Image by Getty Images

By Lior Zaltzman February 28, 2016

We already know everything about the Jewish stars at the Oscars, but one inspiring Jewish star is ditching the Academy Awards this years and spending the night in Flint, Michigan.

Jussie Smolett of smash-hit TV show “Empire,” will be joining “Creed” director Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay (“Selma”), Janelle Monae and many other artists in Flint, Michigan for “Justice For Flint,” a free event designed to raise money and awareness for the town’s water crisis.

Tomorrow is the day. Looking forward to going back to #Flint and getting to see all of y’all. Free event to the public. Info in bio. #JusticeForFlint ✊?

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Feb 27, 2016 at 5:09pm PST

The event will be hosted by comedian Hannibal Buress and live-streamed on revolt.tv. It will air at the same time as the 88th Academy Awards, where, for the second year in a row, no black actors are nominated.

Jussie Smollett is one of the more impressive and inspiring modern Jewish TV stars. The talented actor has been gracing our movie and TV screens since the early 90s but his real, colossal break-out was starring in the mega smash-hit “Empire,” a record breaking musical drama.

In the show, Smollett plays the gay son of the heads of “Empire Entertainment,” Luscious (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) Lyons. As musician Jamal Lyons, he is responsible for some of the show’s most catchy tunes.

It’s #EmpireWednesday so big shout out to @mela_yela for creating this for this week’s song. It’s called #ReadyToGo produced by my brother @therealswizzz & @musicmanty and penned by @simplymelodie. Available now. Pay attention cuz the song is part of a dope announcement coming??. Catch #empirefox tonight directed by m’lady @sanaahamri. It’s gonna be a good one. ?? Love y’all. #empire.

A video posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Nov 18, 2015 at 5:20pm PST

But Smollett, the son of a Jewish father and African-American mother, is also an activist. He often shares politically charged posts on his widely followed social media accounts, and participates in different social justice campaigns and charities.

Know your history. #IndigenousPeoplesDay #AbolishColumbusDay

A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Oct 12, 2015 at 10:37am PDT

Choose LOVE. FU€% the rest. Honored to have taken part in the @NoH8Campaign w/ @tarajiphenson & @theoriginalbigdaddy for @adamBouska #NoH8 #Empire #YesMyEqualityTatIsReal #RP from @noh8campaign: #EMPIRE’s @jussiesmollett (#Jamal) lends his strength to the fight for #Equality! #NoH8 @empirefox

A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Feb 5, 2015 at 4:32pm PST

This Sunday night won’t be Smollett’s first time in Flint. He visited there last month and shared his love and support for the town on Instagram:

On the ✈️ back to Chicago but my heart is still in #Flint. I pray y’all know that you are heard and you matter. We aren’t nearly done. I will see you in a few weeks. I Love y’all. ??❤️??

A video posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Jan 31, 2016 at 9:26am PST

When I see the image of these babies from #Flint by @waynelawrence, I see the past, present AND future. It reminds me of the legendary images by #GordonParks. The power and strength of those images connected with the pain that we are presently dealing with many of the same issues as yesterday…today. Most importantly tho, these kids represent the future. In my heart, either one of them could end up as President of the United States one day. So instead of posting a pic of some dude with a white wig, who owned slaves as the representative of what our country started as… Because of the inspiration of people like @barackobama, I’d like to post this in celebration of what this country can and will be. May the young lead us in a way we never thought imaginable. Salute. #PresidentsDay #BeInspired #GoingBackToFlint #Repost @waynelawrence ・・・ Siblings Julie, Antonio, and India Abram collect their daily allowance of bottled water from Fire Station #3. Located on Martin Luther King Avenue, it is one of five firehouses that have become water resource sites in Flint, Michigan. The link to some portraits I made for @natgeo, along with personal accounts from persons surviving the water crisis in Flint, Michigan is now live. #stateofemergency #flintwatercrisis #michigan #injustice #corruption #americanhistory

A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Feb 15, 2016 at 8:42am PST

Earlier this week, Smollett serenaded the Obama’s as part of a tribute to singer Ray Charles.

To say I love @michelleobama is the understatement of the century. Such an honor and the day is only getting started. So proud to call Mrs. Obama our First Lady. ??

A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Feb 24, 2016 at 11:15am PST

In 2014, Smollett shared this picture of him lighting the Menorah with the hashtag “#Blewish” (Black and Jewish).

Happy first night of #Hanukkah my peeps. As I recite my blessings I’m thankful for all of the beauty in the world. I pray that we all come together as a human race and fight for the peace that this world so deserves. The very foundation of peace is respect and I respect & love you all deeply. (Except bigots… Yall can kiss my ass.) ? #HappyHanukkah2014 #Blewish

A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Dec 16, 2014 at 10:35pm PST

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount