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Chadwick Boseman and the Black Panther film helped many find their inner superhero
Chadwick Boseman’s role as Black Panther delighted children and adults around the world.
Boseman played T’Challa, a superhero and leader of Wakanda, in the film Black Panther – which was praised as a cultural milestone for having a primarily black cast.
The character was seen as an inspiration for young black people in particular – as Black Panther was the first high-profile black Marvel superhero, and Wakanda was a strong country with the most advanced technology on Earth.
As tributes pour in for Boseman, who died of cancer aged 43, many are remembering the impact that his character had on them, and their families.
Children – and teachers – had even adopted the “Wakanda handshake” after the film first came out.
The film featured strong female characters, including T’Challa’s sister Shuri – an inventor and chief science officer of Wakanda.
And it wasn’t just children who were inspired – the film came at a time when awareness of the importance of diversity and representation on screen was growing – and cosplayers and adult fans were also keen to celebrate the style of Black Panther characters.
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Fans dressed as Shuri, T’challa and Okoye
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Fans at Comic-Con International in 2018
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