This weekend, Jamie Foxx was on hand in Miami Gardens, Florida to support Trayvon Martin’s father Tracy, and mother Sybrina Fulton, as part of a rally that featured hundreds of demonstrators walking a 1.1 mile procession. But this wasn't about a star showing up for charitable face-time. Foxx took it a step further, calling out young people and speaking up against gun violence in the black community.
“The blood that flows through America that is from gun violence, is mostly African-American," Foxx said. "And yet you young black folk sit here mute and don’t say nothing about it."
Despite being an Oscar winning movie star appearing in films like Ray, Django Unchained, the upcoming Spiderman 2 and Annie remake, Foxx's track record of activism cannot go unnoticed. Beyond wearing a hoodie at the 2013 BET Awards in remembrance of Martin, along with sporting a Trayvon Martin t-shirt at last year's 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, his outspokenness on this issue is loud and welcome
But it's ironic how Foxx was once lambasted by progressives for cooning because of roles in projects like Booty Call, his character on The Jamie Foxx Show, and the myriad of less than flattering black characters played on the classic sketch comedy In Living Color. These days, Foxx appears to be at the forefront of Hollywood activism when it relates to black issues. From the very beginning of the unfortunate events that led to the death of Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman, Foxx lent his face to the cause. "I’m absolutely committed to all you out there who have young kids,” he said, at a rally in February 2013. “I hope you never have to go through anything like this."
In August 2013, he called for Black Hollywood stars to step up and lend their celebrity to causes pertinent to the African American community, mentioning Will Smith and Jay Z specifically. "What we need to do now is the young folks pick it up now," Foxx told the audience at last year's March On Washington anniversary. "So when we're 87 years old, talking to the other young folks, we can say, 'It was me, Will Smith.'"
While it is something of a pipe dream to expect every black celebrity to speak out against issues like gangs, gun violence and other pressing issues that relate to the community, we’re glad that such a establish individual has taken up these causes while he’s still in his prime and at the height of his career.
Watch the video below of the speech Jamie Foxx gave at the Trayvon Martin Peace march this Saturday, February 8,
