♪♪
>>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M ROBIN ROBERTS.
YOU JUST SAW THE FILM "BLACK
PANTHER."
THE DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF
CHADWICK BOSEMAN, A SUPERHERO
WHO TOOK A WHOLE GENERATION OF
KIDS AND KID AT HEART LIKE ME
AND YOU TOO INTO A BRAVE NEW
WORLD.
THAT'S WHY IT IS PAINFUL TO BE
HERE TONIGHT HONORING A LIFE AND
A LIGHT THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE ON
FOR DECADES TO COME.
A LIFE THAT HAS NOW BEEN CUT
SHORT AT JUST 43 AFTER A
VALIANT FOUR‐YEAR BATTLE WITH
COLON CANCER.
WHEN WE HEARD OF HIS PASSING,
MANY OF US COULDN'T PUT INTO
WORDS WHAT THAT LOSS MEANT.
BUT THERE IS ONE IMAGE THAT
CAPTURES THE FEELING.
IT WAS THE LOSS OF A KING, KING
T'CHALLA.
CHADWICK DIED ON THE SAME DAY AS
JACKIE ROBINSON DAY.
AND ON THE 57th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S
HISTORY AS THOUSANDS FROM ALL
BACKGROUNDS PROTEST IN A DEMAND
FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, CHADWICK
BOSEMAN PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL
ROLE IN DEFINING OUR CULTURE.
HE PLAYED SOME OF THE GREATS IN
BLACK HISTORY, JACKIE ROBINSON,
AND JAMES BROWN.
THURGOOD MARSHALL.
AND MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST
BLACK SUPERHERO IN HIS OWN
MOVIE.
TONIGHT WE HONOR THAT INCREDIBLE
LIFE AND LEGACY, A CELEBRATION
FIT FOR A KING.
HERE IS DEBRA ROBERTS.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME
WITH CHADWICK.
I MEAN THE STATEMENTS THAT I
KNOW EVERYONE IS MAKING, AND
EVERYONE CAN MAKE BECAUSE HE WAS
HERE FAR TOO SHORT A TIME.
>> CHADWICK WAS A DEEPLY KIND
AND GENTLE PERSON AND VERY
PRESENT AND THOUGHTFUL.
AND THOSE QUALITIES ARE ALL SO
PRESENT IN HIS WORK.
>> HE'S A HISTORICAL FIGURE AS
THE "BLACK PANTHER" BUT ALSO
SUCH A GOOD AND DECENT HUMAN
BEING.
>> CHADWICK, MY FRIEND, YOU WILL
FOREVER BE REMEMBERED BY YOUR
WARM SMILE AND KIND HEART AND
YOUR FIERCE COURAGEOUSNESS
THROUGH GREAT ADVERSITY.
>> YOU WANTED TO FOLLOW THE GUY
INTO ANYTHING.
>> FROM THE MOMENT CHADWICK
STEPPED ON SCREEN, YOU JUST
BOUGHT IT.
>> HE WAS ALWAYS GRACE AND
HUMILITY PERSONIFIED.
>> HOW YOU HELD YOURSELF.
IT WILL LIVE ON.
♪♪
♪ WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FOREVER ♪
♪ FOREVER IS WHAT WE NEED ♪
>> HE GAVE ALL OF US AND ALL OF
OUR CHILDREN AN EXAMPLE OF A
GREAT, GRACIOUS, AND HUMBLE
LEADER.
>> THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING US
AND THE KIDS AROUND THE WORLD.
♪♪
♪ WE WILL NEVER BREAK ♪
♪♪
>> IT'S ONLY FIT TO BE MOURNING
HIM LIKE A KING.
>> THE WAY HE HANDLED HIS LIFE
AND MANAGING CANCER WITH SUCH
HUMILITY AND GRACE AND DIGNITY
LETS US ALL KNOW HE WAS TRULY A
SUPERHERO.
>> I LOVE YOU, MAN.
HAVE A WONDERFUL JOURNEY
WHEREVER IT IS YOU ARE GOING.
THEY'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
>> THIS LOSS IS FELT AROUND THE
WORLD.
PEOPLE IN EVERY COUNTRY, HE WAS
PRETTY AMAZING.
HE IS WAKANDA FOREVER.
>> WAKANDA FOREVER!
>> FOR A GENERATION OF KIDS,
CHADWICK BOSEMAN IS THE DEFINING
IMAGE OF A SUPERHERO.
STRONG, POWERFUL, AND BLACK.
HIS ICONIC PORTRAYAL OF THE
BLACK PANTHER SEALING HIS PLACE
IN HISTORY.
>> SOME PEOPLE ROLL THEIR EYES,
AND GO, COME ON, IT IS JUST A
MOVIE.
BUT WAS "ROCKY" JUST A MOVIE OR
DID IT INSPIRE?
THAT'S WHAT CHADWICK EMBODIED,
AN IDEA, A PROMISE, A POTENTIAL.
>> HE'LL BE REMEMBERED AND
CHERISHED AND LOVED IN OUR
HEARTS, NOT WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO
OFFER ON FILM BUT WHAT HE WAS
ABLE TO GIVE AS A HUMAN BEING.
IT IS NOT JUST A LOSS WE ARE
FEELING.
WE ARE GOING TO FEEL HIS
ABSENCE.
HIS ABSENCE.
>> AN ARTIST, A MOVIE STAR, A
CULTURE HERO.
HE MADE HIS NAME PORTRAYING AN
AMERICAN ICON, JACKIE ROBINSON.
JAMES BROWN.
THURGOOD MARSHALL.
