Another violent weekend in Chicago claimed the lives of four and wounded 32 others. Many Chicago neighborhoods are similar to warzones, where residents are being held hostage by the constant threat of danger. Sadly, a blatant disregard for life, hopelessness, and the lack of opportunity bombard images coming from Chicago’s urban communities. Albeit disheartening, the reality is that negativity sells, while positivity is consistently overlooked.

Images associated with young Black males are overwhelmingly negative ethos. Various media outlets continuously present young Black males as gang affiliated thugs, whose sole purpose is to create chaos in the communities that they call home.

Seldom does the media champion Black male excellence akin to Kwasi Enin, who was accepted to all eight Ivy League schools.

Young Black men of Champaign Central High School located in Champaign, Illinois pose for a picture.

Surely there are more positive and uplifting stories similar to Kwasi Enin coming from the Black community, right?

Well, the young Black men of Champaign Central High School – located in Champaign, Illinois – created a video called “Suit and Tie in the 217” aimed at countering the negative images associated with young Black males. The goal of the video was to demonstrate that young Black men are more than victims and perpetrators; they, too, are leaders within their respective communities. As Justin Timberlake’s track, “Suit and Tie” play in the background, these young Black men can be seen wearing suits, ties, and other professional attire, as they socialize and engage in conversations, while statements on the screen declare that “We are not Gangsters and Thugs.” and “We are scholars.” The idealistic shift towards positivity is one that MUST be adopted as a mentality to potentially solve the violent surges in Chicago’s urban community – and reshape how we, as a nation see young Black males.

Positivity breeds optimism; optimism breeds hope; and hope brings about change.

Essentially, these young men have presented us with a counter narrative. Redefining the image of young Black men illuminates a path for other young Black men to see themselves outside of the negative images so widely accepted as true. These young men are transforming perceptions into new realities. And these new realities are coming with a renewed sense of hope for all of our young Black men.

What if we used social media to promote new realities and bring about positive change?

Tales of college acceptances and redefining the Black male image are too positive, and offer a counter narrative that contradict headlines espousing violence and criminal behavior in relation to young Black men. Stories of shooting and killing generate a better story for a nation that continues to struggle with both masculinity and the Black male image. Lyrics in the song coincide with a similar struggle. Jay-Z raps about the dichotomy between realities at the “white” and “black” shows as analogous to how one should dress at these events. Essentially, Jay-Z is drawing on parallels that dominate the social structure dictating what is considered acceptable. These young Black males make a similar statement as they dance and proclaim that they are “employees and volunteers.” As the screen transitions from black to color, progression and growth are the outcomes of these new realities. These young men discovered their new realty, and have overcome the social structures that dictate who they are and what they are able to accomplish.

Perhaps an idealistic shift is needed in regards to the violence in Chicago. Let us start focusing on the positive as instructive implications for discovering solutions to move us foreword. The suit and tie are only clothes, but they bring about a sense of optimism and hope that many of our children need. When we hear of the next surge in violence, we, too, should transition to a new reality that offers positivity and eliminates negativity through actions of progressions. Where is your suit-and-tie attitude?