Oscars So Fight — Will, Chris, & Jada

I wrote this piece when the slap happened and it captures the mood of the moment and still resonates following a viewing of Rock’s new special. Rock finally went live with his thoughts, anger, and responses to The Slap. Rock has a new Netflix special — Selective Outrage — and he shares how he feels about Will Smith — “Aways a fan; he’s bigger than me; his wife, Jada, hurt him more than I did.” And about Jada: She cheated on him with her son’s friend; she started it by once telling me not to host the Oscars when her husband wasn’t nominated; and, the tried and true lazy insult far too many men attack women with “Bitch”.

Once called “The most dangerous comic in America” Chris Rock has settled into a space some of his other Black peers — Dave Chappelle in particular — settled into: Comedy that isn’t dangerous to America, but dangerous to Black women (Rock), and trans (Chappelle).

Rock’s special was in Baltimore, Jada Smith’s hometime — coincidence? — and his audience was receptive though there were a few jeers at his latest Jada insult. If you like Chris Rock’s comedy, you’ll like the show. If you’ve found his comedy tiring, and meant for a *certain audience, you’ll find more of the same.

I love the fact that Black folk can debate, joke, and offer differing opinions on Chris, Will and Jada with each opinion including cultural insights that are valid.

The differing opinions reaffirm that we are not group-think or monolithic, and that there are cultural nuances that support…