One thought about Chadwick Boseman and how he had to hide his diagnosis
Yes, it is amazing that he did what he did while undergoing chemo and cancer surgery. Seriously, body-building while on chemo? That’s a feat.
But the thing is, the takeaway should not be, “WOW it’s so inspiring that he did this” or “he did all this, so what’s your excuse?” No. That is not the lesson here. Spreading that kind of narrative is only going to tell other people to suffer and die in silence. It is only going to do harm.
The takeaway here, the real lesson to be had, is how disgusting and shameful it is that Chadwick Boseman had to keep his cancer diagnosis secret in the first place. You think he’d have gotten those roles to begin with if he’d been open about it? Not a snowball’s chance in hell. You think he’s have been able to keep those roles once the actuaries learned he was in chemo? Never. You think having to bodybuild and do the hours and hours of stunt work while in chemo did his health any favors? You think knowing that if he said the wrong thing to the wrong person he could get fired or sued for breach of contract helped at all?
Chadwick Boseman did not keep his diagnosis secret because that was the “brave” or “inspiring” thing to do. He kept it secret because he had to because of the stigma around being sick. And the fact that our society stigmatizes sickness at all is just gross.
But the thing is, the takeaway should not be, “WOW it’s so inspiring that he did this” or “he did all this, so what’s your excuse?” No. That is not the lesson here. Spreading that kind of narrative is only going to tell other people to suffer and die in silence. It is only going to do harm.
The takeaway here, the real lesson to be had, is how disgusting and shameful it is that Chadwick Boseman had to keep his cancer diagnosis secret in the first place. You think he’d have gotten those roles to begin with if he’d been open about it? Not a snowball’s chance in hell. You think he’s have been able to keep those roles once the actuaries learned he was in chemo? Never. You think having to bodybuild and do the hours and hours of stunt work while in chemo did his health any favors? You think knowing that if he said the wrong thing to the wrong person he could get fired or sued for breach of contract helped at all?
Chadwick Boseman did not keep his diagnosis secret because that was the “brave” or “inspiring” thing to do. He kept it secret because he had to because of the stigma around being sick. And the fact that our society stigmatizes sickness at all is just gross.
31-35, F
