Jada Pinkett Smith and Why We Should Protect Black Men

People aren’t perfect so that lets us know relationships aren’t perfect, either.

But what happens when those people, relationships, and issues wherein are shared with the world?

Drama and exploitation to name a couple of things.

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s marriage and the issues within have not been a secret over the last few years as the couple has been honest about their highs and lows: From the beautiful beginnings of their relationship to the entanglements with other people.

What should stay behind closed doors?

It’s interesting to note how Jada and Will’s honesty can affect the parties involved, and what information is provided at their comfort level. For example, it seems Jada is the one between the two of them that is more comfortable with divulging private details about her marriage with Will.

From the Facebook talk show, Red Table Talk, to her new autobiography, Worthy, Jada has given herself a platform to vent her frustrations, tell her side of the story, and her truths…sometimes even Will’s.

This is where concern sets in on how airing out the bumps in their marriage could negatively impact Will. We’ve all seen the infamous clip of Will seemingly on the verge of tears on the Red Table Talk in 2020 discussing their relationship. It’s moments like these where it makes one consider his plight and the toll it takes on him as a person.

Mental wellness as a topic and not a trend

Black men’s tears on display for our entertainment is not a new concept. Take for example Tyrese Gibson crying about not seeing his daughter in months in 2017. Or Kanye West breaking down into tears on stage in 2020 about almost convincing his then-wife, Kim Kardashian, to have an abortion.

Related: Does Kanye West Deserve Our Help?

It’s moments like these that the internet used to turn these men into pariahs—and turned Tyrese’s grieving and Kanye’s bipolar manic outburst into trendy meme formats

It happened again with Will from that Red Table Talk moment we mentioned above, a moment Will was clearly distraught in and yet you can find the image used for laughs online. It’s this type of treatment, as well as the lack of privacy when going through these ordeals, that leads to more mental unwellness, more distress, and unfortunately, sometimes, more outbursts.

Think Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at Academy Awards earlier in the year. That moment was sensationalized for all the wrong reasons. While we focused on Will using violence to reprimand Chris for telling a joke at Jada’s expense (something that is arguably the wrong way to handle the situation), we neglected why Will felt the need to do it.

Perhaps his manhood felt at stake. Maybe he felt like he had something to prove. Or maybe it was a cry for help.

Black men deserve protection

While it would be insensitive to accuse Jada of outright driving Will insane over the years, there’s enough evidence to at least point out what she has said and done has not helped his mental wellness.

And when Black men’s mental wellness is not taken seriously, we can expect more public blow-ups before public healings. Men like Will, like Kanye, like Tyrese and the like deserve a safe space to express openly themselves and have support for their mental health like we all do. Instead of poking the bear and being surprised when it lashes out, we should show it compassion. Tyrese, Will and Kanye all belong on the same island to receive the mental help they need.

What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below.