Will Smith and Chris Rock’s exchange during the Academy Awards last night has Black Twitter talking on Monday, specifically Black women.

The comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head as he presented the Academy Award for best documentary. “Pinkett-Smith, who has been open about her struggle with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that leads to hair loss, seemingly rolled her eyes. Following the comment, Smith walked onto the stage and hit Rock. He later apologized during an emotional acceptance speech for his first Oscar win.

The incident triggered a universal need that many Black women feel is not being pushed enough, the need for Black men to protect us on the larger stage of media, even against our own sometimes. 

Last week, Senator Cory Booker struck that cord when he came to the defense of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during her altercation. No hands were thrown and there was no profanity, but the situations were arguably similar, as Twitter user, Qondi noted. 

She tweeted, “It’s very telling that the same people that came for Senator Cory Booker for protecting Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson are coming for Will Smith for protecting his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Why don’t they want Black men to protect and uplift Black women?

Protect Black women? 

Many Black women are backing Smith and challenging the #protectblackwomen call, such as media commentator, Dr. Avis. 

Avis tweeted, ” When is the last time you’ve seen a Black woman publicly defended in real-time? I rest my case. #TeamWill

Another tweeted, “sooooooooo, just so I’m clear, it’s “protect Black women” until someone… *checks notes*… actually protects a Black woman??

“Protect Black women in PUBLIC and in PRIVATE — even if you have to protect them against Black men,” another commented.

Protect Black Women. Sometimes that mean slapping the shit out somebody

— I appreciate you (@DeeLaSheeArt) March 28, 2022

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Meanwhile, there are some Black women who argued that  Black men could protect Black women, but not in Smith fashion. 

Women such as Jamie Scott commented, “You can protect and defend black women without physically assaulting someone.”

Whereas, others argue that this is not an incident to worry about what society portrays to be appropriate. 

Bernice King chimed in and wrote, “Anybody who thinks “Black people look bad” after the #Oscars already thought Black people look bad. Respectability doesn’t cure racism. Be Love, but please don’t think that a person who uses one moment to malign a whole group of people did not do so before that moment.”

Another commentator made an interesting angle and flipped the script, tweeting, “let a comedian speak on Beyoncé while she’s battling something. Solange will not REST.

If you know then you know, why that one resonates. 

Some are calling for white people “to sit this one out.”

 

I feel like white people should really sit this one out and stay out of Black folks business. Like seriously.

— first of all, bitch, … (@thejournalista) March 28, 2022

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Including white people themselves…

Hello my fellow white people. We really, really need to sit this one out. https://t.co/8jv4kG9MNo

— Michelle Ingoville (@IngovilleWrites) March 28, 2022

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I know this is hard for some of you to hear but I think we as white people can sit this discourse out. Take a break, throw on some NPR, come back when there’s another woman getting scammed on Netflix

— Liter Cottontail (@LitaTweeted) March 28, 2022

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What Black men are saying

Dirty South Feminist tweeted, “I find it funny that the people who said Black Men need to protect Black Women, are the same people MAD at Will for PROTECTING his wife, a Black Woman…”

Twitter user, Glen wrote, “A black man protecting his wife, and holding another black man accountable in front of the world is important. It speaks to the notion that we don’t love or respect our women. It is a direct response to protect black women and calls our youth to do the same. “

SteveJr commented, “It’s always “protect black women” until a black woman is actually being protected, then there’s all these parameters, limitations and expectations on HOW it should be done.”

The bigger picture overlooked 

Meanwhile, others said the moment overshadowed some of the more monumental highlights of the night, such as the fact that Smith won his first Academy Award, as well as Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson for Best Documentary Feature.

Shadow and Act founder, Tambay Obenson acknowledged Smith’s accomplishment and tweeted, “Buried in all the madness is that Will Smith’s win makes him only the 5th Black actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor, and the first in 16 years, since Forest Whitaker won for “The Last King of Scotland” in 2006.”

Actress Holly Robinson Peete tweeted, “I hate that Questlove had his HUGE moment destroyed by this foolishness. It’s embarrassing.” On Monday, she followed up with another tweet saying,”I was emotional when I sent this out. And Idk if the moment was marred for him. I just hoped for it to be focused on him and for #SummerOfSoul to get it’s full shine. And most people were beyond distracted. Congratulations @questlove

Another viral tweet making its rounds is one by Cheo Hodari Coker who wrote, “Tonight was supposed to be a triumph for Gen-X Hip-hop. Will Smith won an Oscar over Denzel at the height of D’s power. Questlove and Jazzbo won Oscars. D-Nice is DJing and Will Packer hip-hop filmmaker produced it. Beyonce, Puff, Jay, and Latifah there. All upstaged by The Slap.”