Nearly five months after his passing, Chadwick Boseman’s widow Simone Ledward Boseman honored her late husband in her first public address since his passing.
Simone, 30, accepted her husband’s Tribute Award at the 30th Annual Gotham Awards on Monday night, delivering a stirring speech during the virtual awards ceremony.
Boseman was also nominated for his final performance in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, though his widow’s moving speech was a highlight of the event.
‘He is the most honest person I’d ever met. He actively searched for it, in himself, those around him and the moment. The truth can be a very easy thing for the self to avoid. But if one does not live in truth, then it’s impossible to live life,’ she began.
‘So it became how he lived his life, day in and day out. Imperfect but determined. He was blessed to live many lives within his concentrated one. He developed his understanding of what it meant to be the one, the none and the all. ‘A vessel to be poured into and out of,’ he’d said,’ she added.
‘He harnessed the power of letting go, and letting God’s love shine through. He realized that when one is able to recognize that when their strength does not come from themself, they rarely mess up. That’s what he was doing when he was acting. Modeling for us a path to true fulfillment,’ she continued.
‘May we not let his conviction be in vain. May our spirits be fertile soil for God’s wisdom to fall upon. So thank you. Praise God,’ she added.
She continued that it was an, ‘honor to receive this award on behalf of my husband,’ adding it was an ‘acknowledgment of not only his profound work but of his impact on this industry and this world.’
The widow fought back the tears as she concluded, ‘Chad, thank you. I love you. I am so proud of you. Keep shining your light on us. Thank you.’