>> I THOUGHT BACK TO ALL THE
PERFORMANCES, ALL THE INCREDIBLE
PEOPLE HE'S PLAYED.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT AS
CONVINCINGLY AS HE DID.
IF HE DID NOT POSSESS THAT SAME
GRACE IN REAL LIFE, YOU CAN'T
ACT THAT.
>> JUST AFTER HIS CAREER REACHED
HEIGHTS, A DEVASTATING BLOW,
BOSEMAN DYING AFTER A FOUR‐YEAR
BATTLE WITH COLON CANCER.
>> I AM COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY
ABOUT HOW THIS MAN WAS ABLE TO
NOT ONLY DO AS MUCH WORK AS HE
DID WHILE ALSO BATTLING COLON
CANCER.
YOU CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF HE
WAS TOUCHED BY GOD.
>> THE NEWS OF HIS DEATH
SHATTERING MANY BIG HOLLYWOOD
NAMES.
>> YOU WERE THE LAST PERSON I
THOUGHT WOULD LEAVE US.
THE LAST PERSON I THOUGHT COULD
LEAVE US SO SOON.
YOU'RE NOT JUST MY HERO, MY
FRIEND.
YOU WERE MY SUPERHERO AND MY
BLACK PANTHER.
>> IT IS A TOUGH LOSS.
HE HAD THAT POWER IN HIS ART TO
DEFINE A GENERATION.
HE IS THAT GENERATION DEFINING
ACTOR.
>> DIRECTOR RYAN COOGLER
RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING, I
HAVE TO RECKON THE FACT THAT
CHAD IS AN ANCESTOR NOW AND I
KNOW HE'LL WATCH OVER US UNTIL
WE MEET AGAIN.
>> YOU FEEL THE WEIGHT AND WHAT
HE BROUGHT TO THE ROLES HE
PLAYED AS HE APPLIED THEM TO THE
REAL WORLD.
>> BOSEMAN'S IMPACT WENT FAR
BEYOND THE ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY.
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MICHELLE
OBAMA POSTING THEIR MEMORIES.
THE FORMER FIRST LADY WRITING,
HIS BRILLIANCE ON SCREEN WAS
MATCHED BY HIS WARMTH IN PERSON.
>> I CAN'T THINK OF AN ACTOR WHO
WOULD BE CONSIDERED MORE
IRREPLACEABLE, LESS DISPENSABLE,
MORE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY RIGHT
NOW THAN CHADWICK BOSEMAN.
AND SO, THAT HE'S GONE IS A
MONUMENTAL LOSS FOR EVERYONE.
>> CHADWICK BOSEMAN GREW UP IN
SOUTH CAROLINA, WRITING HIS
FIRST PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THEN GOING ON ATTEND THE
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AT
HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
>> EVERYONE GOING TO HOWARD
REMINDS YOU EVERY CHANCE THEY
GET THAT HE WENT TO HOWARD.
>> HE REVEALED ONE OF HIS IDOL,
SOMETHING HE TALKED TO MY
COLLEAGUE MICHAEL STRAHAN ABOUT
AT THE OSCARS.
>> DENZEL WASHINGTON PAID FOR
YOU TO GO TO A THEATER PROGRAM,
AND YOU HAD A CHANCE TO THANK
HIM, WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION
LIKE?
>> IT WAS A FUN CONVERSATION.
THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS, YOU
OWE ME MONEY.
I CAME TO COLLECT.
>> BOSEMAN PUBLICLY REPAID THAT
DEBT OF GRATITUDE, HONORING
WASHINGTON AS HE ACCEPTED THE
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
>> THERE IS NO "BLACK PANTHER"
WITHOUT DENZEL WASHINGTON.
>> AFTER GRADUATING FROM HOWARD
IN 2000, BOSEMAN WENT ON TO WORK
IN HOLLYWOOD, MOSTLY IN
TELEVISION.
HIS BREAKOUT ROLE CAME IN 2013,
AS BASEBALL LEGEND JACKIE
ROBINSON IN THE MOVIE "42."
>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN
ONE OF THESE PITCHERS THROWS AT
YOUR HEAD?
>> I'LL DUCK.
>> ROBINSON'S DAUGHTER SHARING
HER MEMORY OF THE ACTOR.
>> WE THOUGHT HE WAS ACCURATE
AND HE GOT THE INTENSITY OF MY
FATHER AND HE BUILT ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF MY DAD'S
CHARACTER.
YOU REALLY FELT THE ANGUISH AND
THE FRUSTRATION AND THAT WAS MY
DAD.
THAT'S HOW HE WOULD BE FEELING
AT THAT MOMENT ON THE FIELD IN
PHILADELPHIA.
>> BOSEMAN HAD A GIFT FOR
EMBODYING REAL LIFE HEROES.
IN 2014, TAKING ON MUSIC ICON
JAMES BROWN IN "GET ON UP."
>> YOU PEOPLE BETTER BE READY.
ESPECIALLY THE WHITE FOLK.
>> THE ACTOR DOING ALL HIS
DANCING.
DID IT SCARE YOU AT ALL?
>> I FELT LIKE NOBODY SHOULD DO
THIS.
>> I WENT ONLINE AND LOOKED AT
THE FOOTAGE OF HIM DANCING AND I
WAS LIKE, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THE HARDEST THING WAS THE
GROOVE.
YOU KNOW, JAMES BROWN'S GROOVE.
ONCE YOU GET THAT YOU SORT OF
UNDERSTAND THE REST OF IT.
>> HE DID AN AMAZING JOB.
