Chadwick Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman gives emotional call to action at NAACP Image Awards

Chadwick Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman has urged people to "get screened" in emotional speech as she accepted her late husband’s posthumous NAACP Image Award. 

Talented actor Chadwick was perhaps best known for his stand-out role as superhero Black Panther in Marvel’s hit film of the same name. Family, friends, colleagues, and fans across the world were left devastated last year when it was announced that Chadwick had tragically passed away from colon cancer. 

Since then, he has gone on to be posthumously nominated for a number of prestigious awards, including a Golden Globe for his role in Netflix film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which he later won. Now the NAACP Image Award has also been awarded posthumously to the talented actor. 

He won the award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture award for his role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, which is understood to have been one of his final projects. 

The award was virtually accepted by his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, who gave a poignant speech that included an important call to action.

"As always, he would give all honor and glory to the most high God," she bravely began. "He would thank his mom and dad, and he would give honor to the ancestors as we now honor him. 

“Thank you NAACP Image Awards for always giving him his flowers. He was an uncommon artist and an even more uncommon person. But the manner in which we lost him is not uncommon at all. Not in our communities."

What call to action did Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman give?

Taylor Simone went on to urge viewers not to put off getting screened any longer, revealing some very shocking statistics.

"Black people in this country are 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 40 percent more likely to die from it. The age for routine screening has recently been lowered to 45 so if you are 45 years of age or older, please get screened,” she said. “Don't put it off any longer, please get screened."

She continued: “Know the signs, and know your body, listen to your body. If you need more information and for a full list of colon cancer symptoms you can visit standuptocancer.org/coloncancersymptoms.

"Please, you are so needed and you are so loved. Please take your health into your own hands. Thank you."

Her powerful plea was not only incredibly moving, but also vitally important. It comes seven months after she lost her beloved husband.

Earlier this month Chadwick was nominated for his first-ever Oscar for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and is the seventh actor to receive a posthumous nomination. 

Next month when the Oscars 2021 ceremony takes place, all those who knew him will no doubt be immensely proud if he is honored with this prestigious award.