Honoring the Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman

WHEREAS, Chadwick Aaron Boseman, was born on November 29, 1976, in Anderson, South Carolina to supportive, dedicated parents Leroy Boseman and Carolyn Boseman, who encouraged Mr. Boseman to pursue his goals; and

WHEREAS, Chadwick Boseman was an accomplished writer, writing and producing his first play in high school, Crossroads, in response to the death of a classmate, a young man on his high school basketball team who was tragically shot and killed; and

WHEREAS, although Mr. Boseman was an accomplished scholar and athlete in High School and was recruited to play sports in college, he chose to pursue higher education in the arts in the illustrious and historic Historically Black University, Howard University where he graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree; and

WHEREAS, while Mr. Boseman matriculated at Howard University, he honed his academic pursuits and his artistic craft under the tutelage of the renowned actress Phylicia Rashad; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Boseman further pursued his studies in the British American Drama Academy in London, and thereafter, he began his career as an accomplished actor; having early success a stage actor, writer and director before joining television shows such as Lincoln Heights, and performed in a number of stage productions in New York Theater; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Boseman made a decision to forego movies and television shows where African Americans were depicted in negative, stereotypical roles, but instead found success in the field of acting portraying many of America's African-American history makers including the first African-American Supreme Court Justice and renowned NAACP attorney, Justice Thurgood Marshall in the film Marshall, talented and widely acclaimed Godfather of Soul, singer James Brown in the film Get on Up, and baseball legend Jackie Robinson, in the film 42, among other roles; and

WHEREAS, in 2018, Boseman starred in the renowned Black Panther film as King T'Challa of the Wakanda people, the first film where a Black superhero had a starring role, wherein a legacy of hope and achievement in the African Diaspora was highlighted; and

WHEREAS, the film Black Panther, not only shattered box office records, raking in an estimated $218 million domestically, it went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture and became an integral part of the African diaspora film history; and

WHEREAS, at the 50th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Mr. Boseman received the 'Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture' award for Black Panther; and

WHEREAS, as an actor and role model, Mr. Boseman helped to reverse generations of silver- screen stereotypes with an authenticity and dedication to the Black culture, fostering culture and pride to an entire community of people; and

WHERAS, Mr. Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV, he persevered through it all, countless surgeries and chemotherapy, and brought us many of the films that continue to inspire and challenge us to live a life of greatness and integrity; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Boseman's life shall serve as an inspiration to all of us, that even when challenges have arrived at your door, keep pushing forward and living to your fullest potential, with humility and grace.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP, during this 111th Annual Convention, pauses to acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate the life, legacy and illustrious contributions of Mr. Chadwick Aaron Boseman, a real life superhero, for his immeasurable legacy, telling the necessary stories, serving his community and embodying his purpose.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution will be placed in the NAACP archives and given to Mr. Boseman's family.