JOE BIDEN and running mate Kamala Harris have paid tribute to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman following the 43-year-old actor’s sad passing from cancer.
Boseman’s family confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement release via Instagram.
According to the statement, the actor was first diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer four years ago, several years prior to landing the role of T’Challa in the hit Marvel comic book film adaptation.
Biden paid a special tribute to Boseman’s impact as both an actor and a figure of inspiration, showing younger generations they can be anything they want, “even superheroes”.
“The true power of @ChadwickBoseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen,” the Democratic president nominee wrote on Twitter.
“From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes. Jill and I are praying for his loved ones at this difficult time.”
The true power of @ChadwickBoseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen. From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes. Jill and I are praying for his loved ones at this difficult time.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 29, 2020
Senator Harris, who like Boseman graduated from Howard University, also paid her respects, stating that she had been left “heartbroken” by the news.
"My friend and fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble,” she wrote.
“He left too early but his life made a difference. Sending my sincere condolences to his family."
Heartbroken. My friend and fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble. He left too early but his life made a difference. Sending my sincere condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/C5xGkUi9oZ
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 29, 2020
Boseman was a strong supporter of his fellow Howard University alumni.
His last tweet was a picture of himself alongside Harris, posted after she was announced as Biden’s pick for VP.
One of Boseman’s final social media posts saw him encouraging young people to vote in the upcoming November elections, using the hashtag created as part of Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote initiative.
From his groundbreaking work in Black Panther to his portrayal of Thurgood Marshall, Chadwick Boseman helped paint a new picture of what’s possible. Keeping his family, friends, and fans in my prayers during this difficult time.pic.twitter.com/yfjfNYWjYD
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 29, 2020
Boseman also previously appeared in a public service announcement with March For Our Lives student activists before the November 2018 midterms.
“All that 70 million group of young people who will come out and vote — I believe in you,” Boseman says in the clip.
“I think you can turn our nation around. You can make it live up to what it is supposed to do. It’s not just that you are the future, you are actually the present. You are actually what we are supposed to be at this moment. And the fact that you have a voice, the fact that you can have a say.
“Vote for whoever you want. Vote for what you believe in,” he added.
“I believe the majority of you can see what’s actually happening and you want things to change. So I say all that to say, you know, thank you in advance for your input and the victory that is to come.”
During his commencement speech at our beloved Howard, my friend Chadwick Boseman said, "press on with pride and press on with purpose.”
In his name, let’s keep fighting. pic.twitter.com/HU8Q6yQaJ4— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 29, 2020
A vehement opponent of Donald Trump, in 2017 Boseman was quoted as saying that the President had “made it OK for white supremacy to exist”.
Trump has yet to comment on the Marvel star’s tragic passing.
