As Lena Waithe prepares audiences for the final season of The Chi, one thing remains at the center of the acclaimed series and that is community. In an interview with Black Girl Nerds, Waithe reflected on how deeply personal that theme is to her and why portraying chosen family, neighborhood connection, and everyday Black life has always mattered.
When asked how important it was to showcase that sense of community throughout the series, Waithe made it clear that it was essential to the DNA of the show.
“Oh, it was the most important because it’s what I witnessed growing up,” she explained.
Waithe spoke lovingly about her grandmother, who helped shape her understanding of togetherness and hospitality. Though raised in Chicago, Waithe said much of the culture she experienced came from Southern traditions carried north through generations of Black families.
“My grandmother, who I lived with coming up, who’s from Arkansas originally, I think she brought that Southern hospitality,” Waithe shared. “Many of our grandmothers or grandfathers who are from the South brought that sensibility to the city.”
That blend of Southern warmth and Chicago resilience became foundational to the world of The Chi. Waithe described growing up in a home where neighbors gathered regularly, block club meetings were hosted in the living room, poker nights stretched late into the evening, and holidays meant packed houses full of laughter and conversation.
“She was hosting the block club meetings, hosting the poker nights, and having neighbors over to watch movies and TV shows,” Waithe recalled. “Having a big crowded Thanksgiving.”
Those experiences helped inform the emotional core of The Chi, a series that has consistently balanced harsh realities with moments of joy, intimacy, and connection. Across its run, the show has explored the complexity of life on Chicago’s South Side while emphasizing the importance of relationships that extend beyond blood ties.
Waithe specifically pointed to the evolution of “men’s circles” and “sister circles” within the series as reflections of her own life experiences and growth.
“That’s something that I started to develop as I got older,” she said, “wanting to tap in with people that aren’t necessarily family by blood.”
The concept of chosen family has become one of the defining themes of The Chi, and Waithe believes audiences connect so deeply with the show because of those authentic bonds between characters. Relationships like Shaad and Victor’s friendship or the close connection between Tiff and Keisha demonstrate how support systems are often built through shared experience rather than biology.
“I’m a big believer in chosen family,” Waithe said. “Someone doesn’t have to be related to you to be family.”
That emotional honesty has helped make The Chi resonate for six seasons and counting. While the series has tackled violence, grief, and systemic struggles, it has never lost sight of the tenderness within Black communities. Waithe’s storytelling consistently highlights the everyday acts of care that hold people together, from neighborhood gatherings to friendships that become lifelines.
As the final season approaches, Waithe’s reflections serve as a reminder of what made The Chi special from the very beginning. Beyond the drama and heartbreak, the series has always been about people finding connection, building support systems, and creating family wherever they can.
For many viewers, that authenticity is exactly why The Chi became more than just a television show. It became a reflection of home.
The Chi is now streaming on on Paramount+
