Humility is a virtue possessed by a few humans. Chadwick Boseman was one of those few and he had more virtues than the world knew. According to close associates and friends, he was gifted, talented and gracious. Above all, he spoke up against social injustice and racism in his own unique ways and always had a word of encouragement for those around him.
At his commencement speech to Howard graduates, Class of 2018, he thrilled the audience with his words of wisdom as shown in this video
Chadwick Boseman Image Source: variety.com
Towards the end of the speech, he shared deep insights on faith, failures and the future which would resonate with anyone seeking clarity around purpose and success. The most remarkable part of the speech was when he admonished his audience to "... savour the taste of your triumphs, look down over what you have conquered and appreciate what God has put you through." Mr Boseman reminded his audience about the value of sacrifices in pursuit of their purpose with these powerful words "everything you fought for was not for yourself but for those that come after. When you have reached the hill-top and you are deciding on next steps, you’ll rather find purpose than a career or job. Purpose crosses discipline; purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on this planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Your struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose."
He was a man of great faith who was not ashamed to share his beliefs with the world as he stood on stage at Howard University to tell them that "When God has something for you, it doesn’t matter who stands against it. God will move someone that’s holding you back away from the door and put someone there who will open it for you." Chadwick believed that failure was an essential component of success and encouraged the students to pursue a glorious future if they are willing to put in the work required. In his words, "I don’t know what your future is, but if you are willing to take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures at first than successes, the one that has ultimately proven to have more victory, more meaning and more glory, then you will not regret it. "
The world has lost a rare gem and an incredible king who showed up when we needed a black superhero. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world in spite of your pain. As you rest in eternity with the Lord, your legacy will be immortalized in our hearts.
Adieu, King T'challa! Adieu, Chadwick Boseman!!!