Always & Wakanda: Chadwick Boseman - BLACK WITH NO CHASER

A new member has been inducted into Black August and we call him the magnificent King T’Challa. Marvel defines T’Challa as the King of the secretive and highly advanced African nation of Wakanda— as well as the powerful warrior known as The Black Panther, ruler and protector of Wakanda; a job fit for a King. That is prophetically accurate, rightfully so and rightfully earned, Chadwick Boseman is EXACTLY THAT for us.

Where do I begin? We wish we could’ve wrapped you in that high-tech Black Panther suit and mask, so that you could activate the features and use your overall stealth capabilities. In a perfect world, those vibranium threads would offer you protection and life long-lasting. That rare heart-shaped herb you received from the nation of Wakanda crowned you as our King. It was in that exact moment of watching Black Panther, your role as T’Challa became somewhat a reality in the figment of even our adult minds. Our mindset shifted gears because of you. This one is by far the hardest pill to swallow considering we have not fully processed the previous hits of 2020.

The Panther pride and devotion to your Tribe has pierced so many of us and we don’t know how to process this one. You’ve even experienced some heavy hits with us since you have gifted us with The Black Panther. It seems like this new decade has forced us to become acquainted with so many heavy losses and this particular one is felt across all generations. You made me see beyond the character and you arrived in perfect timing as The Black Panther. WE, BLACK PEOPLE, needed someone on this physical earth to believe in and you appeared and succeeded as our reigning King T’Challa on earth.

Our babies adore you and the way you connected us all across generations was so dope and so powerful. Honestly, I think you knew that. I think you knew what your mission was and how much time you were loaned to us. You spared us with the details of your health to save us from worry because THATS WHAT KINGS DO, put their Tribe first. Because you have shared so much with us, your intention to hold that from us was extremely selfless but I do wish we had the opportunity to speak healing towards you. Because we can no longer speak healing over you, we speak that healing over your family because they have been hit the hardest. We know you are covering them with grace as they continue to move forward.

You visited and inspired so many dealing with terminal illnesses because you could relate but you also did so out of the kindness of your heart. Selfless in character and selfless in real life. I’d like to think that served as some therapy and energy that you needed to finish your job. Instead of resting up for the next decade, you managed to finish strong because you knew you had no time to waste. We admire your drive and will power to finish what The Most High sent you to do. Job well done, King. Nipsey and Kobe probably welcomed you with open arms. You all are tremendously missed.

I keep reimagining the scene where T’Challa gets to connect with his father T’Chaka. That scene was so monumental for me. Being reminded of how sad I was watching a similar scene in The Lion King as a child and realizing how healing it was to watch you in The Black Panther as an adult made me compare the two scenes and I saw how you made it Ancestrally personal. That’s powerful. Did you know your time was limited then? I’m so curious to know what all you knew because you did so much in so little time and we have to get it together to explain to our kids that you’ve joined the other side with The Ancestors. You prepared us with that scene alone. Thanks for that!

#ALWAYSANDWAKANDA is a phrase I’ve been saying all year. I say it in our workplace every now and then. Wakanda replaced “Forever” in the phrase “Always And Forever” because I’ve always felt and found power in the word. We refer to our workplace, Black With No Chaser, as our own Wakanda. I know you made it your business to see as many of us as you could and that’s the definition of love. That’s unconditional and deep. We reciprocate that same deep love for you and we know you are seeing us all now, effortlessly.

WE…

ARE…

ON…

PAUSE…

Just for right now. We know its the opposite of what you would want us to be doing but DAMN. It’s hard not to be selfish so we find comfort in you no longer suffering. We are going to do our damnest to enlighten and uplift our children during this time because they miss you so bad. We will cry with them because they deserve to release just like us. We will try to answer the questions the best we can, even though we are struggling with our own questions. “Wakanda Strong” is what you’re morphing into us right now and I don’t think its possible for you to really leave us. We are thankful to now have your watchful eye over us. The love your family, peers, and race has for you is indescribable and you’re worth every ounce of our love.