“Top Boy”: It’s not just about gangs

BY CHRISTINA GWIRA

The first time I watched “Top Boy” was well before Drake re-introduced it to the masses this year. Now renamed, “Top Boy: Summerhouse”, the first and second seasons of “Top Boy” were a roller-coaster of emotion. On one end, you’re rooting for Dushane and Sully (the two main characters, or anti-heroes, depending on who you ask) to make it out of their various battles on top. On the other hand, you can’t help but feel a way with the levels of violence that these two men undertake to get to there. Nevertheless, “Top Boy” shows the reality that some face living in London. FYI, many spoiler alerts ensue. Read at your own risk.

This past weekend (October 4^th -6^th, 2019), my brother Daniel consumed all three seasons of the show. This was a good thing, as I was writing this article, and would be able to interview someone who was new to the series about their thoughts on it. Seasons one and two told the story of the rise and fall of friends Sully and Dushane who were running their kingdom silently within the Summerhouse Estates… for the most part. It was my opinion that with the new season, new themes were introduced into the show, a reflection of how times had changed from the ending of the second season more than six years ago. Some believe that these stories do not exist, going as far as to say that the new season only glorifies the gang culture that we as a community are aware of, but shuffle under the rug.

There are a number of points of awareness that the show highlights which we shall showcase below. For starters, you’ll be hard-pressed to argue that the show doesn’t show gang culture in London. From gang recruitment to turf wars, the chastising of wary members to the deaths of innocents (R.I.P Tilly), gang culture plays a pivotal role in the “Top Boy” series. However, it also sheds light on the mental health issues that can occur from living such a life. After leaving prison, Sully meets up with his protégé Jason, and they start out to make some quick cash before heading back to London. Unfortunately, Jason ends up dying in a house-fire caused by racist neighbours. Watching his friend die before his eyes leaves a mark on Sully. Throughout the season, he keeps referring to “the smoke on his hands”, zones out frequently and re-experiences the scenes of Jason’s death. These are all signs of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Even when he and Dushane are back to making money, Sully can’t seem to shake off the experience. Dushane constantly ignores and waves away Sully’s cries for help and understanding. This greatly mirrors the black communities regard for those suffering with mental illness.

One of the more silent – but powerful – themes that Daniel noticed strongly throughout all three seasons was that of the impact that gentrification has on the black community. During season two Rhianna Parkes; Dushane’s lawyer introduces him to property developers who were looking for investors. At the same time, various families connected to Dushane and Sully’s crew are losing their homes and businesses to the work that these same property developers are doing. Unable to pay higher rents on their homes and shops, many are left to either relocate or figure something out. In the case of young Ats, barely a young teen, he turned to joining Dushane’s gang, in hopes that he’ll be able to help his mother make rent, and be able to stay in London.

Speaking of Ats (short for Atticus), the young boy finds his way into gang life after he finds out that his mother, Amma, may be living illegally in England. As such, she is fired from work. Before Jason died, he and Sully were living in an abandoned house with a Muslim family, new to the country. They were constantly harassed by their neighbours for their faith, as well as their skin color, which ultimately led the mob to burn their house to the ground, killing Jason. The topic of the hardening immigration laws as well as xenophobia was highlighted throughout the season, as we saw multiple casualties impacted by its ruthless and ignorant claws.

To call “Top Boy” just another gang TV show would be wrong. The layers of character development, great acting, as well as the updated cinematography provides a light to the various aspects of life as a black person living in Britain. We all know or have heard of someone who was affected by, or a part of gang culture. What “Top Boy” has done with this, it’s third season, is show that gang life is real, and has real life consequences for both the innocent and guilty involved. However, it also weaves a web that gang culture does not exist in isolation, other influences add to it, and these influencers are not as loud as a drive by shooting, but they are just as insidious. You can find all seasons of “Top Boy” on Netflix from September 13^th, 2019.