It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the one-year anniversary of the passing of Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020). Taken from us way too young, Boseman, at the height of his career, died from complications of colon cancer at just 43. Even though he was diagnosed way back in 2016, his illness was a complete surprise to almost everyone around him. The epitome of class and kindness, beyond being an actor, director, playwright and teacher over the course of his career, Boseman was also a well-known philanthropist and a supporter of social equality. And during a summer filled with racial justice protests, Boseman’s death was an unbearable blow to his fans, colleagues, family and friends. Leaving us with an absolutely groundbreaking filmography and legacy, both on and off screen, Boseman taught us to be strong, compassionate, and kind. An inspiration for all, Boseman’s impressive portrayals are astounding with a total of 97 nominations and 54 wins for various roles. Many of which give insight into the black experience while also teaching us what it is to be human regardless of race. Whether playing historical African American figures, a struggling musician, the King of Wakanda, or a simple military man, here are five Chadwick Boseman films that show us what it is to be human well beyond color.

Baseball fan or not, chances are you at least recognize the name Jackie Robinson (1919-1972). For me, as a black woman and history lover, a story that pays tribute to the first African American to play Major League Baseball (MLB) was definitely worth a look. And if I knew one thing going in, it’s that Mr. Robinson’s talents persevered at a time when blacks were still segregated in most of the United States well beyond baseball. For this, Robinson became a beacon of hope for marginalized black Americans across the country. HECK YEAH!! As noted on the official movie poster: “In a game divided by color, he made us see greatness.” Boseman elevated this statement to critical acclaim and commercial success. But the human element is what got me!! Boseman’s ability to pull back the curtain is something he took very seriously and it shows!! In doing so, he told the Hollywood Reporter his biggest challenge for becoming Jackie was to get past the icon and “make him have flaws…” NICE!!
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Many baseball fans the world over could likely tell you Robinson’s stats without giving a second thought to what he dealt with regarding racism. Getting to see this American hero behind the scenes gives those who might otherwise remain ignorant, a look at the pressure Robinson was under. Not just for the game itself, but simply for the color of his skin. Highlighting this fact should always be part of not just the black experience, but a human one. Because, empathy for a situation you couldn’t possibly understand – especially in the Jim Crow era – is how we end mental segregation and grow as a species. Boseman knew this, as well as the fact, that history sees Jackie Robinson as a sports legend… often overlooking his plight to be seen as human rather than black. Imagining what it must’ve been like for Robinson to rise to fame while also becoming the epicenter of race relations in the game would be a struggle for anyone, yet Boseman made it look easy. So much so, Jackie’s wife was in awe stating: “I was moved to tears by the performance.” So was I Mrs. Robinson… SO WAS I!!

Though Marshall under performed at the box office, the film still bodes well with critics and fans alike arguably due to Boseman’s portrayal. Additionally, a stellar cast overall, the film gives the viewer a glimpse at the early career of Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) well before he famously argued 30+ cases before the United States Supreme Court – including Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) – or became the first African American justice appointed to said court (1967). Way back in 1940, working for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Mr. Marshall took on the Trial of Joseph Spell – a black chauffeur accused of raping the wife of his boss. With the odds ever in the white man’s favor, Marshall famously argued and won Mr. Spell his freedom. An early Civil Rights victory for a young up and coming lawyer, the story is brilliant! Seems simple enough, right? However, for me, it’s the underlying tone set forth by Boseman that really shines. He’s excellent when showing the strength and courage Mr. Marshall had in the face of daily opposition. Initially reluctant to play this iconic historical figure, Director Reginald Hudlin recalls having to persuade Chadwick, who: “for the greater good,” ultimately agreed to take on the role. And honestly, after seeing it, I cannot picture another actor in his place.
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Though similar in many ways to the other characters noted in this piece when it comes to racism, Boseman’s portrayal of each is drastically different. In particular to this role, he’s self-assured and arrogant, yet extremely professional when he needs to be. Presumably all traits Thurgood had to balance despite extreme racial adversity. Adding in the bold and honest approach Mr. Marshall was famous for, Chadwick also shows us his vulnerable sides giving the character and the overall performance a subtle nuance required for the audience to see themselves in the story. Matched by his co-counsel Sam Freidman (Josh Gad), their dynamic is amazing! As noted by Matt Zoller Seitz on RogerEbert.com: “It [the film] pays attention to issues of racial, religious and gender discrimination without wavering from its main objective: giving us an entertaining film about a couple of guys who are in way over their heads.” And by the end, thanks to Boseman, you can feel the weight of the history yet to come. In short… all the actors bring it, but Boseman’s humanity truly sells it!! NICE!!