>> BROWN'S DAUGHTER REFLECTING
ON BOSEMAN'S WORK ETHIC.
>> HE CAME DOWN TO DAD'S HOME IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE WENT THROUGH OLD COSTUMES,
LITERALLY OLD CLOTHES AND HE
TRIED ON CLOTHES AND TRIED TO
EMBODY HIM AND DID A LOT OF
RESEARCH AND WORKED WITH THE
CHOREOGRAPHER FIVE HOURS A DAY
AND CAME BACK EVEN AFTER HE GOT
ON SET TO DO EVEN MORE WORK.
I WILL BE FOREVER INDEBTED TO
HIM FOR HOW HE MADE MY DAD'S
LIFE STORY COME TO LIFE LIKE
THAT.
>> IN 2017, BOSEMAN AGAIN
PORTRAYED AN AMERICAN LEGEND,
THURGOOD MARSHALL.
>> THE NAACP IS NOT TAKING ANY
DEALS.
>> SOMEBODY THAT I EXPECTED TO
BE VERY INTIMIDATED BY AND WHEN
I MET HIM IT WAS LIKE WE HAD
KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A DECADE.
AND THERE WAS SUCH AN
APPROACHABILITY.
>> BUT HIS CAREER DEFINING ROLE
WOULD BE BRINGING A FICTIONAL
HERO TO LIFE.
ROARING ON TO THE SCREEN AS
T'CHALLA.
"BLACK PANTHER," TWO YEARS LATER
IN 2018, BOSEMAN REVEALED
WAKANDA INTO THE WORLD.
"BLACK PANTHER," FEATURING A
MOSTLY BLACK CAST.
GENRE AND BOX OFFICE BUSTING IN
EVERY WAY.
>> THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A THIRST
FOR SOMETHING.
>> WHAT'S THE FIRST?
>> PEOPLE ARE STARVED FOR THE
IMAGES THAT THEY SEE.
THEY SEE POWER AND SPECTACLE AND
INTELLIGENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT.
>> PEOPLE CAN SEE NOT JUST
THEMSELVES BUT THEIR DREAMS.
>> THEY SEE THEIR DREAMS.
IT'S ASPIRATIONAL.
>> IF THERE IS A LOT OF BLACK
PEOPLE IN IT, IT IS SEEN AS A
BLACK MOVIE.
THIS WAS CRICKET CONSTRUCTED AND
IMAGINED AS A UNIVERSAL MOVIE.
>> WELCOMING CHADWICK BOSEMAN.
>> BOSEMAN BECAME A BONA FIDE
MOVIE STAR.
>> WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE
TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOT A
PLACE FOR YOU TO BE FEATURED.
YET YOU ARE YOUNG AND GIFTED AND
BLACK.
>> T'CHALLA WOULD LEAD HIM TO
THE NEXT TWO "AVENGERS" FILMS.
THE BIGGEST GROSSING MOVIES OF
ALL TIME.
>> WE HAD NO IDEA THAT HE HAD
BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COLON CANCER
IN 2016.
HE ENDURED COUNTLESS SURGERIES
AND CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENTS
WHILE HE WAS PLAYING THESE
CHARACTERS.
>> IN 2018 HE RETURNED TO HOWARD
UNIVERSITY, DELIVERING THE
SPEECH AT THE 150th
COMMENCEMENT.
>> YOU CAN USE YOUR EDUCATION TO
IMPROVE THE WORLD YOU ARE
ENTERING.
>> CHADWICK KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD
THE IMPORTANCE OF USING HIS
PLATFORM TO DO SOMETHING GREATER
THAN TO BENEFIT HIMSELF.
>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
YEAR, BOSEMAN WAS GEARING UP TO
DEBUT HIS NEWEST FILM, "DA 5
BLOODS," DIRECTED BY SPIKE LEE.
THE FILM PREMIERING IN THE MIDST
OF THE COVID‐19 PANDEMIC,
HOLLYWOOD LARGELY SHUT DOWN AND
GOING SILENT.
HIS FINAL POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
AFTER KAMALA HARRIS, A FRIEND,
WAS NAMED THE DEMOCRATIC VICE
PRESIDENT NOMINEE.
>> HIS LAST POST WAS TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE AND
BORN OF THE LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS SO REFLECTIVE OF CHADWICK.
>> JUST 17 DAYS LATER, THE
INCOMPREHENSIBLE NEWS THAT THE
FIRST BLACK MOVIE SUPERHERO TO
HEADLINE HIS OWN FRANCHISE HAS
DIED.
>> THE GRACE AND COURAGE THAT
CHADWICK DISPLAYED WHILE
FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE IS
IMMEASURABLE.
>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE
APPRECIATE JUST HOW GREAT HE WAS
WHILE HE WAS LIVING.
AND IT'S EXHILARATING TO HEAR
ALL THESE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE
BEING SAID AND WRITTEN ABOUT
HIM, IT'S MY HOPE IS THAT HE
HEARD THEM WHILE HE WAS STILL
WITH US.
>> IF YOU LOOK BACK ON IT YOU
WOULD THINK, WELL, IF YOU KNEW
YOUR TIME MAY BE LIMITED, YOU
WOULD HAVE A GOOD OF A TIME AS
YOU COULD AS WELL.
BRAVO FOR HIM.
>> HE PLAYED ICONS AND NOW HE
HAS BECOME AN ICON HIMSELF AND
HIS LEGACY IS ONE FOR THE AGES.
♪♪
>> OUR THANKS TO DEB.
JOINING US NOW, PHYLICIA RASHAD.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SEND MY
SINCERE AND CONDOLENCES AND I
KNOW HOW SPECIAL HE WAS TO YOU.
