WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Today’s edition of Bring It On! focuses on the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman from colorectal cancer and how this cancer is affecting the Black Community. In the first half of the show hosts, Clarence Boone and Cornelius Wright, examine the legacy and impact of Boseman’s too-brief career with Dr. Terri Francis, Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Studies and Director of The Black Film Center/Archive in The Media School at Indiana University. In the second half of the program, Clarence Boone and Roberta Radovich speak with Dr. Karen Reid-Renner, a family medicine specialist at Southern Indiana Family Practice Center and Rejuv Aesthetics.
Chadwick Boseman’s career peaked with his portrayal of T’Challa, the king of Wakanda, a mythical African country unmarred by a history of colonialism and the producer of vibranium, who also leads a double life as the Marvel Comics superhero The Black Panther. Boseman appeared as the superhero first in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and then most famously in 2018’s Black Panther, followed up again in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Boseman also did voice-work as the Black Panther in the upcoming animated series What If…? During these years he was also secretly waging a battle with colorectal cancer, which progressed from Stage 3 to 4 and ultimately took his life.
Boseman’s death at such a young from colorectal cancer shocked the world. This type of cancer also has the highest incidence and mortality rate among African Americans of any other ethnic group in the United States. Even after adjusting for disparities in screening rates and other socio-economic factors, there seems to exist specific environmental and genetic factors more commonly found among African-Americans that significantly contribute to colorectal cancer’s prevalence. In the aftermath of Boseman’s tragic death, many in the African American community are now calling for more education, better detection, and greater prevention measures to combat this disease.
CREDITS: The hosts of today’s show are Clarence Boone, Cornelius Wright, and Roberta Radovich.
The Executive Producer is Clarence Boone with help from WFHB News Department Director Kade Young.
The original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.
The promotional graphic is provided by William Hosea.
Online writing help provided by Chantalle LaFontant.
