Remembering the Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman

On Friday, August 28, the world learned of Chadwick Boseman’s passing and his four-year battle with colon cancer. As our community is still in mourning, it’s been hard to put into words the impact this man encapsulated in his 43 short years on earth.

Although the words escape many of us as we try to describe this tremendous loss, writer Latrese Thomas was able to put pen to paper and beautifully express our thoughts as a collective. At the same time, celebrating Boseman’s legacy and remembering his lasting footprint as our brother, an icon, and real-life superhero. That is why it was important for us to share her loving tribute to the Boseman family with our BlackLove.com audience.

To The Boseman Family

To Taylor,

You haven’t the slightest idea who I am yet I feel such a strong connection to you in this moment. Maybe it’s the empath in me or the fact that we are both black wives. Whatever the connection I needed to write to you, I pray somehow this finds you.

After I paused and processed that for a minute, I immediately began to proceed into a feeling of how YOU must be feeling. I can’t even pretend that I understand what the last 4 years have been like for you. Bittersweet doesn’t seem like it’s comprehensive enough to describe it. You watched the man you love reach a level of success on HIS terms, not compromising his morals or beliefs; exactly as he had prayed for. At the same time, unbeknownst to the world, he was also fighting the physical battle of his life with colon cancer. The strength the two of you embody, TOGETHER, exemplifies Black Love.

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I imagine that moving forward looks completely different for us than it does for you. Certain movies may remind you of a time when he had just completed treatment or had just recovered from a surgery. Times when he felt sick at home or in his hotel room confiding only in you & your family but honoring us in the most amazing way with the very best of him at his most challenging time of his life.

I apologize for a culture that was quick to judge and joke when they saw his weight begin to fluctuate. It is hard for me not to COME FOR SOMEONE’S SOUL when they mess with my husband, kids or parents so the Queen-like reserve you kept to protect the privacy of his battle, of your battle, is to be admired.

The next days, weeks, months and years will all be new. Your time with him was way too short to our Earthly standards but for some reason, deep inside of me, I know that the two of you loved each other so much and so fully in those years; more than many will in a lifetime.

To Mr. Leroy and Ms. Carolyn,

You are currently living every parent’s worst nightmare, the death of a child. As a mom to 3 beautiful girls, I have hesitated to feel the depths of what you are feeling, it seems almost unbearable. Based on the type of man Chadwick was, I know that stoic strength, care for his community and unwavering love from his culture came from the two of you.

You did God’s good work in raising him. With every movie he made he operated from a place of concern and integrity. He pursued his passion in spite of an industry that tried to typecast him as something he knew he never wanted to be. He poured back into his community in a way that we will forever be grateful for. If that serves as any solace, I pray that it does.

Job well done and I pray that in the time ahead, as difficult as some days will be, you will feel the love of the world covering you, thinking of you. Thanking you.

To Kevin & Derrick,

I am the baby of my family so I know the feeling of overprotective siblings. I can only imagine how much the two of you wanted to protect Chad at all costs, that’s what big brothers do.

Derrick, as a pastor, I pray you are grounded in the transition of life that has occurred. Losing a sibling, I can only imagine, is beyond difficult. Your brother’s life was God’s direct reflection of the love He has for us. To give and show us the testimony of perseverance, hard work, and faith in our own Super Hero was a great gift that I’m not sure many of us deserved but that we all needed.

To the Boseman family, even in his death; Chadwick has managed to unite us all once again. To remind us to walk every day with passion, purpose and vigor. To schedule those doctors’ appointments because we know early detection can be key. To love honestly and fully. To leave a little something to the imagination while still walking in truth.

My prayers are with you all!

Trese, Unapologetically

This article originally appeared on Unapologetically Living with Trese and has been republished on BlackLove.com with permission.