SOME WOULD SAY YOU HELPED TO
LAUNCH HIS CAREER.
YOU SAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM
TO GET MORE TRAINING AT A
PROGRAM AT OXFORD BUT IT WAS
EXPENSIVE.
TELL US THE STORY OF HOW YOU
HELPED HIM AND HOW SOMEBODY BY
THE NAME OF DENZEL FITS INTO
THIS PICTURE.
>> WELL, I RECEIVED A CALL AND
THEY SAID, OH, MS. RASHAD, WE
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE
AUDITIONED FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS
MIDSUMMER PROGRAM AND WE GOT IN.
I SAID, WELL, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AND I
ASKED WHY NOT AND HE SAID
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO GO.
WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
AND I TELL THEM, YOU ARE GOING.
YOU PACK YOUR BAGS AND YOU ARE
GOING.
BE READY.
SO I MADE A PHONE CALL TO A
FRIEND OF MINE.
AND HE CALLE DME BACK AND WE
TALKED ABOUT IT FOR 45 MINUTES
OR LESS AND HE SAID, OKAY, I GOT
THIS MANY.
SO HE SENT THEM.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE TO HELP
OUT LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOU THINK OF A BRIGHT LIKE
LIKE CHADWICK WHO'S NOW GONE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS LEGACY
WILL BE TO YOUNG ACTORS AND
ESPECIALLY YOUNG ACTORS OF
COLOR, PEOPLE WHO MAY BE IN
SCHOOL NOW AND HOPING FOR THAT
SAME BREAK?
>> I THINK WHEN PEOPLE COME TO
KNOW OF HIM NOW, THROUGH THE
WORDS OF ME AND OTHER PEOPLE
WHO HAVE KNOWN HIM, WHAT WILL
BECOME READILY APPARENT TO THEM
IS HIS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND
PURPOSE.
AND IF YOU GO BACK AND LISTEN TO
THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS THAT HE
GAVE AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, HE
SPOKE FERVENTLY ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF PURPOSE.
ALWAYS AS A STUDENT, HE WAS
ABOUT JUSTICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND
JUDICIAL AND EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE
AND RELIGIOUS JUSTICE, HE WAS
ABOUT JUSTICE.
>> AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE PAYING
TRIBUTE TO HIM TONIGHT.
PHYLICIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SHARING YOUR MEMORIES, WE
APPRECIATE IT AND WISH YOU ALL
THE BEST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> AND COMING UP, ROBERT DOWNEY
JR.'S TRIBUTE TO HIS FRIEND.
AND HOW "BLACK PANTHER" CREATED
MOVIE MAGIC AND SOME SAY
TRANSFORMED THE WORLD.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
T‐MOBILE PROUDLY BRINGS YOU
SPECIAL EDITION OF 20/20
CHADWICK BOSEMAN
A TRIBUTE FOR A KING.
♪♪
>>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE.
I AM JOINED NOW BY A VERY
FAMILIAR FACE TO MANY OF US.
TONY STARK, AKA IRON MAN.
BUT ALSO A DEAR FRIEND OF
CHADWICK'S FROM THE MARVEL
UNIVERSE.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR., SO GOOD OF
YOU TO BE WITH US TONIGHT.
AND YOU AND CHADWICK SHARED SOME
ICONIC MOMENTS ONSCREEN TOGETHER
AS FELLOW AVENGERS.
TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR MEMORIES
OF CHADWICK ON‐SET.
>> WELL, TOWARDS THE END OF THE
THIRD "AVENGERS," "THE INFINITY
WAR", WE ALL KIND OF LOSE
TOGETHER.
THERE WERE A FEW DAYS ALL OF THE
AVENGERS WERE TOGETHER.
JUST THE WAY HE WALKED ON‐SET,
AND THE IMMENSE SUCCESS THAT HAD
OCCURRED, AND RIGHTFULLY SO WITH
"BLACK PANTHER."
HE WAS JUST IN THIS KIND OF
STRATUS OF HIS OWN.
BUT ALWAYS HUMBLE, ALWAYS
HARD‐WORKING, ALWAYS A SMILE ON
HIS FACE.
AND JUST NOW LOOKING BACK ALL
THE MORE, I REALIZE WHAT AN
INCREDIBLY GRACEFUL HUMAN BEING
HE WAS.
>> ROBERT, YOU SHARED SUCH A
HEARTWARMING VIDEO ON INSTAGRAM
YESTERDAY.
THE TWO OF YOU, YOU WERE
LAUGHING AND YOU CALLED HIM A
GAME CHANGER.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REMEMBER
YOUR FRIEND AND HOW DO YOU WANT
THE REST OF THE WORLD TO
REMEMBER HIM, TOO?
>> IT WAS ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT
WEEKS AGO, I HAD REACHED OUT TO
HIM AMIDST THE GEORGE FLOYD
PROTEST AND HE HAD SUCH A
THOUGHTFUL AND KIND OF
INFORMATIVE REFRAME FOR ME AS I
WAS ON A BIT OF A LISTENING
TOUR.
AND THEN I JUST GO BACK AND
THINK, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I
THINK ABOUT ‐‐ AND "BLACK
PANTHER" IS HANDS DOWN THE
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE
MARVEL UNIVERSE.
IT WAS THE ONE WHERE PEOPLE GOT
TO VOTE WITH THEIR TICKET SALES
AND SAY WE REQUIRE THIS OVERDUE
DIVERSITY.
THIS IS A MERITOCRACY, OR SHOULD
BE, AND THIS FANTASTIC MOVIE
HAS LEVELLED THE PLAYING FIELD
AND APPROPRIATELY SO.
