Are Black People Allowed to Make Mistakes?
By now, we have all heard about that incident…
During this year’s Academy Awards televised show, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after Rock made an insensitive joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss.
The altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock, two beloved men not just in Black Culture but in popular culture, has stirred some very interesting discourse across the public sphere.
I am not here to talk about that incident specifically. However anyone feels about that incident, is their business.
I am here to pose a question: Are Black People allowed to make mistakes?
The immediate reaction is “Yes, of course they are!” But history, both distant and recent would make answering that question more difficult. But let’s focus on this event first.
Prior to this incident, Will Smith, actor, producer, and philanthropist, was, for all intents and purposes adored by popular culture. He gave us three decades of entertainment, music, then films, and currently, a hilarious and engaging social presence and at the same time, a very transparent memoir.
Respected, trusted, considered “safe”.
That is until the recent fateful Oscar night. Suddenly the public discourse surrounding him shifted. Social media lit…
