Actor and musician Jussie Smollett has joined the growing list of artists that are producing work in protest of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Empire actor released “F.U.W” Wednesday, a new single and video that explores the current black and minority experience amidst the growing bigotry and xenophobia evidenced since the president took office in January.
“It’s a f***** up world,” he sings. “But here we are in it. And I ain’t going nowhere.”
The black-and-white visual flicks through images of minorities, and crises that have recently affected these minority groups. Some of the issues referenced include the Flint water crisis, the Dakota Pipeline protests, and the transgender bathroom controversy among other things.
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Trump does makes a short, and explosive appearance in the video, in the form of a mask. At one point, a man in a wheelchair runs over the mask, crushing it to pieces.
“This is not a single,” Smollett says of “F.U.W”. It’s not a song to promote the series. It’s an artistic expression. My view of this sick cycle, an era in which we must fight our way out of before it’s too late. This view of unity is something they may never understand. That is why it is up to us.”
He adds: “Train your daughters and sons to be soldiers of love, despite and in spite of this F*** Up World.“
Smollett talked about Trump’s win in an interview last year, calling this period in America “desperate times.”
But it looks like he is not willing to be quiet, whether in person, or with his work: “So many times I’ve gotten … [asked], ‘Why don’t you shut up and stop talking about race? Don’t you have some acting to do?’ First of all, that’s all you’ve got? That’s a whack-ass shit you’re gonna say. And it’s just really interesting and I’ve heard that before, but that’s just not my point of view, because I don’t approach it as an actor, I approach it as a concerned person who is affected by it because it’s happened to me, it’s happening to my sisters and my brothers and humanity. I just feel like if people are listening to you, you should have something to say.”
We hear you loud and clear!