HIS LEGACY IS SO MEANINGFUL AND
AT THE SAME TIME I WAS NOTICING
AND SO GREAT OF YOU TO DO THIS
ON ABC AND DISNEY AND MARVEL TO
GIVE THIS THE SPACE IT DESERVES.
THERE IS A VOID NOW.
>> SO GENEROUS OF YOU TO SHARE
THAT WITH EVERYONE.
ROBERT, WE APPRECIATE IT SO
VERY, VERY MUCH.
YOU TAKE CARE.
>> THANKS, ROBIN.
>> YES, THEY WERE JUST TWO
WORDS, WAKANDA FOREVER.
BUT IN SO MANY WAYS THEY SUMMED
UP CENTURIES OF STRUGGLES.
AND THE WORLD FIRST HEARD THEM
IN THE GAME‐CHANGING MOVIE,
"BLACK PANTHER," THE FIRST
SUPERHERO FILM EVER NOMINATED
FOR A BEST PICTURE OSCAR.
IT WAS A CULTURAL MOMENT THAT
CHANGED EVERYTHING BEFORE IT AND
AFTER IT.
CHADWICK BOSEMAN WAS THE MAN FOR
MANY.
HERE IS BYRON PITTS.
>> Reporter: EPIC BY EVERY
MEASURE.
>> WE ARE HOME.
>> Reporter: SIZE, SCALE,
IMPACT.
"BLACK PANTHER" DID NOT SIMPLY
SHATTER RECORDS, IT BROKE
BOUNDARIES.
>> IT WAS A MOMENT OF COLLECTIVE
CELEBRATION.
BECAUSE OF THE STORY ITSELF BUT
ALSO BECAUSE OF CHADWICK.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT, THE
BRILLIANCE OF IT, THE ELEGANCE
OF IT.
HE DID ALL OF THAT.
>> AT THE PREMIERE OF "BLACK
PANTHER," CHADWICK AND I SAW
EACH OTHER AND WE EMBRACED EACH
OTHER.
I SAID TO HIM, I CAN'T WAIT TO
SHARE THIS MOVIE WITH THE WORLD
AND HE LEANED IN AND WHISPERED
TO ME IN HIS SOFT VOICE AND HE
SAID, "I CAN'T WAIT TO CHANGE
THE WORLD."
>> Reporter: AND CHANGE THE
WORLD IT DID.
WAKANDA FOREVER BECAME A
RALLYING CRY FOR MILLIONS
WHO FINALLY COULD SEE A
SUPERHERO ON SCREEN WHO LOOKED
LIKE THEM.
THIS VIDEO GOING VIRAL OF
ATLANTA STUDENTS DANCING WHEN
THEY WERE TOLD THEY BE WOULD
GOING TO SEE THE MOVIE.
>> THIS WAS THE FILM THAT WAS
TREATED WITH THE SAME RESPECT
AND THOUGHTFULNESS AS "CAPTAIN
AMERICA" AND "IRON MAN" AND THAT
WAS A GIFT TO A GENERATION OF
CHILDREN WHO NORMALLY WOULD HAVE
NEVER GOT TO SEE THAT BEFORE.
>> I SAY HE'S A STAR BUT ALSO A
SHOOTING STAR BECAUSE HE LIVED
HIS LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT
FOREVER KIDS SEE WHO HIM IN THAT
"BLACK PANTHER" ROLE AND SEE A
REFLECTION OF THEMSELVES
EMBODIED, AND EVERYTHING HE
INTENDED, AND THEY GET TO DREAM
ABOUT AND MAKE WISHES ON THAT
SHOOTING STAR THAT WAS CHADWICK
BOSEMAN.
>> CHAD WAS MY BROTHER.
AND I MEAN THAT IN THE SENSE OF
THERE IS OBVIOUSLY, BROTHER IN A
SENSE OF BEING AN
AFRICAN‐AMERICAN MAN IN AMERICA,
BUT THE BROTHERHOOD I AM REALLY
SPEAKING OF IS HOWARD.
>> Reporter: AT COMMENCEMENT, HE
REFLECTED ON A ROLE HE THOUGHT
PLAYED INTO STEREOTYPES.
>> I WAS CONFLICTED, HOWARD
INSTILLED INTO ME A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF PROUD.
>> CHAD WAS A VERY CONSCIOUS
DUDE.
AND HE WOULD NOT, HE WASN'T THE
KIND OF CAT THAT FELT HE HAD TO
TAKE A ROLE TO MAKE A LIVING.
HIS ART WAS AN ENGS EXTENSION OF
THAT STRUGGLE.
HE WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE
SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT GOING TO,
YOU KNOW, EMBARRASS HIM OR
EMBARRASS HIS PEOPLE OR THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT WAS NOT HIM.
>> Reporter: HE PLAYED SMALLER
ROLES UNTIL HE GOT A CHANCE TO
EMBODY A REAL LIFE HERO, JACKIE
ROBINSON IN "42."
>> I DIDN'T COME HERE TO MAKE
FRIENDS.
I DON'T CARE IF THEY RESPECT ME.
I KNOW WHO I AM.
>> WHEN YOU PLAY SOMEONE WHO
LIVES SO COURAGEOUSLY, YOU ARE
ABLE TO SORT OF RISE TO THE
OCCASION IN A WAY BECAUSE YOU
PLAY SOMEONE WHO DOES THAT.
IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF COURAGE.
>> CHADWICK PLAYED GREAT MEN AND
HE WAS A GREAT MAN.
