Let’s Talk About Why We’re Really Mad at Will Smith

I’m going to be honest here…

Jayson Kristopher Jones

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Photo by aniestla on Unsplash

The most iconic scene of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air comes when Lou, Will’s estranged father, randomly visits him, rekindles his relationship with Will, and selfishly chooses to abandon him once again. After seeing Lou walk out of his life for the last time, Will unleashes his emotions in the presence of Uncle Phil, in what was Will Smith’s best acting on the sitcom.

Will: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I’ma get through college without him, I’ma get a great job without him, I’ma marry me a beautiful honey, and I’ma have me a whole bunch of kids. I’ll be a better father than he ever was, and I sure as hell don’t need him for that, ’cause ain’t a damn thing he could ever teach me about how to love my kids!

[Will starts to cry]

Will: How come he don’t want me, man?

I don’t know a Black man who grew up in the 90’s that doesn’t remember that scene and for those of us that grew up without our fathers, it still brings tears to our eyes. I knew then and I know now, I love Will Smith.

Knowing the optics, he chose to strike another person, let alone another Black man in the most public of forums and knowing how hard the giants whose shoulders he stands on worked to get him there, he chose to disregard their calloused hands and weary feet. Knowing what it means to be Black in America, Will Smith decided to play into the stereotypes for a moment of misguided machismo.

Will Smith is my favorite actor and Chris Rock is my favorite comedian. That doesn’t mean that they are the best to ever do it, within their respective crafts. However, it’s undeniable that they’re among the greats. I wanted to start off by professing my admiration for both men because I admittedly have always had a tough time critiquing them. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air opened my mind up to a world that I wanted to inhabit. The characters, witty dialogue and compelling writing made viewers simultaneously fall in love with and…

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Jayson Kristopher Jones

Storyteller. Social Worker. Dad-Joke Enthusiast | Beautiful From Head to Toe AVAILABLE NOW: https://bookshop.org/lists/liv-s-list