RZA has made a hefty donation to the Hip-Hop Chess Federation, which has led to the launch of a program that will teach juvenile inmates how to play the game, Okayplayer reports. RZA has also been appointed to the board of trustees for the organization.
This year, the Wu-Tang rep visited 400 St. Louis high school students and also played chess with youth who are serving time behind bars. He was then inspired to make the donation to the nonprofit’s CEO, Adisa Banjoko, asking her to establish a program to empower St. Louis’ youth.
“It’s a game of chess in one sense, but in another it’s a study of life,” RZA told the youth while visiting the juvenile hall. “We in the Hip-Hop Chess Federation are striving to bring awareness to American’s, to Black youth, but to the whole of American youth… That chess study, along with martial arts, along with music- is the best way to help develop your mind and body and protect you from pitfalls in life that will surely come at you.”
Read more about the Hip-Hop Chess Federation here.