AND BRINGING REAL LIFE
CHARACTERS TO THE SCREEN WITH
SUCH AMAZING NOBILITY AND HUMOR
AND HUMANITY.
THAT WAS WHY HE WAS THE ONLY
CHOICE.
THE ONLY ACTOR WE DISCUSSED TO
PLAY T'CHALLA WAS CHADWICK.
>> HE BROUGHT ROYALTY, IT IS NOT
EASY TO PLAY A KING.
HE BROUGHT A REGAL SPIRIT.
AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT.
>> Reporter: "BLACK PANTHER" WAS
THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME FOR
BOSEMAN.
REIMAGINING WHAT IT MEANT TO BE
A WARRIOR, A HERO, A KING.
>> I WATCHED THIS MOVIE AND I
SEE ALL THESE BLACK PEOPLE, IN
SOME WAYS IT SEEMS INTENTIONALLY
BLACK, BUT BY THE END OF IT, IT
IS COINCIDENTALLY BLACK.
>> IT'S A UNIVERSAL STORY.
>> YEAH.
THE TRUTH IS, YOU KNOW, ART CAN
DO THAT.
I GREW UP LOVING COMIC BOOKS.
THERE WAS NOT A BLACK FACE TO BE
FOUND.
OUR STORY IS ABOUT A MAN TAKING
ON A RESPONSIBILITY HE'S NOT
READY FOR.
I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE
UNIVERSAL WHOLE STORY.
EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH THAT.
>> YOU PORTRAYED THURGOOD
MARSHAL AND JAMES BROWN AND HOW
DID "BLACK PANTHER" FIT INTO
THAT?
THOSE ARE ALL MEN WHO CHANGED
HISTORY AND NOT ONLY HOW PEOPLE
SAW THEMSELVES BUT HOW OTHERS
SAW THEM.
>> I WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WAS
NOT FOR THOSE MEN I PORTRAYED
BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID IN
THEIR LIVES AND WHAT THE DOORS
THAT IT OPENED FOR ME.
WHEN I WALK INTO THE LAB AND I
AM FEELING MYSELF BECAUSE I AM
KING AND I AM WITH MY SISTER.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF JAMES
BROWN.
WHEN I AM HOLDING COURT, THERE
IS A LITTLE BIT OF THURGOOD
MARSHALL.
>> Reporter: FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME, YOUNG MEN, IN PARTICULAR
THOSE OF COLOR STRIVE A LITTLE
BIT BOLDER AND A LITTLE CHADWICK
BOSEMAN IN THEM.
HE EXEMPLIFIES GRACE AND GRIT
WITH IT.
NOT ONLY IN HIS CAREER, BUT IN
HIS FINAL HOURS.
>> IN A FILM LIKE "BLACK
PANTHER," CHAD WAS ARTICULATING
THE HUMANITY OF BLACK FOLKS.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
YOU CAN'T SHOOT A MAN IN THE
BACK UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THEY ARE
NOT HUMAN AT ALL.
WHAT CHAD WAS DOING IS
COMMUNICATING BLACK HUMANITY
THROUGH BLACK HEROISM.
BUT PRIMARILY, BLACK HUMANITY.
AND HE WAS PEERLESS IN HIS
ABILITY TO DO IT IN HIS CHOSEN
FIELD.
AND HE'S GONE.
SO THAT'S A HUGE LOSS.
THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE LOSS.
>> YOU WATCH MOVIES TO WALK IN
THE SHOES OF THE PROTAGONIST OR
THE HERO.
IT IS NOT JUST ME PLAYING BUT IT
IS ALSO YOU WATCHING IT.
I THINK THAT'S ‐‐ I FEEL BLESSED
TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DO THAT.
>> OUR THANKS TO BYRON.
AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO
WELCOME SOMEONE ELSE WHO WAS
PART OF THE CULTURAL MOMENT OF
"BLACK PANTHER," OSCAR WINNER
FORREST WHITTAKER, WHO PLAYED
ZURRI.
WE KNOW HE WAS SUCH A COLLEAGUE
AND DEAR FRIEND, THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US TONIGHT, AND CAN
YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR FONDEST
MEMORY OF YOUR TIME WORKING WITH
CHADWICK.
>> I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET TO
WORK WITH HIM.
HE WAS SUCH A TALENTED ARTIST
AND WE STARTED TO DO "BLACK
PANTHER" AND I STARTED WORKING
IN THE FALL AND I WAS ABLE TO
LOOK AT HIM AS HE WAS DOING THE
ACTION SEQUENCE WITH MICHAEL
JORDAN AND DOING EVERYTHING
HIMSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND
I GOT TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND THE
DISCIPLINE HE HAD AND THE FOCUS
HE HAD IN THE SCENES WE WERE
DOING THERE.
I THINK I WAS KIND OF TOUCHED
WHEN WE WERE DOING THE
CORONATION SCENE WHERE THEY
CROWNED HIM KING AND EVERYONE IN
THE AUDIENCE IS DANCING AND
DRUMS WERE PLAYING.
I TALKED TO CHADWICK, HE SAYS,
YOU CAN FEEL THIS ENERGY COMING
AS IF THERE WAS A TRANSFORMATION
THAT WAS GOING ON.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY
POWERFUL THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY
HAPPENING.
HE WAS BEING EMPOWERED.
I THINK IT IS THAT KIND OF
DISCIPLINE BUT OPENNESS.
>> YEAH.
