Years of being America's apple pie, Will Smith, took a career step backward with one slap! Innately he had had enough of the act, you heard the speech. It was all there! The pain, anger, confusion, abuse...laugh it off, right? In a moment of rage, after witnessing his wife's demeanor, he chose to take it all out on the court jester. The dark side could not be contained especially when you play the role of a man who had quite the challenge trying to gain the respect and attention of white people in a primarily white world and using his black daughters to do so!
"This fool is running his mouth about my wife...I guess it's not-so funny, she's not laughing." It was apparent from Will's laugh turned frown as he walked up to that stage.
When I witnessed, like many of you, the slap scene, I thought of the men and women who dress in costume ready to entertain people only to be a punching bag for a few. People look for a target to unleash their fury on and that night Chris Rock was it! There is always more behind a joke than meets the eye! Had it been anyone else, he would have been arrested on the spot. These men had a history maybe a personal beef. Both have been used pawns in the game and pawns know pawns. There are some things and people you just don't talk about.
In order to fully understand the tension in the room one would have to revisit 2016. Back then, non-white actors had not been nominated for a single award. This wasn't a first-time, there is a long history of black and brown being casted for roles but overlooked no matter how good you might think their performances. Therefore, a plan to boycott the Oscars was erected that included Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Spike Lee, and others. These award show creators, investors, and attendees didn't forget the shame casted on them!
Back in 2016, Chris Rock knew exactly what he was doing to trivilize Jada and others' efforts to bring attention to the biasness with his jokes. He was quite the grateful one during that not so distant past! He was making his own personal strides by being the first black emcee to host the Academy Award Show. So of course, a boycott being organized the same time when a successful black comedian was making history, well that's not good for him or the historically prejudice establishment that hired him. So what does a vengeful group/individual do? Be vengeful, cast shame on those ungrateful ones! You have a black emcee, what more do you want? Jada, Will and Chris had all worked together as actors on other projects in the past. Therefore, they were aware of the many struggles in entertainment world and most likely had shared their personal opinions with one another off-camera. Naturally, if you knew your coworkers and/or friends' woes you wouldn't want to be teased about them, now would you?
Fast forward to 2022, Chris Rock didn't forget about the boycott plans and neither did Will Smith or Jada Pinkett forget what he said back in 2016 about her. However, it wouldn't have been so bad had the comedian kept the entertainer's wife's name out of his mouth. There was no reason to joke about Jada since it wasn't her night, but was there? Chris Rock knows all-too-well how the hidden hand rejoices in insulting behaviors and mean-spirited roasts, and he fed into it and so did Will!
We viewed two black men: one insulting the wife and the other insulting his jaw. Now what do you make of that? Who was talking to both men out of view before that night? Who stirred up the pot? Who was aware that Jada would be very angry about this? Think of this, a shamed white organization, a shamed black comedian and a disappointed black group turned angry because they aren't in the club but of the club...what do you think a powerful white group who doesn't agree with how they are being labeled is going to do under pressure? They will find a way to shame you later rather than sooner. They don't forget either i.e.) 911 never forget.
By instigating anger already hidden within and then that anger reaching an apex, one feeds into the angry archetypes depicted by other ethnicities who have already envisioned what that looks like and who will find a way to justify why those people were not invited or recognized at their establishment in the first place! To gain control of the rage, black fellow helping hands are used to calm the storm that white power players create. It doesn't take much to rile sensitive blacks up so they have learned, so they know to get people who look like them around to manage the situation. It also doesn't take much to pit black people against one another especially when they already have beef i.e.) Tupac and Biggie. Finally, it doesn't take much to keep black people in their place i.e.) Bill Cosby, Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson.
This new generation coming along sees whatever is before them such as two men fighting rather than two rich, powerful, aging, out-spoken black men fighting at an award show that has been predominately white for decades. What that means is that these men will be put in their graves prematurely along with whatever accomplishments they have achieved by their associations. These men will also have to deal with financial setbacks that will not empower the next generation because their money tree will be plucked to do activities that don't make long-lasting wealth. They will be mentally and physically drained so much as they age that they will not be able to join forces with powerful back groups to continue to cast the bright light on America's dark history.
The new age young blacks are simply embarrassed by events. They are less likely to think deeply regarding such incidents, because they consider themselves equal to whites. Those who know better, know that there are some things you just don't say or do especially if you are black if you want to protest, win favor, shine the light on lies, coverups, and secrets in white circles. After all these years, these men failed miserably.
Rise up new generation and realize when you want to get something done, don't forget there is a "white" way to do it in a white club/organization/workplace/group! Recognize the tricks and treats early on to sabatoge efforts to promote change. Resist the temptation to fight your brother in the process. You may all have a common foe so stay focused on the end goal and don't be distracted by teasing, lies, losses, and an embarassing personal history.
Nicholl McGuire
