-
Heroes And Villains
Photo: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Boseman showed his strong belief in people's choices having consequences as he spoke with CNET in 2017.
"The only difference between a hero and the villain is that the villain chooses to use that power in a way that is selfish and hurts other people."
-
Growing Pains
Photo: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
The actor inspired a generation of new Howard University alumni when he gave his speech at his Alma Mater in 2018 about finding true purpose.
“When you invest in a seed, watching it grow without you, that is a bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “Sometimes you need to feel the pain and sting of defeat to activate the real passion and purpose that God predestined inside of you.”
-
True Purpose
Photo: Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock
In the same 2018 commencement speech, Boseman encouraged the graduates to look for more meaning in their careers rather than seeing them as a means to an end.
“When you are deciding on next steps, next jobs, next careers, further education, you should rather find purpose than a job or a career. Purpose crosses disciplines. Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.”
-
Untold Stories
Photo: Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock
"Black Panther" was a gamechanger for superhero films and showed the value of diverse storytelling.
Boseman shared his hope for more diverse entries to break the mold in Hollywood in his 2018 Rolling Stone interview.
“There’s a plethora of stories in our culture that haven’t been told because Hollywood didn’t believe they were viable."
“It would be cool to see slices of history that you haven’t seen with African figures. Like Africans in Europe — the Moors in Spain. Or if you go to Portugal, they have statues of Black people all over the place. So, not only have we been here, but we’ve directly affected everything that you think is European.”
-
Pursuit Of Excellence
Photo: Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock
During his 50th NAACP Awards speech in 2019, the actor spoke about how purpose is a journey and not an end goal.
“I feel that I’m living my purpose. But the thing about purpose is that it unfolds to you more and more everyday,”
“You could be living in what was revealed to you at a particular time, and then you might get stagnated because there’s more that you’re supposed to do. It doesn’t just stop as you do one thing."
"I think it’s [about] being open to what you’re supposed to do at this moment and not getting stuck in the past. Purpose is not related to career or career. It’s related to what God put inside you that you’re supposed to give to the world.”
-
Real-Life Superhero
Photo: Marvel/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
While receiving the Best Hero award at the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards, Boseman paid tribute to the real life heroes who dedicate their everyday to doing good.
“Receiving an award for playing a superhero is amazing, but it’s even greater to acknowledge the heroes that we have in real life."
Boseman relinquished his “Best Hero” award to James Shaw Jr., who saved lives when he fought off a gunman in an Antioch, Tennessee Waffle House.