Despite all of its flaws and criticisms, YouTube remains a valuable tool for helping creators bypass the hoops and hurdles required by mainstream media and the entertainment industry, providing the world with a wide variety of unique content. This includes glimpses into real life situations and the lives of every day people. There is no better example of this than YouTube creator CharlieBo313 (real name Charlie Moore), who since 2013 has been uploading videos of different streets and neighborhoods in cities around the United States, all of which are poor areas with a high black population. Moore records these "hoods" (as he calls them) typically with a hidden camera affixed to his vehicle as he drives through the streets, or on his person as he records interesting interactions between locals inside convenience and liquor stores.
Moore's first videos focused on the Detroit area, which has been devastated by poor economic conditions leading to neighborhoods deteriorating, littered with abandoned houses and trash, and plagued by gang violence. He has since made videos in places like New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Jackson, and New Orleans, amounting to over 500 videos of daily urban and "ghetto" hood life which have gained Moore over 34 Million views. His most viewed video, entitled "DETROIT'S MOST GHETTO STREETS AT NIGHT COMPILATION", sees Moore slowly cruising through a crowded block party after dark. His vehicle is frequently blocked by party-goers and other vehicles, highlighting the almost anarchic nature of these "hoods". In other videos, Moore encounters police standoffs, has his vehicle hit with gunfire, or is witness to humorous altercations between individuals in local gas station mini marts. In one video, entitled "DEAL GOES DOWN AT DETROIT GAS STATION", a white man is seen discussing a cannabis deal with a group of black men, haggling over the price.
Several videos show Moore stopping to interview locals. He typically asks them about their perceptions of the neighborhood, if they are currently working or are in school, and their opinions on local politicians and politics. This kind of documentary-style filmmaking shows real life: raw, and unfiltered. Moore has expressed his intentions of traveling across the United States and recording videos in places like Los Angeles, Oakland, Dallas, Houston, and Miami. He currently accepts donations via PayPal which he uses to fund his travels. As of this writing, his subscriber count currently sits just under 70,000, but his channel is one of the fastest growing on YouTube. And this is for good reason. Moore provides hours of interesting and educational content free-of-charge, exemplifying exactly what YouTube was made for and why creator-driven content is valuable to our world.
CharlieBo313 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CharlieBo313
CharlieBo313 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Charliebo313