Stan Lee passed away on Monday (November 12), leaving the entertainment world at a loss for words. Lee created some of the most loved superheroes ever, such as Black Panther, the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. Lee lived until 95, enjoying a long life where he watched his comics grow to become a billion-dollar business.
In the wake of his death, journalist Jen Yamato posted a snippet that Lee wrote decades ago. The snippet was a part of his "Stan's Soap Box" column that he placed in several popular comics. In 1968, Lee got on his soapbox and took a shot at racism and bigotry. “Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today,” Lee wrote. “But, unlike, a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them — to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are.”
The message was written in the same year the Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. For Lee to stand up against racism during the peak of the Civil Rights movement displays the depth and sincerity of his character. He will be missed.