Mathis said he knew people that could account for any of the characters in the movie—from Avon, the high schooler who later became a film director, to Curtis, Avon’s big brother who tried to show Avon the right path, to Ricky, played by Chaney, who was into the street life. “It’s almost sad knowing that there’s people out there almost ready to drop out, and they sometimes do follow that first option in the movie,” Mathis said.
Mathis plans to remain in school, seek Division 1 collegiate football offers and major in communications or journalism.
According to statistics from Black Women 4 Positive Change, 1.2 million high schoolers drop out of school each year in the U.S. Forty percent of all people incarcerated in the U.S. do not have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
“Follow your dream, anything that you want to do, definitely pursue your goals, and always know, don’t ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do,” Chaney told the Penn Hills high schoolers. “The number one thing is staying in school, and understanding that if you don’t have an education, then you have nothing.
“I had to learn that the hard way myself,” Chaney continued. “I was once your age, and definitely trying to be around a whole bunch of negativity and influence, and that did nothing for me but get me kicked out of school and got me in a whole bunch of trouble. But it wasn’t until guidance counselors, my parents, principals were definitely in my corner, and it helped me get on that better path, get back in school and graduate high school.”
Chaney added that “films like this should be in every school.”
“Our goal is to develop socially-responsible media that related to young people, and helps them give second thought to important life decisions,” said Diane Powell, national outreach co-chair for Black Women 4 Positive Change. The organization has chapters nationwide, including Pittsburgh, where there are about 20 members.
Powell said those interested in purchasing the 39-minute film can do so at www.blackwomenforpositivechange.org. Powell can be reached at bkwomen4poschange@gmail.com.
At the movie’s conclusion, and after a question-and-answer session, the Penn Hills students boarded school buses and headed back to the school. Traney told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview that it’s his duty to leave the young ones with more information and guidance than they came in with.
“I like to keep it real with the young people and let them know that I came from where they come from,” he said. “Sometimes just showing up and saying a couple of motivating, encouraging, inspirational words, I know that can help them. I didn’t have people coming to my school when I was their age. But I always said, if I ever get in a position of power where I’m able to speak to young people, that’s what I want to do, and this is the best part about what I do as an entertainer.”
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