Cameron Boyce, the 20-year-old Disney star who died in his sleep last week, has a family history that includes a grandmother who was once of member of the “Clinton 12,” a group of Black students who made history after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in 1954 – Brown vs. Board of Education. He was proud of his Black heritage, reports CNN. In what was reportedly his last interview, Boyce talked to Haute Living about his diverse heritage, which included a Jewish mother, an African-American father and grandmother who became one of the symbols of the civil rights movement. The actor’s grandmother, Jo Ann Allen Boyce, was one of the “Clinton 12.” She recently co-authored a book titled, “This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality.” Boyce said, “Her story doesn’t just inspire me … It hits home with everyone who stops to listen to it. She and the other 11 students set the stage for our generation to come together. We have to ensure – especially with some of the controversy plaguing us now – that we continue to push towards dreams that have yet to be realized. Equality in its truest sense.” Boyce also said of his grandmother, “She’s a huge part of who I am. Being African American and Jewish, I have plenty of ancestors and family members that I can look to for strength, and more importantly, for a grateful outlook on life. Every one of them clawed and scratched for my sister and I to be in the position we’re in today.” The Disney Channel star died in his sleep after a seizure resulting from an ongoing medical condition, a spokesperson for his family told CNN Sunday.
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