Everyone loves a classic coming-of-age-story, andThe Chiis one with a particularly relevant and important meaning behind it. The series follows a group of people who bond over their deep connection for each other; set in Chicago’s South Side, we are shown kids who are getting prepared for school and adults doing their best to keep their heads above water. Although, in a particularly tough neighborhood like this one, there’s never a quiet day, as they are threatened by dangers that are a matter of life or death.
The drama follows its key characters ina Black coming-of-age story, as they struggle to find their place in the world, the difficulties of everyday life, friends, how to survive in a deeply cruel environment, and how we shouldn’t underratethe importance of family. Written by Lena Waithe, who was also raised in The Chi, theMaster of NoneandQueen & Slimartist felt so passionate about her community that she decided to provide us with a realistic and humble insight into the harsh truths and dangers of the South Side of Chicago.
Reflecting Real Life in The Chi
The first season doesn’t mind throwing us in the deep end with two murders and the aftermath they leave. We are introduced to Coogie, riding his bike through the dangerous streets of the neighborhood. Just as we think this is an innocent bike ride, Coogie stumbles upon a dead body, and with no one around, he drags himself into what becomesan eye-opening experiencefor the viewers surrounding the Black community and Chicago’s South Side, all because he steals the chain from the victims neck, and his sneakers.
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Throughout the seasons ofThe Chi, we follow the young actors' journeys as they all grow up from boys to men and the drama that comes along with the change. We journey along with them, being shown a portrayal of the Black community that is nothing less than authentic. The stories and character developments are complex, heartwarming, and genuine, where the characters are not forced to be anyone but themselves; and with what is one of the few recent Black dramas on TV,The Chirepresents the reality of the Black experience.
The Cast and City of The Chi
Living in a city like Chicago’s South Side,The Chidepicts the good, the bad, and the ugly of the goings-on around the neighborhood. As themes like gun crime, drug markets, and gangs are presented to us, it is safe to say many viewers, safe in the comfort of their home, have never had to experience this world. This means it allows us to take a step into this world and understand the everyday struggle they face, increasing the amount of human empathy people have for something they may only read about or see in the news.
Many residents of Chicago might even be unaware of what occurs on the South Side, which makes the show even more imperative to society - educating viewers on real-life experiences, as well as making their own community proud. While as a society, we might have stereotypes on neighborhoods like this,The Chienlightens us about the community that comes with it, how everyone looks after each other, even if that brings danger (which, the show emphasizes, it often sadly does).
We are shown characters who are trying to make something of themselves in the big bad world, characters who struggle with the loss of a loved one, and characters who have both lost someone and are trying to move on in order to make a better life for themselves. It is clear that we can all take a tip fromThe Chithat no matter what happens, it is important to find a community full of people that can turn to each other for support.
The Chi Gives Us Something to Think About
Something that is quite representative of the Black community inThe Chiis their problems with police. In both TV and real life, certain structural elements (and people) within society has caused us to be divided, and have made the Black experience incredibly difficult, despite the preaching we often hear for equality. The severity of discrimination is a running theme inThe Chibut also in today’s society, as we have seen from Black Lives Matter and countless police shootings; for viewers, it highlights the privilege we take for granted and especially the love and empathy needed to support other communities.
Crimes like gun violence that is notorious for occurring on the South Side of Chicago is mostly driven by poverty, and as shown inThe Chi, people will do whatever it takes to survive. ForFox 32, Church Pastor TJ Grooms said: “When you struggle financially, when you are living in an area that does not have what it needs to, not just survive, but to thrive, people begin to do things such as shoot, steal, rob, murder, kill.”
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Grooms also mentors young people from Chicago’s South Side, who reportedly often say that if they had the means and resources, they wouldn’t do what they do.The Chiis extremely representative of this experience and can provide a kick-start for people to help, support, and even in some cases, change their perspective on their struggles, experience, and even discrimination against our fellow humans.
The Chihas now recently been renewed for a fifth season, so thankfully we can continue to watch the main characters' lives develop and their personalities grow. Viewers are continuing to be educated on the Black experience and become more empathetic about the struggles for those on Chicago’s South Side and similar communities, and art likeThe Chiis a big reason why.
