Howard University, one of the most distinguished HBCUs (historically Black college or university) in the United States, has decided to honor the memory of one of its famous alumni by renaming its College of Fine Arts after Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020).
Chadwick Boseman (the Black Panther in the MCU, Thoth in Gods of Egypt, Jackie Robinson in 42) graduated from Howard in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing. Other Howard alumni include Nobel Prize winner Ralph Bunche, civil rights activist Pauli Murray, author Zora Neale Hurston, poet Ossie Davis, actress Taraji Henson (Joss Carter in Person of Interest, Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures), Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and actress Phylicia Rash?d (Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show, Libba in Soul). Rashad is the new dean of the fine arts college; she was Boseman’s mentor when he was at school.
When a student at Howard, “Boseman led a student protest against the absorption of the College of Fine Arts into the larger College of Arts & Sciences.”
“Chad fought to preserve the College of Fine Arts during his matriculation at Howard and remained dedicated to the fight throughout his career, and he would be overjoyed by this development,” Boseman’s family said in a statement.
Bob Iger, the executive chairman of the Walt Disney Company, will lead fundraising for an endowment named after Boseman and raise money to build a new arts facility on the campus. “Through his tremendous example he inspired millions to overcome adversity, dream big and reach beyond the status quo,” Iger said in a statement, “and this college named in his honor … will provide opportunities for future generations of artists to follow in his footsteps and pursue their dreams.” To donate, please visit https://giving.howard.edu/BosemanCollegeOfFineArts.
The Boseman family said “His time at Howard University helped shape both the man and the artist that he became, committed to truth, integrity, and a determination to transform the world through the power of storytelling.”
Bosewick was a talented young actor/director whose career was cut tragically short when cancer claimed him at 43. Renaming the College of Fine Arts after him is a fitting tribute to his legacy.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
