Race of Will Smith

Will Smith’s last eight movies all struck number one in box office, making Will Smith such an well respected man he was asked to act as ‘Ali’, ‘Nelson Mandela’, which he turned down because he felt he was not good enough to fill Mandela’s shoes, and recently was asked to act as Barak Obama. Will was asked to play these roles because not only because he is a great actor but because he is an respected black man like all of the mentioned above but in acting. Will is one man who is respected and looked up to because the media portrays him that way which bring out his unique factors and he is not involved in scandal which media can use to brake him down. Will Smith’s strong family relationship is another aspect which makes him original and makes his family is portrayed as an ideology. This family not only has fans but celebrity supporters, the newest member being the first lady Michelle Obama. She has been inspired by this family as she says that Will and Jada are on her list of people she wants to meet because of their strong family. (www.atpictures.com)

The media has taken all of Will Smiths differences being an black American and all his characteristics and made them stronger. His race, the fact that he is a black man, usually black man are portrayed as labour workers, come from a poor background and are not educated from a lower class. Will is a very muscular man and this is also what him appear strong and be an idol not only for young males but also for older males and fathers, seeing that he is 46 years old and a father who any child would want, the image the media portrays as a perfect father. Lastly Will’s movies especially “the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” has given others anew perspective on black people and black families, because most story lines are dramatic and having such shows it enlightened the view on the black culture. Will is also always seen with his family which the media shows us that he honestly is a great father and that he does not allow the media to influence is family, seeing that one of his sons and his daughter are already following in his and his wife’s footsteps. (www.atpictures.com)

Will Smith with his wife, Jada Pikett Smith started the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation to benefit inner-city community development, youth educational projects and under-privileged children and their families. He hosted the Nelson Mandela AIDS 46664, benefit concert in George, South Africa. Will also dedicated to dedicate some of his time and money to helping suffering families and children in South Africa. Smith took part in the America: A Tribute to Heroes charity telethon for victims of 9/11. He also supports other charity works such as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, for cancer and the Living Classrooms Foundation and many more. (http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/150-will-smith, 17/05/2009)

Will Smith and the 46664 concert

On Friday 27 June 2008, Will Smith led a London crowd of 46,664 people in a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' to Nelson Mandela. Before calling Nelson Mandela on stage, Will and his wife explained that 46664 was Mandela's prison cell number as he was the 466th person to be imprisoned in Robben Island penitentiary in year 1964. Nelson Mandela used his prison cell number to launch the organisation 46664 which aims to raise awareness about HIV AIDS, educate young generations, and raise funds to support projects which assist AIDS victims. For Will Smith to help Nelson Mandela, shows one that he is very caring. The fact that Nelson's skin colour is black like Will Smith's, tells us that he has got great respect for his own race. This also shows us that Will Smith is proud of his skin colour and his background.

Daddy Will

He was the first hip-hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award. He’s ranked number 2 on Star TV’s Top Ten Box Office stars of the 1990’s in 2003 and holds the record for the most Kids Choice Awards with an astonishing six wins None other than Willard Christopher Will Smith Jnr. He was one of four children. He was named after his father Willard C Smith Sr. Smith lived in Wynnefield West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School where he got the nickname “fresh Prince”. He started rapping at the age of 12, met up with Jeff Towers (also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff) at 16. The two produced world hits and won their first Grammy. Before Smith became a solo artist he made his television debut in the hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. This lead to numerous acting roles on the big screen. Eventually Will Smith and Martin Lawrence made box-office history with the movies Bad Boys, as it was the first action film to feature two black lead actors.

To add to his list of achievements he is also a father with long term Wife, Jada Pinkette Smith. He has 3 talented children. What make Smith so unique is that he went television to the music industry all the way to the big screen with such success. It is seldom you see performers making the transition as well as Smith has. The media portrayal of black men and black fathers (according to media representation black men were gangsters; always up to no good. Stereotypes of black men, in particular black fathers, being lazy, bad parents, poor, live in a broken down house with more kids than they can afford and a lousy job), I am glad to say has not stopped him at all from pursuing his dreams and in addition to that has, broken away from the stereotypes. Smith adds:

“I love being black in America, and especially being black in Hollywood”

With such dedication to his kids and fatherhood, one has to think that Will Smith will continue to be a great dad. Will gets and understands the importance of balancing fatherhood with fame. He’s one of the media’s golden fathers, in there eyes he cannot do anything wrong. In the almost 30 years that he has been in the industry he has never gotten bad press. and with such gorgeous children one has to think that it is not going to happen any time soon.

“I believe that a man and a woman together, raising a family, is the purest form of happiness we can experience.”