Reprising his role as Prince T’Challa from Captain America: Civil War (Walt Disney Studios; 2016), in Black Panther we see T’Challa ascend to the King of Wakanda. Strong yet fallible, he stumbles and falls during his reign giving the overall performance an amazingly human story! Learning several lessons on what it truly means to be King, T’Challa ultimately rises up to overcome and watching Boseman in this role is pure bliss. Irreplaceable is putting it mildly as the head of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige said it best: “The only actor we ever discussed to play T’Challa was Chadwick Boseman.” Not to mention that well beyond all the stellar performances, the film became a worldwide phenomenon. It’s also the largest grossing film in history with a predominantly all black cast and director. HECK YEAH!!
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Beyond all that success, even before Boseman’s passing, King T’Challa and Wakanda came to represent a black utopia. A place where as a culture, slavery and oppression didn’t exist. Because, doesn’t everyone, regardless of color, dream?? And to see the sprawling land of Wakanda it’s no wonder the cultural significance of this movie cannot be understated as John Hopkins Historian Nathan D.B. Connolly said: “Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther taps a 500-year history of African-descended people imagining freedom, land and autonomy.” So, basically, Wakanda can and should represent any culture, race, creed, color or religion that strives for equality and acceptance. At the center of it all, Boseman carried the title of King with grace, dignity and pride. All things ANY King should possess. And even though Boseman is gone, it’s fitting to know that his final acting credits will come in the form of voicing T’Challa in four episodes of the animated Marvel television series What If…? (Disney+; 2021) currently streaming. Not to mention, Disney and Kevin Feige have been adamant that though Black Panther will continue, Boseman’s role will never be recast with Feige noting: “we’re going to do it [bring Wakanda back] in a way that would make Chad proud.” Bravo Disney… BRAVO!!

Looking once again in the past, Boseman took a minor role with a Spike Lee Joint that turned out to be anything but. Portraying Army Commander Norman Earl Holloway (AKA: Stormin’ Norman), Boseman becomes the anchor to the movie as we see four Vietnam Vets return to the country decades later on a new mission to retrieve Norman’s remains along with a buried treasure of gold. Sounds weird, I know. And for what it’s worth, it is. Filled with social and racial lessons, this film – not unlike other Spike Lee projects – gives a detailed account of the black experience. To fight in a war just as confused as everyone else only to still be treated as less than upon returning home. A sentiment that’s still carried today… all I can say is this film hurts on all sides. Empathy for an aftermath still felt and seen in Vietnam decades later seeps through. Exploitation. Greed. Anger. Regret. They all play a role here to varying degrees and no one tale is like the other.
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With layers of history throughout, the entire film is about facing demons, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dealing with personal struggles. All of which are most often told by white Hollywood. Lee turns this tale on its head. And though the overall structure of the film is a little messy and feels somewhat choppy in a few places, the colorblind human message is clear – face your issues or be ruled by them. Boseman, only appearing in flashbacks, steps into the heart and mind of a black soldier, who even at the height of the war and the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), commands his fellow soldiers with racial pride. Saying Da 5 Bloods will make you think on multiple levels is a gross understatement!! And though all of the actors’ hand in some of their best work, particularly, Delroy Lindo as Paul, every inch of Boseman’s screentime is truly human, mesmerizing and quite frankly, way too short lived. Right Spike??

