Commentary

COMMENTARY: The Curious and Confusing Circumstances Surrounding Empire’s Jussie Smollett

HOUSTON FORWARD TIMES — The immaturity Smollett displayed in creating this scene is disturbing, if true.

Published

7 years ago

March 1, 2019

By Dr. James B. Ewers Jr.

The Empire television series featured on Fox television is a show I have only seen sparingly. Maybe the story lines and social drama that come with the television series don’t appeal to me. If you are a fan of the show, then you are with a lot of people, as Empire is one of the top shows on television today.

It will be going into its fifth season, so there is something to be said for Lucious, Cookie and the Lyon family. The last series I can remember watching just a bit is Dallas. It came on Friday nights. The prevailing question as the show hit its peak was ‘who shot J.R?’ Now, to this day, that question will still bring on some debate and speculation.

As to Empire, there are characters moving in and off the show that make you tune in each week. Honestly, you just don’t know who is going to show up. How about model, Naomi Campbell and Oscar winner, Marisa Tomei making appearances on the show?

One of the original stars of the show is Jussie Smollett, who plays Jamal on the show. He is also a singer, which adds to his appeal and marketability. Just recently on January 29^th, Smollett’s career took a turn. You can interpret turn for good, bad or twisted.

Smollett reported that he was assaulted and insulted with racist and homophobic names. A television appearance he made on Good Morning America only amplified his alleged assault.

His cast members and other celebrities came to his defense. Rapper, Cardi B and Democratic candidate for president, Kamala Harris were among those who rallied with him and his plight. Now with new information, their positions have changed.

The new information suggests now that Smollett hoodwinked everybody and created this alleged crime for himself with the help of two associates. Abel and Ola Osundairo were supposedly paid $3,500.00 to participate in this cruel hoax, according to Chicago Police reports.

Chicago Police Superintendent, Eddie Johnson said, “Smollett orchestrated a phony attack in order to take advantage of the pain and anger of racism.” If in fact he did promote this scheme, we have hit another low in human relationships. Those in the LBGTQ community are disgusted and wondering how could something like this happen?

Well, words like selfish and arrogant come to my mind. If these allegations and assertions turn out to be true, then cries for help won’t elicit the same response next time. And in my opinion, there will be a next time. Real pain and real suffering will happen, and the response might be muted.

On Friday, February 22^nd, CNN reported that Smollett had been removed from the final two episodes of Empire this season. That, in my opinion, is a precipitous fall from grace. I have an old expression that I use sometimes, and it is, “the people that you meet on the way up, you gonna trip over when you fall back down.”

I don’t think we will see Jussie Smollett on the Empire series next year. We’ll just have to wait and see.

The immaturity Smollett displayed in creating this scene is disturbing, if true. The evidence is stacking up against him, minute by minute. What was his mindset in this plot? What was he hoping to accomplish?

Yet, Smollett and his lawyer say he is being victimized and that he has impeccable character. Stay tuned. This isn’t over.

This article originally appeared in the Houston Forward Times.

Dr. James B. Ewers Jr.

Posts by Dr. James B. Ewers Jr.

Related Topics:Cardi B Chicago CNN Cookie Dallas Empire Fox Good Morning America homophobic Jussie Smollett Kamala Harris Lucious Racist

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC