In response to Chance the Rapper’s recent $1 million donation and general advocacy in Chicago, three Hispanic 10th graders from the Windy City’s Lake View High School penned an open letter to Chance. The letter highlights his continued aid to the city and its residents, noting free concerts and significant time spent in the city. They mentioned how he encourages other Chicago-rooted celebrities to give back to the city as well.

With this donation, Chance proves students are not only capable of achieving success, but are capable of creating great, positive change with it. Not every millionaire feels obligated, or even inclined, to use their money for good, but Chance sees the opportunity to improve the world with the money he makes from his equally world-bettering music. Generosity is something that should follow success, and Chance recognizes this obligation and chooses to direct this generosity to his roots. More celebrities in positions of power should be doing what he’s doing.

It is clear that Chance’s push for the betterment of Chicago affects its citizens on a very personal level, with the students saying, “We appreciate you for not only representing us through your music, but also through your actions.”

Chance is a product of the Chicago Public School system, and is an example of the success a good student hopes to achieve. Without a solid educational foundation, though, this is much harder to accomplish, provided the sheer amount of brain and willpower necessary to find success in any industry. As an independent artist in the music industry, Chance knows this better than anyone, and values his education just as much as his talent.

Sometimes, the power money has in society can be disheartening, to say the least. In such a politically-charged time, some look to create change and make an impact, but do not have the financial means to do so. This is where the power and influence of celebrities and cultural icons can be crucial.

Instead of standing idly by and following the “disconnected Hollywood elite” narrative that is so frequently used against them, they can use their influential standing in society for good. They can serve as the voice of their collective fan base of everyday individuals who don’t have enough money or power to have their voice be heard or taken seriously.

Not only is the money wielded by celebrities a good source of power, but it is money, after all. With that, it is worth noting the change that can be made in that sense, too. Chance chose to donate $1 million to the Chicago Public Schools system, but he isn’t the only celebrity with money to spare, and the CPS system isn’t the only infrastructure in the country that needs help. Celebrities have the means to create significant change in the world, and it’s strange that not everyone has displayed the same kind of generosity. Chance’s actions could be the start of a positive trend.

This year has seen the power and influence of celebrities in use like never before. They are using their place in society to publicize their own views and encourage it in others. A profound number of celebrities have vocalized support for programs like Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and Doctors Without Borders. Their advocacy for these crucial programs, then, increases the amount of donations, making them more successful than ever before. Some celebrities take this a step further, donating large sums of money to these causes, and usually publicizing that, too — not to promote their image, but to inspire generosity in the hearts of the millions of people who are within the scope of their influence.

Chance’s choice to act on a local level, though, is not something that is seen as frequently, but it is just as necessary as acting on a national level. With plenty of press coverage, and even support from former FLOTUS and Chicago native Michelle Obama, this sort of action hopefully will inspire others, both famous and not, to do the same, instilling much-needed positivity into the heart of the nation.

Jenny Bourque is a freshman English and textual studies major. Her column appears weekly in Pulp. You can email her at jabourqu@syr,edu.

Published on March 21, 2017 at 11:18 pm