The Chi is a new drama series that has started up on Showtime. Since it is named for the South Side of Chicago, it should come as no surprise to learn that it is focused on the people who live in said region. Here are five things that you may or may not have known about The Chi:
Situated in the South Side
The Chi is set in the South Side of Chicago. Said region is one of the three sides that make up the city, which has picked up a reputation for having high levels of crime because of much reporting on the issue from the media. With that said, it should be noted that the situation is more complicated than that, seeing as how the South Side is a sizable region that encompasses a wide range of people living in a wide range of neighborhoods. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that The Chi is focused on characters living in a particular South Side neighborhood as opposed to a generic version of the South Side a a whole.
Created By Lena Waithe
Lena Waithe is the person who created The Chi. For those who are unfamiliar with her name, she is an actress as well as a producer and a screenwriter. Some people might know her because of her role as Denise on Master of None. However, it is interesting to note that she was involved in its writing as well, with the result that she went on to win a history-making Emmy for it.
Inspired By Real Life Experiences
The core premise of The Chi is no coincidence. After all, Waithe grew up in Chicago at a time when violence was commonplace. Likewise, one of her fellow executive producers Common grew up in Chicago as well, meaning that combined, the two bring a feeling of real authenticity to the series because of their real life experiences.
Focuses a Fair Amount on Children Growing Up Under Such Circumstances
One of the subjects explored by The Chi is how kids cope with the circumstances in inner cities. For example, Waithe mentioned that said kids are forced to become more mature because of their surrounding circumstances, but at the same time, that forced maturity doesn’t actually change the fact that they are still kids. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that a character named Kevin played by Alex Hibbert will have a storyline that examines this particular issue.
Will Not Be Wholly Dark in Nature
With that said, one of the most interesting things about The Chi is that Waithe wants to make a point that people are still capable of finding happiness when surrounded by bad circumstances, which is intended to combat particular stereotypes about how black people live. As a result, The Chi promises to be a much more nuanced depiction of life in the inner cities, which is perhaps unsurprising considering the backgrounds of the people who were instrumental in bringing it to the TV screen.
Follow Us
