Jussie Smollett has been always outspoken about his political beliefs, especially in Trump's America. The Empire star is spreading his wings and facing adversity head on in a new music video for his single "F.U.W. (F**ked Up World)," his directorial debut.
"F.U.W." is full of powerful imagery and raw political commentary. The black-and-white video shows various injustices Americans face in today's world, including a group of women standing in front of "My Body My Rights" sign, Jussie preparing a young black boy in a hoodie to handle police brutality, a trans woman standing outside of a public restroom, and a woman in a hijab fighting back against her oppressors.
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In one scene, a man in a wheelchair runs over a mask of Donald Trump's face, which feels especially poignant after Trump's mocking of a disabled reporter during last year's presidential campaign.
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"That mask is a representation of this false idea of patriotism. And that mask is a representation of this idea of white male privilege," Smollett told the Associated Press. "It's so much bigger than him. It's what he represents, and it's because of that representation, that's why he's the president of the United States currently. It's our opportunity to take those masks off and shatter them, so that's what I did."
He also comments on the deterioration of the America Dream. In one scene, a black person is holding 3/5 of an apple pie over an American flag, followed by a shot of the pie being crushed in his hands. "You better get loud now," Jussie urges the audience.
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The powerful video ends with people from various ethnicities and backgrounds standing together, chanting "Resist."
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“This song is for the oppressed," Jussie explained to the AP. "That’s why I feel like people will connect with it because it is very broad, because oppression is so broad.”
Jussie believes that if the marginalized stand together, we can push progress forward for all Americans. "Build the wall," Jussie croons in the video. "You won't keep us from loving each other."
Watch the moving visuals for "F.U.W." in the video below.
