Many were left with an empty feeling when Chadwick Boseman did not win a posthumous Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
But on Wednesday, his alma mater Howard University honored the actor in a way that might have meant even more to him personally than an Oscar.
Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick announced in a press release that the newly reestablished College of Fine Arts will be named in honor of Boseman “whose remarkable career as an actor, director, writer, and producer inspired millions around the world.”
As a Howard student, Boseman led a three-day protest in the administration building against the absorption of the College of Fine Arts into the College of Arts & Sciences. Its alumni included Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack and Debbie Allen.
Boseman graduated from Howard in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts for directing.
Boseman went on to achieve stardom for his portrayal onscreen of Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, James Brown, and, of course, the Black Panther King T’Challa.
But he never stopped advocating for reestablishing the College of Fine Arts at Howard. When Boseman returned to Howard in 2018 to serve as the commencement speaker, Frederick announced plans to reestablish the College of Fine Arts.
“Chadwick’s love for Howard University was sincere, and although he did not live to see those plans through to fruition, it is my honor to ensure his legacy lives on through the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts,” Frederick said in the press release.
The 43-year-old Boseman died on August 28, 2020, after a courageous two-year battle with colon cancer during which he worked on such films as Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
”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,” 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.”
What makes the honor even more special is that Howard announced a few weeks ago that alumna and actress Phylicia Rashad, best known for her role as attorney and mom Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” would be the dean of the college. Rashad was Boseman’s professor and mentor at Howard.
“I am extremely pleased that Howard University has chosen to honor my husband in this way and elated that Ms. Rashad has accepted the role as Dean,” Boseman’s wife, Simone Ledward-Boseman, said in the university’s news release. “Chad was a very proud Bison — both Howard and Ms. Rashad played integral roles in his journey as an artist.”
Boseman had been very supportive of Rashad taking on the role of dean.
Rashad said in a statement included in the university’s news release that she was elated about the college being named in Boseman’s honor.
”Unrelenting in his pursuit of excellence, Chadwick was possessed with a passion for inquiry and a determination to tell stories -- through acting, writing, and directing - that revealed the beauty and complexity of our human spirit," Rashad said.
The Walt Disney Company’s executive chairman Bob Iger announced he will lead fundraising efforts to build a new facility for the college and an endowment in the “Black Panther” star’s name.
“Chadwick Boseman was an extraordinarily gifted, charismatic and kind-hearted person whose incredible talent and generous spirit were clearly reflected in his iconic performances, including as King T’Challa in ‘Black Panther,’ and in his tireless commitment to helping others,” Iger said. “Through his tremendous example he inspired millions to overcome adversity, dream big and reach beyond the status quo.”
After the university’s announcement, the following message appeared on the actor’s Twitter account welcoming future students. The Tweet juxtaposed a clipping from the Hilltop student newspaper about the protest over the collapse of the College of Fine Arts with a photo of Boseman at the 2018 commencement.
The post read: “Chad, you exemplify Howard’s core values of excellence, leadership, service, and truth. There is no one more deserving of such an honor. We are so proud of you, we love you, and we miss you every day.”
(Here is a link to a Variety story with additional details.)