A 7-year-old boy is paying tribute to his, and so many others, hero, Chadwick Boseman.
When Kian Westbrook found out Boseman had died after a four-year battle with colon cancer, he broke into tears.
Kian only knew of Boseman’s role as T’Challa in “Black Panther.”
“He was a good role model to me and Black boys because he let me know Black boys can be heroes too. When I found out he died, I felt very sad. I was crying and couldn’t stop talking about him,” Kian told CNN.
Kian paid tribute to his hero Saturday, holding a memorial for Boseman in front of his home. The Avengers, in action figure form, attended too.
Kian respectfully laid his Black Panther figure on a shoebox draped in black silk. On the ground next to the box, a medal and an Iron Man glove to pay tribute to the ending of “Avengers: Endgame.”
Kian stood nearby, with his arms crossed, in the “Wakanda Forever” salute.
Kian’s father, King Westbrook, shared a photo of his son on social media, saying that Kian’s mother helped him create the memorial.
His brothers also joined him to honor Boseman, CNN reported.
The elder Westbrook said his son knows of other Black heroes but “Black Panther” struck a chord.
“But for him to see one that looked like him or looked like his father, as far as a Black man that’s saving the world, that meant a lot to him,” Westbrook shared with CBS News. “Kian knows about President Obama and the importance of an African American who led the country. But for Kian to also see a hero that’s a positive figure that lead a country, as well -- Kian enjoyed seeing that too.”
Similar photos of other children honoring Boseman’s memory and were shared on Twitter by Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo.