Whatever you think about Will Smith’s slap, black women deserve to be protected

The incident points to a deep-seated conversation about black women and the harms we endure, writes Adama Juldeh Munu

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith at the Oscars (Pic: Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic)

NONE OF us were ready for that slap – and neither was Chris Rock.

But it’s precisely because we were shocked, surprised or disgusted that it’s important to establish a very important home truth that so few reckon in wider society, but which black women already know – and that is, no-one expects black women and girls to be adequately protected in the public eye.

For context, this year’s 94th Academy Awards ceremony was heralded by organisers as a ‘back to normal’ ceremony, following a bleak remoteness due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Adama Juldeh Munu: ‘When it comes from our own men or womenfolk it hurts.’

There were some interesting wins and historic milestones that were achieved on the night, not least the Apple plus drama ‘CODA’ winning best picture – an ode to the audio-impaired community; and of course Beyoncé’s stellar performance of her Academy award-nominated song ‘Be Alive’, the original soundtrack for the film ‘King Richard’. To name just a few.

But these, and more, were overshadowed by Will Smith heading to the stage to slap Rock, after the latter made a joke that his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s tightly cropped hair would adequately land her a sequel role in a’ G.I Jane Film 2’. Actress Demi Moore plays lieutenant Jordan ‘O Neil in the iconic 1997 film which tells a fictional story of the first woman to undergo special operations, similar to the US Navy SEALS.

After the slap, Smith returning to his seat, warning Rock to “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**** mouth”-  twice for effect. 

Jada suffers from alopecia areata, which she publicly revealed in 2018, describing it as a ‘terrifying’ ordeal.  According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, alopecia areata occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles causing hair loss. People from all racial groups can suffer from alopecia, but according to dermatologists who specialise in hair loss, nearly 50% of black women experience some form of hair loss. 

While it is Rock’s responsibility to offer comedic relief in what would be a stale roll-out of awards otherwise, it is disappointing that he chose to dive into a comedic routine that, intentionally done or not, demeaned a black woman. And it is equally disappointing because he has some know-how on the harms black women publicly endure, especially when it comes to their phenotypes.

He produced a film on the subject in 2009 after all. But this is not just about Rock’s or Smith’s actions that night. The incident points to a deep-seated conversation about black women – us – the harms we endure from within and without, and what it means to be protected when that happens.

Black women know very well that any degradation meted out to them by outside forces is rarely ever subtle. 

Serena Williams would know, after she was caricatured as an ape in an Australian newspaper following her outburst in the 2019 US Open Final.

We have come to know in the UK that even the infant son of someone like Meghan Markle whose mother is African-American, is not safe from being typified in that same way. Lupita Nyong’o, who was a first-hand witness to Will Smith’s outburst, has faced open colourist remarks by black men such as Gilbert Arenas (who has since apologised). 

And that’s just when it comes to our physical features. We are the ones to suffer maternal mortality, four times our white counterparts, in the United Kingdom, the most likely to go missing and are adultified and herofied, at the expense of our mental and physical health from the get-go.

When it comes from our own men or womenfolk it hurts. We saw the dismay in her face.

It is fair to assume that Pinkett-Smith may not have wanted her husband to react in that way, on what also was the biggest night of his acting career thus far. 

There’s been a lot of conversation about whether Rock threw a cheap shot in naivety, or whether Smith was wrong for showing Rock he is indeed ‘West Philadelphia born and raised’ on live television’. Some agree with Will – protect your black woman at all costs – even against other black men.

As a community, we are not in agreement about this. But I think we can agree with the spirit of what he said and meant – “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**** mouth. And that also applies to black women.

Adama Juldeh Munu is an award-winning journalist that’s worked with TRT World, Al-Jazeera, the Huffington Post, The New Arab and Black Ballad. She writes about race, Black heritage and issues connecting Islam and the African diaspora. You can follow her on Twitter @adamajmunu

Comments Form

2 Comments

  1. | Dee

    You’re saying that black women can only be protected through violence? What Will Smith did was wrong and I will never condone the slap he gave Chris Rock. He could have handled it differently. What a shame

    Reply

  2. | Ruth

    Will should have slapped more sense in insensitive Chris Rock, black woman are already putting up with too much and fighting too many battle’s already. Chris should have known better. Will haven’t behaved any worse or differently than his white counterpart and I hope they are all held at the same standard because it seems that some people face harsher criticism for doing less than others. Yes will protect your Queen, she is worthy of your protection, she is already going through mental anguish with her condition and for Chris to behave in such a way is disapointing. In the future people should watch what they say about others an be more sensitive to an illness that is deverstating to so many distress. What would Chris do if the roles were reversed? I think the same because of all the hurt and pain that already exists.

    Reply

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