>> THAT ALLOWED PART OF THE
PHENOMENON OF "BLACK PANTHER" TO
OCCUR WAS ALL THE THINGS THAT HE
DID, SORT OF INSPIRING PEOPLE TO
BELIEVE IN THEM AND REMEMBERING
THEIR HERITAGE, LINEAGE,
ANCESTRY.
THE BEAUTY AND CULTURE AND BLACK
CULTURE AND I GUESS EMPOWER
PEOPLE, CHILDREN TO BE ABLE
TO BE EMPOWERED AND SEE
THEMSELVES AND FOR PEOPLE TO SEE
THE POSSIBILITIES AND I THINK
THE POSSIBILITIES THAT IS
ASPIRATIONAL IN A WAY.
FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, HE
REPRESENTED A GREAT DEAL OF
HOPE.
PEOPLE REALIZED THAT MORE CAN
COME, THEY CAN HAVE GREAT LIVES,
AND THAT THEY COME FROM
SOMETHING SPECIAL, THEY HAVE
SOMETHING SPECIAL.
I THINK HE RECOGNIZED THAT IN A
POWERFUL WAY.
IT WAS REALLY AN HONOR TO DO IT.
>> SO WELL‐SAID FOR US, THANK
YOU, FOREST WHITTAKER, FOR BEING
WITH US TONIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
YOU TAKE CARE.
>> IT IS A PLEASURE, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHEN WE COME BACK, CHADWICK
BOSEMAN'S SILENT BATTLE WITH
CANCER AND THE POWERFUL ACTS OF
STRENGTH SHOWN IN PUBLIC.
HOW HIS DEATH IS RAISING THE
ALARM ON EARLIER CANCER
SCREENINGS.
THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT.
T‐MOBILE PROUDLY BRINGS YOU
SPECIAL EDITION OF 20/20
CHADWICK BOSEMAN
A TRIBUTE FOR A KING.
♪♪
>>> "YOU HAVE CANCER."
THOSE ARE WORDS THAT STRIKE FEAR
INTO EVERYONE.
AS I HAVE OFTEN SAID, IT IS A
COMMUNITY YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A
PART OF BUT SO MANY OF US ARE.
AND NOW WE KNOW CHADWICK BOSEMAN
WAS BATTLING IN PRIVATE.
JUST IMAGINE WHAT HE WAS GOING
THROUGH WITH TREATMENT AND THE
INNER STRENGTH HE MUST HAVE
CALLED ON TO KEEP UP WITH THE
GRUELING SCHEDULES OF MAKING
MOVIES.
SO WE WANT TO USE THIS AS A
TEACHABLE MOMENT.
WE KNOW CHADWICK WOULD HAVE
APPRECIATED THIS.
IT IS ABOUT TESTING AND EARLY
INTERVENTIONS.
HERE IS MY COLLEAGUE AND FELLOW
CANCER THRIVER, STEVE OSUNSAMI.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD.
I LOVED YOUR MOVIE.
>> Reporter: THIS WAS ONE OF THE
AMAZING THINGS THAT CHADWICK
BOSEMAN KEPT ON DOING WHILE
QUIETLY STRUGGLING WITH CANCER.
BEING A REAL LIFE HERO AT
ST. JUDE'S HOSPITAL.
MEETING THESE CHILDREN WAS
HUGELY IMPORTANT FOR THIS
SUPERSTAR.
AND IT SHOWED ON THIS 2018
INTERVIEW AT SIRIUS XM.
>> THERE WERE TWO KIDS WHO
RECENTLY PASSED FROM CANCER.
THEY'RE TRYING TO HOLD ON UNTIL
THIS MOVIE COMES.
JUST TO EXPERIENCE THOSE TWO
LITTLE BOYS AND THE ANTICIPATION
OF THIS MOVIE AND WHEN I FOUND
OUT THAT THEY ‐‐
>> TAKE YOUR TIME WITH IT.
>> YEAH, IT MEANS A LOT.
>> ZOE DALE NEEDED EXHAUSTING
AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL RADIATION
TO FIGHT BRAIN CANCER WHEN KING
T'CHALLA HIMSELF CAME TO VISIT
AT THE HOSPITAL.
>> I WAS REALLY NERVOUS AND
BEING ABLE TO MEET HIM WAS ONE
OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I HAD AT
ST. JUDE.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS ALL SMILES
FOR THIS PHOTO WITH HER SISTER.
>> WE DID MARKS ON OUR FACE.
AND TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS
AFRICAN‐AMERICAN TO BE A LEAD IN
A MOVIE, SUCH A BIG MOVIE LIKE
THAT, TO SOUND LIKE OUR DAD, HE
WAS LIKE A ROLE MODEL THAT WE
CAN LOOK UP TO AND SOMEONE THAT
LOOKED LIKE US IN A MOVIE.
>> IT WAS HER 30th AND FINAL
TIME SHE WAS GOING TO THE
HOSPITAL FOR RADIATION.
AND THE ACTOR SIGNED HER
TREATMENT SCHEDULE WITH A
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
>> HE SIGNED THE RADIATION
SCHEDULE AND IT SAYS "WAKANDA,"
AND IFE, IT WAS TRANSLATED TO
LOVE.
>> Reporter: WHAT THE DALE
FAMILY IS LEARNING NOW WAS THAT
BOSEMAN WAS SHOWING INCREDIBLE
STRENGTH AND CHARACTER, TRYING
TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF THESE SICK
CHILDREN.
>> I WAS THINKING HOW HE WAS
ABLE TO BE AT ST. JUDE WITH A
SMILE ON HIS FACE THE ENTIRE
TIME.
AND I WAS JUST THINKING, WOW.
