Actor Michael B. Jordan, whose recent screen credits include “Black Panther” and “Creed II,” was back in his hometown of Newark last Friday, to help inspire students at Barringer High School dreaming of careers in the arts.
Jordan was at Barringer as part of the Coach Foundation’s participation in “The Future Project,” which places celebrity and other professional “dream directors” into high schools around the country to provide guidance and inspiration to students. The actor is the new face of Coach’s menswear line.
His appearance was chronicled on Monday’s “Good Morning America” broadcast on ABC.
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Jordan, 31, lived in New Jersey’s largest city from age 2, and attended Newark’s Arts High School, where the dramatic and action star played basketball in addition to his theatrical studies. Jordan’s early professional roles included television ads and appearances on “All My Children,” “Cosby,” “The Sopranos,” and “The Wire,” before establishing himself on the big screen.
In last year’s “Black Panther,” he played Erik Killmonger, the Marvel title character’s main rival.
It was yet another Newark public appearance in recent months for Jordan, who was in town for the November opening of “Creed II,” a Rocky sequel in which he plays Adonis Creed, a protégé of the aging Rocky Balboa, once again played by Sylvester Stallone.
ABC footage from the event captured Jordan judging a talent contest at the Newark high school and leading classroom and small group discussions. He told the network it was good to be back among high school thespians in his old home town.
“I got inspired again,” Jordan told ABC. “I got the chills.”
He was also quoted criticizing proposed cuts in spending on arts education.
“Dreams are so important and the arts manifest those emotions, they manifest those dreams,” Jordan told the network. “Now, you cut the arts out, I mean, you’re cutting kids’ ability to dream. You know what I’m saying?”
In an Instagram post about the appearance, Jordan said he “saw so much of myself in these students.”
Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