Born from a time of absolute oppression, the blues belongs solely to the black experience . And Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (adapted from the 1982 August Wilson play) – told over the course of one recording session in Chicago on a hot summer day in July 1927 – does its best to show you that history. Not about the music. But about the lives of those struggling to matter under the weight of white oppression. Freed from the chains of slavery over 50 years prior, only to be trapped by the crushing weight of Jim Crow laws; discrimination at every turn from wages to housing to basic opportunity pushed heaps of disenfranchised black folks to the fringes of society. But the blues? That was ours!! At least for a time anyways. And Black Bottom shows us this as we watch white record label businessmen trip over themselves to make Ma comfortable all for the sake of making a record. A record that will make money!! It’s a sight to behold, that’s for sure and I LOVED IT!!
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Yet, folded in the pages of this recording session are the intricacies of the lives of Ma’s band. It’s here we see Boseman muster up his Oscar nominated performance as Levee Green, the stubbornly ambitious trumpet player. Green’s childhood trauma, struggle with his belief in God and his overall every man for themselves attitude is laid bare in a haunting performance allowing any viewer, no matter their color, to feel his humanity on several striking levels. A presentation so strong that even his fellow actors took a step back. Coleman Domingo who plays bandmate Cutler, suggested that Boseman was tapping into his own pain and after several weeks of working together, felt the group had a trust that allowed them: “to go to those deep places because the play required it.” Further, director George C. Wolfe noted that during early rehearsals he got to watch Boseman peel back the layers of the character so that by the time they were filming: “he [Chadwick] had completely located Levee inside himself.” And boy does it show!! So much so that when Anthony Hopkins beat out Boseman for the Best Actor Oscar, he paid tribute to Chadwick in his Instagram acceptance speech recorded the following day at his home in Wales. And earlier in the award season, Chadwick’s wife, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, gave an emotion filled acceptance speech for his Golden Globe win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama for his role in Black Bottom. A well deserved win amongst many others and a fitting conclusion to a career that ended way too soon. Though, if I had it my way, that Oscar statue would be among the trophies too!!

A film about the life of musician James Brown (1933-2006), Get on Up is colorful yet gritty with excellent cinematography. Though implied through a few small scenes, staying away from Brown’s womanizing abusive history was most certainly a misstep of this visual biography, but overall, Boseman’s representation, as well as the historical references are definitely on point and well worth the watch. Especially his dancing and verbiage. A true homage to the Godfather of Soul!!

Well, there you have it. Five Chadwick Boseman films (and an honorable mention) that teach us about humanity well beyond the confines of skin color. Of course, without Chadwick here to confirm, it’s hard to tell just how much he wanted the audience in all of these stunning films to see humanity before color. But given his kindness, it’s easy to believe that at the very least, he definitely wanted to strike a balance between racial issues and the human experience. For who are we all, but human!! His body of work is a testament to this and provides a lasting legacy that generations of all races can embrace. And I sure hope they do!!
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Survived by his wife Taylor Simone Leward Boseman, his mother and father Carolyn and Leroy Boseman and his older brothers Kevin and Derrick Boseman and millions of fans worldwide, Chadwick, who constantly struggled to improve, will forever be a King! Rest in peace brother!!

While 2020 saw a lot of change for a lot of people, it hit me more personally in the most unexpected way. To say this blog will probably be the most personal one I have ever written is a bit of an understatement, but this is something so near and dear to my heart that I had to share it. 

Amid a raging Pandemic, my family got some news that has changed our lives forever and for the better. There are so many stories out there of DNA tests affecting families’ lives and uncovering family secrets, well, I had made enough jokes about those tests that my sister finally got me one. And then slowly my whole family got them. My dad and I did ours at the same time, so our results came in first. That’s when we discovered that I was, in fact, 16.9% Sicilian... and that I had another sister. There is no scandal to be had however, like one might expect when they find a long-lost sibling they didn’t know about. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and mine is no different. Many may not know this, but I am actually adopted by my dad. My Parents married when I was 7. As it turns out, before they tied the knot, my dad inadvertently had my sister without his knowing. Her name is Ashton, and she was also adopted, by both of her parents. This story takes a very sad turn, though. 

Unfortunately, shortly after finding out about her, we also found out the most tragic news. Ashton had passed away in a car accident in 2016.

The truth is, the excitement of having another sister hadn’t even had a chance to fully settle down before that crushing news. That is what makes this blog so hard to write today, and yet there is another reason I am sharing this with everyone. Ashton was a wonderful person, and she went above and beyond to share that with the world. She worked in animal shelters, helped turn around adoption rates, and above all believed in bettering the community. Ashton had a deep love of helping and a bright eye for learning. 

She learned to combine the two and started helping her community by volunteering for a non-profit that helped struggling women. Ashton found a new love and purpose in doing so. She saw the impact of helping other women. She was a lifeline for women coming out of recovery, women who were hit hard by life, women who just needed someone to believe in them. At the end of the day, Ashton realized that life was so much better when we banded together and supported one another. The belief that education is the key to solving the world’s problems is something Ashton and I both share and something I strive for. Ashton wanted to help make education as obtainable as possible, for everyone.

In her passing, Ashton left behind a legacy that is going strong today. Her parents started the Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation in her honor. The Foundation itself works to help struggling women break the socioeconomic hurdle they face by providing funds for classes, testing, vocational education, training, work assistance, and so much more. The Foundation hopes to expand its scholarships to children in difficult economic situations so that they may pursue their dreams without financial worry, soon. Ashton’s dream of helping people has not stopped and only keeps growing. We have so much in common and so much of the same life experiences, it both breaks and warms my heart to know more about her. While Ashton is no longer here, she has left behind the inspirational drive that could change generations to come. Ashton’s strong convictions about helping the community are something that should be shared. We cannot lose our humanity and turn our backs on each other, just because we have different opportunities. If we can learn anything from Ashton, it’s that we all deserve a chance to chase our dreams and that we should love one another and support one another, and together we can make for a brighter tomorrow.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit AshtonHopeKeeganFoundation.org.

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture ‘Black Widow’.
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Today, I wanted to talk about the Black Widow movie, yet I wanted to talk about it in a different light. No, I’m not going to address the ongoing lawsuit. I am, however, going to base this blog off of one particular line. The movie seems to be hit or miss for some. I personally loved it, I also loved Captain Marvel, and while both movies have some flaws, I really don’t think they’re as bad as everyone is trying to make them out to be. Love the movie or hate it or be indifferent to it, but respect the opinions of other people. Anyway, the film itself tells us the tale of Natasha and her Family that wasn’t quite a family. We got to see her growing up a bit and learned about Yelena, whom I don’t think I could have loved more if I tried. I’m not saying she made that movie; I am saying that her humor and wit seriously hit too close to home for me. Of course, we got glimpses of the Red Room and the training the girls underwent, and above all, we got a bit more reasoning on why the Black Widows ended up being so loyal to the cause. Either way, Nat and her family take down the Red Room for good and we get to know what Natasha was doing between Civil War and Infinity War.

All in all, it’s a great movie. I would have loved a true origin because Hawkeye and Black Widow are best friend goals. But it was still fun and enjoyable. It sets up Yelena’s entrance into the MCU nicely, gives Natasha a proper send off, and the humor was straight up on point. Yet the one line I really want to talk about is said by Dreykov. Towards the ending of the film, Dreykov is giving his big bad guy speech on how he utilized a resource found in abundance, girls. And he’s not wrong on that front. After all, women are viewed as property and status symbols around the world and sometimes they go missing to become a resource (more on that in a moment) and they’re viewed in such a negative light that sometimes their tough journey starts at birth. In fact, 1.5 million births are not reported, yearly, and it’s estimated that they are female and 90-95% of those missing reports come from India, which holds the highest record for female infanticide. Also, women go missing a lot in this world. More broadly, within the last 50 years, 45.8 million missing women came from India. Last year in the United States, alone, 209,375 women under the age of 21 and 59, 369 women over the age of 21 were reported missing. It is a serious issue.

The idea that Dreykov could take young girls and train them to be super assassins is not that far from reality considering the numbers. That one line changed the entire way I viewed the movie. Natasha is not just some superhero, she’s a survivor of human trafficking and who knows what else. There are many movies that detail the female assassin lifestyle and how they get there. Red Sparrow, in particular, is one I quit watching after 5 minutes because of obvious reasons. The Americans is an Amazon/FX show that plays off the Russian undercover agent living in America, and that show also had similar scenes as Red Sparrow. Both fall into the ideology that a woman character cannot be as bad ass as she is without overcoming rape, thereby propagating rape culture in media. Black Widow broke away from that mold, like many other movies and shows and games with female leads and showed a different take on Natasha’s character. However, the subtext of what the Widows went through to become what they are, is not lost. They portray Dreykov as a big bad monster that has them all scared to stand up to him, let alone take him on. He even explains how many of the girls were bought from their families.

There was a time, where podcasts weren’t taken all that seriously. In fact, they were considered an off-the-cuff hobby, and folks believed that they were primarily recorded in dusty basements by people who didn’t have anything better to do with their time. But those bold pioneers paved the way for a powerhouse medium, one that people now embrace and record on a regular basis since the world figured out… that such perceptions were woefully incorrect, since podcasts are quite the impactful way to entertain audiences.

In fact, they’re so accessible that big names are starting to get involved with them in some capacity and some companies are working to more or less resurrect radio-style dramas through them and it just so happens that an Academy-Award Nominated Actress is about to take part in an epic fictional podcast series. For Realm Media revealed earlier today that Gabourey Sidibe will star in their new dark satire podcast, If I Go Missing the Witches Did It and well… here are all the details on this new series, courtesy of Realm Media.
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‘Realm, the audio entertainment company that creates original fiction podcasts and audiobook series, today announced an expansion of its Hollywood talent roster with the addition of Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, Empire), leading the cast for If I Go Missing the Witches Did It, a thriller with satirical and paranormal elements. The thought-provoking and relevant nine-episode podcast will premiere its first episode on Sunday, September 26, followed by one new episode every Sunday thereafter, on all podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.
 
"We are thrilled to work with Gabourey, whose portrayal of New York writer Jenna Clayton will make you not only laugh hysterically but also engage critically with issues of race, class, and capitalism,” said Molly Barton, CEO and co-founder, Realm. 
 
Written by Pia Wilson (Genius: Aretha), the satirical show follows Jenna (played by Gabourey) who, after a summer in Westchester soaking up how the other half lives, has vanished without a trace. The only clue: a set of voice memos detailing an investigation into a group of influencers she suspected were using magic to achieve their means. Sidibe is joined by voice actress Sarah Natochenny (Ash Ketchum in Pokemon) who plays Elise, a white podcast host with a savior complex who takes up the cause of finding Jenna.
 
“I'm so excited to work with Realm on my first fiction podcast role! I was excited about this show as soon as I read Pia Wilson's writing," Sidibe says. "It's really relatable and hilarious. After gathering a large library of shows I listen to, I’m excited to now be included in the library of other people who enjoy losing themselves in a good story." 
 
Realm has been ramping up their show roster, recently announcing that Tatiana Maslany will be returning to Orphan Black: The Next Chapter alongside original television series cast members Jordan Gavaris (Felix Dawkins) and Evelyne Brochu (Delphine Cormier). Maslany will also be executive producing and narrating an all-new original Realm podcast titled Power Trip. As for legendary horror director and producer, John Carpenter and Storm King Productions President, Sandy King Carpenter, their first three shows with Realm — Roanoke Falls, Angel to Some and Furnace — will be available later this year and in 2022.
 
In addition to free, ad-supported podcast distribution, Realm shows are available through the Realm Unlimited subscription, on Realm.fm and in the Realm app (on Android and via iOS). The subscription features ad-free, early access to the complete library of Realm Originals, access to bonus content, community perks, and a dual-format experience in Realm’s proprietary Flow Reader (simultaneous audio + text). 
 
Realm also announced a slate of shows to be released exclusively through Realm+ on Apple Podcasts Subscriptions: The Vela, Low Life, and The Shadow Files of Morgan Knox. All Realm+ shows are available to subscribers completely ad-free, with all episodes dropping at once, with corresponding bonus episodes for each series.’
 
If anything, this looks to be one special fiction podcast, one that will undoubtedly suck listeners in with its fascinating plot and star-studded cast and we here at Nerds That Geek, cannot wait to give it a listen when it debuts on Sunday, September 26.