"Real legends never die."
That legendary quote couldn't be more true as millions have mourned the loss of the talented Chadwick Boseman. But in his death, he is being celebrated more and more.
On Wednesday, Howard University announced that it has named its newly reestablished College of Fine Arts after one of its most famous alumni: the late actor Chadwick Boseman. News of the school's naming broke in The Washington Post.
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Earlier this month, we reported that Howard named actor and alumnus Phylicia Rashad as the dean of the fine arts school. So just imagine being in the college named after Black Panther hero, Chadwick Boseman and your dead is Phylicia Rashad--how cool is that?
Boseman was a proud Howard alumnus as well. Plus, he was the university's commencement speaker in 2018. Privately, he was already battling colon cancer. He died last August at age 43.
While at Howard, Boseman headed a student protest opposing absorbing the College of Fine Arts into the College of Arts & Sciences.
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"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. "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."
Even though Boseman's death took everyone by surprise, his legendary talent and humble nature is still on the hearts and minds of fans and co-stars. This year, he posthumously won the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globes for his portrayal of a trumpet player named Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Boseman also earned an Oscar nomination (Best Actor) for the role.
After Boseman's death, a Change.org petition asking Howard's president and board of trustees to name the school after the actor garnered over 58,000 signatures.
In addition to the renaming, Howard also announced that Bob Iger, executive chairman of the Walt Disney Company, the company that distributed “Black Panther,” will be leading a fundraising effort for an endowment under Boseman’s name that will be used toward funding a new arts building on campus.
"Through his tremendous example he inspired millions to overcome adversity, dream big and reach beyond the status quo," Iger said. "And this college named in his honor ... will provide opportunities for future generations of artists to follow in his footsteps and pursue their dreams."
