Silent Battles: The Chadwick Boseman Lesson on Empathy

On August 28th the world learned of the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, The Black Panther. Since 2014 he had been fighting stage III colon cancer. His cancer diagnosis was not mentioned in interviews, he didn’t call the paparazzi when he was getting treatment, he didn’t refuse work, in fact he worked harder. He didn’t refuse meeting fans or visiting terminally ill children in the hospital. He worked until the end with poise and dignity, appearing in movies that would inspire a generation. In 2017 he played Thurgood Marshall in the movie Marshall, in 2018 he gave us Black Panther, 21 Bridges in 2019, Da 5 Bloods in 2020, and the soon to be released Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; all while undergoing multiple surgeries and chemotherapy.

Chadwick left behind a legacy to be reckoned with, his stamp on the Black Panther superhero has now made it difficult for any actor to fill that suit. He was a hero that little Black boys and girls could look up to. A hero that Black people were proud of, a hero we could call our own. He was from the fictional country of Wakanda where Black people thrived and lived their best lives.

In April 2020, Chadwick posted a video on his Instagram account about COVID-19 and access to medical supplies and PPEs, and it was evident he was not well. He looked frail and thin. The comments under this video were ruthless regarding his weight loss. One follower commented that he was no longer the “Black Panther” but the “crack panther” another alluded that he may be on drugs, another mentioned “they heard” he had AIDS. A few of his followers expressed concerned about his health and his weight by stating “praying for whatever you’re going thru,” “eat some Spinach” and some commented with conviction that he had lost weight intentionally for a movie role. But no one knew why he had lost weight, and many did not pause to think before posting their hurtful comments, that he may have been seriously ill.

Chadwick Boseman’s life and legacy should not only focus on what a selfless person he was, or Chadwick Boseman the great actor, or how he fought until the end. The most important lesson that should be absorbed from all of this, is a lesson on empathy. The ability to be concerned about another person’s well being and happiness. Seeing someone in pain and responding by offering help, or comforting words. Empathy is necessary because you never know what silent battle someone is fighting, so it’s important to be kind…always. It’s important to be mindful of the words we speak, or write, and resist the urge to give unsolicited criticism.

We were not privy to the battle Chadwick was facing, however the lack of information did not give permission to comment on his weight loss. It’s evident Chadwick was not seeking sympathy (feeling sorry for someone) or he would have been vocal about his fight. Nevertheless, his followers could have been empathetic when they saw his video in April, since they felt compelled to post a comment.

Society today is becoming less empathetic and more narcissistic. We’ve become preoccupied with our own wants and needs. We’ve become desensitized and numb to the pain of others. Instead of helping, we record and post on social media for likes. Instead of growing in love, we are continuously growing in hate. Instead of showing compassion, we show indifference. We are without conscience. It used to be said that it takes a village to raise a child, now the village is only concerned with their own children, and we are no longer our brother’s keeper. It’s time we get back to the basics of being good neighbors, get back to when we cared enough to ask the right questions, and offer a helping hand without the need for a photo op.

If you feel as if you’ve not been practicing empathy lately, below are some tips to get you back on track. Being empathetic does not mean you neglect your own feelings while taking on the emotional burdens of others. Being empathetic is about understanding the feelings of others.

Five Tips on Being Empathetic

1. Spend time with individuals that are different from you.

2. Listen with a non-judgmental ear

3. Validate the viewpoints of others

4. Acknowledge the pain of others

5. Show care and concern

The passing of Chadwick Boseman has left me heartbroken, but I’m confident he gave all he had before he became empty. He had the choice of being a victim because of the hand life dealt him, but instead he chose to be a warrior to the very end. In this moment and in retrospect, we were witnesses to his strength and fight for life. I believe Chadwick did not want cancer to define him or overshadow his legacy, and he can rest easy in the heavens of Wakanda that his legacy will live on.

Wakanda Forever!

Chadwick Boseman Forever!

For more on this blog post, listen to my podcast: Dr. Tamaru Speaks, available on all popular outlets. Or click the link below.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/40461187