>> Reporter: BEHIND THAT SMILE,
SOMEONE SO YOUNG, WHO LOOKED SO
HEALTHY, WAS FIGHTING COLORECTAL
CANCER BEHIND THE SCENES.
>> IN 2020, IT WAS ESTIMATED
THAT MORE THAN 140,000 OF COLON
RECTAL CANCER WILL BE DIAGNOSED
WITH ALMOST 50,000 PEOPLE DYING
FROM THIS DISEASE.
>> Reporter: IN THE LAST 20
YEARS, DOCTORS HAVE SEEN AN
ALARMING INCREASE IN YOUNG
PEOPLE.
DR. KIM YANG IS IN BOSTON.
>> THE RISE OF COLON CANCER
HAPPENING IN YOUNG PEOPLE HAS
BEEN STARTING TO BE SEEN SINCE
THE MID‐1990s AND IT IS
OCCURRING AT A RATE OF ABOUT 2%
PER YEAR.
AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN
RESPONSE TO THAT IS THE AMERICAN
CANCER SOCIETY ACTUALLY LOWERING
THEIR RECOMMENDED AGE TO START
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING FROM
AGE 50 DOWN TO 45.
NOW, ALTHOUGH THAT MAY BE A GOOD
FIRST STEP, IT CERTAINLY DOES
NOT HELP ALL THE PATIENTS WE SEE
WHO ARE BEING DIAGNOSED AND
PRESENTING WHEN THEY ARE IN
>> Reporter: COLON CANCER IS
ALSO HITTING BLACK AMERICANS
HARDER.
ACCORDING TO THIS DOCTOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS
ANGELES.
>> AFRICAN‐AMERICANS ARE MORE
LIKELY TO GET AND DIE FROM
COLORECTAL CANCER.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE DONE BETTER
GETTING AFRICAN‐AMERICANS
SCREENED, WE HAVE QUITE A WAY TO
GO.
>> Reporter: FOR DOCTORS LEADING
THE FIGHT OF THIS DISEASE, THE
TRAGEDY OF BOSEMAN'S DEATH IS A
CHANCE TO RAISE AWARENESS.
>> MY ONE GOAL AND MY ONE HOPE
IS THAT WE CAN USE THIS TIME TO
UNDERSTAND HOW COMMON COLORECTAL
CANCER IS AND WE CAN ALL EDUCATE
OURSELVES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF SCREENING.
IF WE CAN DO THAT, THEN WE CAN
DO JUSTICE TO HIS LEGACY.
>> Reporter: SO OFTEN THE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HE TOUCHED
WERE CALLED HIS WAKANDA
WARRIORS.
SOME OF THEM ARE STILL FIGHTING
FOR THEIR LIVES, AND THEY
CONTINUE TO DRAW STRENGTH FROM
THEIR FALLEN HERO.
>> HIS JOURNEY IMPACTS MINE JUST
TO KEEP GOING AND NO MATTER WHAT
YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, TO PUSH
FORWARD AND TO FIND A PURPOSE
THAT YOU ARE WORKING FOR AND
JUST TO BE STRONG.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
WHEN WE RETURN, BOSEMAN BEYOND A
SUPERHERO.
HOW THE ACTOR AND ACTIVIST IS
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION.
TONIGHTS
SPECIAL EDITION OF 20/20.
CHADWICK BOSEMAN
A TRIBUTE FOR A KING
HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU
PROUDLY BY T‐MOBILE.
♪♪
>>> CHADWICK ONCE SAID ABOUT HIS
CHARACTER IN "BLACK PANTHER,"
T'CHALLA IS BASICALLY SAYING, WE
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
WORLD OF BEING THE BEACON OF
LIGHT.
CHADWICK TOOK THAT TO HEART AND
THAT LIGHT IN TURN SPOKE TO SO
MANY OTHERS.
♪♪
>> HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO LET
YOU KNOW THAT HE LOVED YOU AND
HOW HE FELT ABOUT YOU.
IT IS A RARE QUALITY.
>> YOU KNOW, HE HAD THIS
COMBINATION OF BEING AN OLD SOUL
WITH THE MOST INCREDIBLE TWINKLE
IN HIS EYES.
>> TO ALL THOSE LITTLE KIDS THAT
LOVED "BLACK PANTHER" AND LOOK
TO T'CHALLA AS THEIR HERO, JUST
KNOW THE GUY WHO PLAYED HIM IS
EVEN A BIGGER HERO IN REAL LIFE.
>> WAKANDA FOREVER!
>> THERE WILL BE AN
IRREPLACEABLE CHARACTER IN THE
MARVEL FAMILY.
>> REST IN POWER, KING.
>> HE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AND
WHAT A LIFE, SO MUCH HE LEFT
BEHIND ONSCREEN AND SO MUCH HE
STILL HAD TO GIVE.
AS WE SAY GOOD NIGHT, WE WANT TO
LEAVE YOU YOU CHADWICK BOSEMAN'S
WORDS IN HIS OWN VOICE.
FROM THE DAY HE RECEIVED HIS
HONORARY DEGREE FROM HOWARD
UNIVERSITY.
AS YOU LISTEN, PLEASE HOLD HIM
AND HIS FAMILY IN YOUR HEARTS.
GOOD NIGHT.
>> 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 FAILURE AT FIRST AND THE
ONE PROVING TO HAVE MORE VICTORY
AND GLORY, THAT YOU WILL NOT
REGRET IT.
AS YOU COMMIT TO YOUR PAST,
PRESS ON WITH PRIDE AND PRESS ON
WITH PURPOSE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
I LOVE YOU HOWARD.
HOWARD FOREVER.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪♪