By Howard University has officially renamed its College of Fine Arts after the university’s late alumnus, Chadwick Boseman.
The university which has now revealed the first look at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts on Instagram, had announced in May 2021 that it would rename its college of fine arts after the Oscar-nominated actor, who graduated from the university in 2000.
Boseman spent considerable time advocating for the college to be reinstated, both while attending the school and after he graduated.
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.”
Reacting to this, the late actor’s wife, Simone Ledward Boseman said “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.”
Boseman died on August, 28, 2020, at the age of 43. The Black Panther star passed away at his home surrounded by family after a private after years of battling with colon cancer.
Boseman achieved international fame for playing superhero Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from 2016 to 2019. He appeared in four MCU films, including an eponymous 2018 film that earned him an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
As the first black actor to headline an MCU film, he was also named in the 2018 Time 100.
In 2016, Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer. He kept his condition private, continuing to act while also extensively supporting cancer charities until his death in 2020 from the illness. His final film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, was released posthumously the same year to critical acclaim, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.
Boseman also received four nominations at the 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work in Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the most for a performer at a single ceremony, winning Male Actor in a Leading Role for Ma Rainey.
