Birgundi Baker on Keisha, Motherhood, and the Power of Being Seen 

Birgundi Baker carries a softness that doesn’t diminish her strength—it deepens it. As Keisha on Lena Waithe’s acclaimed series The Chi, she embodies a young woman whose story has become one of television’s most layered portrayals of Black womanhood. Through joy, loss, resilience, and healing, Keisha has mirrored the lived realities of countless women, and Baker admits the role has reshaped her as much as she’s shaped the character. 

The Patience Keisha Taught Her 

“Keisha has grown a lot over the past few seasons, so I’ve had to be more adult-like, more mature, and more like Birgundi,” she reflected. “But Keisha has really taught me patience. She goes through so much, and the audience doesn’t always understand it. Everything is always about other people when it comes to Keisha. I have to approach her with maturity, patience, love, and tenderness—because that’s what she exudes.” 

That tenderness has also shifted something in Birgundi herself. “I think Keisha is more patient than I am. As much as people say she complains, she’s still more patient. She really is about others. I thought I was giving and loving, but Keisha is on a whole other level. She’s a vessel for others. I’ve actually learned from her.” 

The Sacredness of Love 

For Birgundi, one of Keisha’s greatest strengths is her devotion to love. “She really values love in a way I admire. She’s a ride-or-die for Emmett. That value on love—it’s priceless. I love that about her.” 

It’s a value that resonates far beyond the show. In Keisha, women see themselves—their sacrifices, their endurance, and the quiet ways they keep choosing love even when life has given them reasons not to. 

Motherhood Onscreen and Off 

Birgundi’s portrayal of Keisha giving birth was more than just acting. “It was nostalgic. I have two children. I remember what it felt like to go into labor, trying to stay calm, just like Keisha. But my experience was different—I had my babies during the pandemic, so I was alone. Keisha had her village. She had Emmett, a midwife, a team of women. That support was completely different from what I went through. But the pain part, I know too well.” 

Asked if the memories made her want more children, she was blunt: “Absolutely not. No. Never. No. I can’t wait for the ones I have to grow up and be 21 and live their lives. I’ll just send them money and let them be free. Because being a mom is stressful. Just like how Keisha acts—stressed out. I’m stressed out.” 

That honesty is part of what makes her so relatable. She doesn’t romanticize motherhood—she grounds it in truth, the same way she does with Keisha. 

Why Keisha’s Story Is Legendary 

For Baker, Keisha’s journey is bigger than television. “It’s the best storyline I’ve ever seen on TV for a young woman growing up. We’ve seen her happy, running the streets with her girls, with her little boyfriend. Then we’ve seen her go through tragedy and trauma. We’ve seen her heal and grow, give birth, fall in love, figure herself out. It is the Black woman experience—period. 

“It means everything to me not only to play Keisha but to see the Black woman portrayed this way on TV. I came across a TikTok about how dark-skinned women on television were always the sidekick or the jokester. It brought me to tears. The way The Chi takes Keisha’s life seriously—it’s legendary. We haven’t seen it.” 

A Show That Sees People 

Seven seasons in, Baker still gets emotional thinking about The Chi’s impact. “I cry a lot. It’s a blessing. People really value this show. It’s literally bigger than what I was dreaming when I was in school studying to be on TV.” 

She credits its staying power to authenticity. “We have a beautiful cast, but being beautiful only takes you so far. It’s the topics we touch on—mental health, motherhood, loss, community struggles. People feel seen. They can relate. That’s why we’ve lasted so long. What other show is doing this?” 

And behind the scenes, it feels just as special. “It’s a dream. Everyone is multi-talented—singing, dancing, pranking, joking—but also supporting each other. We welcome people with open arms, and when someone leaves, it’s hard to say goodbye. To work with people I grew up watching on TV is an honor.” 

More Than a Role 

For Birgundi Baker, Keisha is not just a character—she’s a mirror for women everywhere. She is patience and sacrifice, pain and resilience, laughter and tears, survival and love. Through Keisha, Baker reminds us that the stories of Black women are not only worth telling but deserve to be told with depth, reverence, and power. 

“It’s legendary,” Baker said with conviction. And watching her breathe life into Keisha season after season, it’s clear—she’s right. 

Photography Credit: Calvin G