Written by Afreen Shanavas, a grade 11 student

When 2020 was already grappling with the pandemic, the doom was further aggravated by a shock that ripped across Hollywood like a peal of thunder, shaking millions across the world.

The death of the gem of Hollywood; Chadwick Boseman.

I may not know him personally, but the impact he had on my life was so profound that I began to see him as a panjandrum who would maneuver the present generation through the thickets of racism and bigotry to a world where Blacks would not suffer from any kind of discrimination.

The characters he had so meticulously articulated with his jaw-dropping prowess had touched and influenced a multitude of people spanning the entire globe.

His depiction and dedication to a particular role made it impossible to conceive the character being played by anyone else. No one could have embodied Thurgood Marshall and Jackie Robinson with such perfection and panache.

The coincidence of his death with Jackie Robinson Day is no wonder to the people who have felt or known his sublime presence.

Chadwick had a special rank in the heart of all Marvel fans and I can’t help but be sorry that his spell was so short-lived. All of us would feel the deep void of loss, ringing out in all the subsequent movies and no matter how similar a doppelgänger would be, their portrayal of the noble king would not be equivalent to those of Chadwick, who had painted the character with such perfection and brilliance that it cannot be emulated whatsoever.

What agitated me was the fact that he had kept his battle with colon cancer a secret all these years, implying he had endured all the pain silently as he moved from set to set taking shots and giving out his best.

I found about his death via Instagram and being the kind of person who doesn’t believe anything on social media, I googled it up and as the title materialized on the screen, I cupped my hands.

Countless fans and celebrities are still floundering with his loss, as tear-jerking tributes poured in for a luminary who still had so much to give.

What we have lost is not just another cancer patient, but a reservoir of talent and potential.

My prayers are with you, Chadwick.

Sending my deepest condolences to your family and loved ones.
You will be in our hearts forever.

Wakanda Forever!