Challa/Black Panther
Political involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
Gods of Egypt as Thoth
The film portrays a mortal Egyptian hero who partners with the Egyptian god Horus to save the world from Set and rescue his love.
9 Kisses (Short) as Musician
The film cast includes four Oscar winners: Julianne Moore, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon, and Patricia Arquette; and three Oscar nominees: John Lithgow, Steve Carell, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Get On Up as James Brown
The film is an American biographical musical drama film about the life of singer James Brown. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Chadwick Boseman as Brown, Nelsan Ellis as Bobby Byrd, Dan Aykroyd as Ben Bart, Viola Davis as Susie Brown, Craig Robinson as Maceo Parker, and Octavia Spencer as Aunt Honey.
Draft Day as Vontae Mack
An American sports drama film starring Kevin Costner and Chadwick Boseman. The premise revolves around the fictional general manager of the Cleveland Browns (Costner) deciding what to do after his team acquires the number one draft pick in the upcoming National Football League draft.
2013
42 as Jackie Robinson
An American biographical sports film written and directed by Brian Helgeland about the racial integration of American professional baseball by player Jackie Robinson, who wore jersey number 42 through his Major League career. The film stars an ensemble cast that was led by Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey.
2012
The Kill Hole as Lt. Samuel Drake
The shadow of war follows a troubled Iraq War vet as he is forced to pursue one of his own into the Pacific Northwest wilderness to finally confront a war crime that has haunted them both.
(Movie summaries courtesy of IMDB)
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