What role does Jackie Long play in The Chi? Character arc, explored 

Jackie Long plays Keith in The Chi, a recurring character introduced in Season 6, to add an emotional layer and danger to Damien's storyline. He is a former convict with ties to Damien and, therefore, represents a deeply buried past. He manipulates and challenges Damien to do good for the family as his presence puts him under the weight of guilt and obligation from their shared history.

Keith spent six years in jail for a robbery that Damien was involved in. All this time, in jail, he was financially supported by Darnell, Damien, and Emmett's father.

Read on to know more about Jackie Long's character, Keith, in The Chi.

Jackie Long plays Keith in The Chi

Keith returns in The Chi in Season 6, after spending 6 years in jail, supported by Damien's father to protect Damien from a robbery he was involved in. For Keith, Damien was like a brother, while they all believed in his potential, Keith took the lead and got caught to serve his time in jail.

Darnell showed his instincts as a responsible father to cover the deeds of his son. When Keith returns after the release, rather than moving on, he leans on Darnell again and asks for a job. Emmett offers Keith a job as a janitor at Smokey's. Keith's presence in Smokey just reopens old wounds for Damien, surfacing his guilt of failing his loved ones and not living up to their expectations.

Keith now uses this guilt as a weapon to bag a place in their lives, bringing friction in Damien and Darnell's bond. Now that Keith is back, he is blackmailing Damien using a secret of their shared crime and controlling him. Keith is feeling betrayed for taking the fall alone and seeks compensation, nothing emotionally and financially.

Keith pressures Damien to steal from Smokey's in episode 14 of The Chi

A defining moment occurs in Episode 14, Smoke & Mirrors, where Keith pressures Damien into stealing money from Smokey’s BBQ. That confrontation in the kitchen or back room powerfully illustrates Keith's manipulative and opportunistic nature. While Damien is suffering an internal conflict between guilt and moving forward, here, he is forced to confront his past and make hard choices to save his integrity and loyalty. Therefore, Keith represents a looming past for Damien that could go public any minute if he acts against Keith's will.

In season 7, Keith becomes part of another robbery orchestrated by Reg to get revenge on Alicia for setting him up. Keith helps identify Alicia, and was supposed to have a minor role in the robbery as the getaway driver due to his awareness of the streets. However, Reg backs out because of the heat of the police, and Hannibal drives instead.

Keith still gets paid, showing he keeps indirectly getting involved in such crimes, therefore straddling the line between reformation and crime.

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The Chi wrapped its season 7 on 1 August 2025 and has been renewed for a new Season 8.

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