‘Newark’s own’: City celebrates Arts High alum Michael B. Jordan on historic Oscar win

Newark officials celebrated Michael B. Jordan on his historic Oscar for Best Actor during Sunday’s Academy Award ceremony.

Jordan, who graduated in 2005 from Arts High, won for his portrayals of twins Smoke and Stack in the blockbuster “Sinners.”

“Before he was an Academy Award winner, Michael B. Jordan was a kid from Newark. And tonight, he has inspired countless kids from Newark to work hard and give everything they’ve got to become all they are capable of becoming,” Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León said in a statement Sunday night.

“On behalf of the Newark Public Schools, I want to congratulate Michael on this historic honor and thank him for always celebrating his Newark roots throughout his successful career. I also want to acknowledge the hard work of his mother, Donna, the dedicated passion of his drama teacher Carl Gonzalez, and all of Michael’s teachers, coaches, family, and friends who did everything they could to help him achieve the greatness he achieved tonight.”

León was not the only member of Newark Public Schools to congratulate the newly minted Oscar winner. Board of Education President Hasani K. Council also congratulated Jordan.

“His accomplishment represents not only personal excellence but also the limitless potential of Newark’s young people,” Council said in a statement Sunday. “Michael B. Jordan has always carried Newark with him, and tonight the entire city celebrates alongside him. His success reminds our students that talent, determination, and belief in oneself can open doors to the highest levels of achievement.”

“We are proud to call him one of Newark’s own.”

Arts High, located downtown just a couple of blocks away from the “University Heights,” the area where NJIT, Rutgers University – Newark and Essex County College are located, is a four-year magnet high school specializing in the arts. It offers programs in dance, drama, music, TV production and visual art.

The visual and performing arts high school was established in 1931 — becoming the first of its kind in the United States.

Jordan has been vocal of his early start in the business — particularly his mom taking him to acting auditions in nearby New York City while he was still a student — the start of his path to eventual stardom.

The city’s mayor, Ras Baraka, also shared in the collective pride of the city over Jordan winning the distinguished and world-wide respected acting statuesque — a tangible proof of a craft enshrouded in talent and hard work.

“Michael B. Jordan’s first Oscar win for his powerful performance in “Sinners” is an incredibly proud moment for us in the City of Newark. It is a reminder of what’s possible when talent, hard work, and vision come together,” Baraka said. “Just a kid from Newark who went from the halls of Arts High School to the global stage of the Academy Awards, Michael’s journey shows our young people that no dream is too big and no goal is out of reach. What makes us even more proud is that he has never forgotten where he came from, often returning home to give back to the community that helped shape him. Today, with great pride, Newark celebrates one of our very own.”

Meanwhile, for his part Jordan has not been a stranger to movie hits — teaming up with Ryan Coogler for his most known and acclaimed roles. Aside from Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” the horror blockbuster centering around twins Smoke and Stack, Jordan has led the “Creed” movie franchise and was part of the stellar cast of “Black Panther” — both also directed by Coogler, who won his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay on Sunday for “Sinners.”