Chadwick Boseman has been honored by Howard University on the first anniversary of his passing. The University renames the college of Fine Arts after one of its’ most acclaimed alums: actor Chadwick Boseman.
The ‘Black Panther’ star graduated from the school in 2000, and this week, the university officially unveiled the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, which was named in honor of the late actor following his death on August 28, 2020.
On Wednesday, Howard renamed its performing and visual arts school after the “Black Panther” star, who earned an Academy Award Nomination for his role in last year’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Boseman, who graduated from Howard in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in directing, died in August at the age of 43 from colon cancer.
In the caption of a video on Instagram, the university wrote: “Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts Installation. Yesterday, the letters were installed over the now official Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. An icon in his own right who has left an immeasurable legacy for the next generation. Thank you Mr. Boseman.”
Howard University first announced plans to rename its college of fine arts after the Oscar-nominated actor in May this year, in recognition of the star’s considerable efforts in advocating for the college to be reinstated, both while attending the school and after he graduated.
His wife, Simone Ledward Boseman said in a statement at the time of the announcement: “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.
“Chad was a very proud Bison; both Howard and Ms. Rashad played integral roles in his journey as an artist. The re-establishment of the College of Fine Arts brings this part of his story full-circle and ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire young storytellers for years to come.”
Last week, several stars paid tribute to Chadwick on the anniversary of his death, which was marked on August 28.
Michael B. Jordan wrote: “Not a day goes by bro… Love and miss you but I know you still with us.”
While Kerry Washington also posted: “One year without Chadwick Boseman. Thank you for watching over us. We miss you King.”
There was also a tribute from Lupita Nyong’o, who said: “I did not know I could miss both his laughter and his silence in equal measure.
“I do, I do… One year after his passing, the memory of @chadwickboseman remains this alive in me (sic).”
The renaming unites Howard and Walt Disney Co.’s executive chairman, Bob Iger, who will spearhead fundraising for an endowment named after Boseman, also, help raise money for the construction of a state-of-the-art building on the campus. The new building will house the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, its TV station, WHUT, and its radio station, WHUR 96.3 FM.
The 2018 film “Black Panther,” produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, catapulted Boseman to international acclaim as the movie’s lead character King T’Challa. The film brought in more than $1.33 billion in revenue, with $700 million in U.S. box office receipts alone, according to the movie financial tracking website the-numbers.com.
