by Tara Pringle Jefferson
When Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair” dropped last week, I was thoroughly impressed with the talent that comes from the Smith family.
But as I checked the comments on Bossip (yes, I read it, please don’t judge me), people who didn’t like the song were going HARD on Jada.
“If she wasn’t married to Will Smith, she’d be just another C-list actress…” one commenter wrote.
Um, what?
Pre-Mrs. Will Smith, Jada starred in Menace II Society, the Inkwell, A Low Down Dirty Shame and…Woo. As “Pinkett-Smith” she’s starred in Ali, the last two Matrix movies, and Madagascar.
Hmmm…Well, if anything, I would say that being married to Will hasn’t necessarily elevated her film roles, but has introduced her to a new audience.
But is there anything wrong with that? What’s wrong with having your career enhanced by virtue of being married?
I know I wouldn’t be able to accomplish half of what I do if I didn’t have my husband. He allows me to study on weekends for hours on end. Because of his income I’m able to pursue writing opportunities that give me personal fulfillment, despite little-to-no pay.
If you ask me, Jada simply made a smart choice. Marry a young, handsome, charismatic actor who loves you and wants to spend his life with you? Yes, please! By becoming a power couple, they’re able to leverage their talents and strengths into something larger – the Smith dynasty.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go whip my hair.
BMWK family, how has your career been enhanced by your spouse?
Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer and blogger living in Ohio with her husband and two children. Visit her blog, www.theyoungmommylife.com, to read more of her observations about life, motherhood and love.
Since becoming married I am able to work and attend school full time with the financial and emotional support from my husband. I don’t understand why we can’t ever celebrate for our sisters and brothers when they accomplish something instead of always having to find something negative to focus on. I check bossip from time to time also… if nothing else, it’s entertaining. 🙂 Keep up the great work with this site. I love it!
they build up each other. we love will smith because he’s a family man. i think fabulous and ne-yo said it best in the song “you make me better” — i’m going to need coretta scott if i’m going to be king.
Marriage should help you become a better you…
Per Tony Evans in the book Marriage Matters: “Marriage is a covenantal union designed to strengthen the capability of each partner to carry out the plan of GOD in their lives.”
So here we have a perfect example of the benefits of marriage…and people are just plain hating… It’s a shame…
Excellent points everyone! This website always makes me think… in a good way!
There’s no point in getting married if one doesn’t expect his or her life to improve because of it. Emotionally, spiritually, financially (yes, I said it) and otherwise!
I am getting married at the end of the year, and my fiance and I have already come up with plans to help me pursue my business dreams. It’s a lot more difficult to do this alone as a single woman in an industry where layoffs and paycuts are happening left and right — yes, I could go out on a limb and try to make it alone, but having the resources of a fiance/soon-to-be husband will make it that much easier.
One doesn’t have to always be “bad by herself.” That’s asking too much of us as women, in my opinion.
Excellent points everyone! This website always makes me think… in a good way!
There’s no point in getting married if one doesn’t expect his or her life to improve because of it. Emotionally, spiritually, financially (yes, I said it) and otherwise!
I am getting married at the end of the year, and my fiance and I have already come up with plans to help me pursue my business dreams. It’s a lot more difficult to do this alone as a single woman in an industry where layoffs and paycuts are happening left and right — yes, I could go out on a limb and try to make it alone, but having the resources of a fiance/soon-to-be husband will make it that much easier.
One doesn’t have to always be “bad by herself.” That’s asking too much of us as women, in my opinion.
Marriage has definitely helped my career. I was able to go to school and take a lower paying, but better positioning job because I had him to support me. Likewise I know being married has helped his career. When two become one, it is supposed to be better. I think Jada and Will are an excellent example of this.
To be a powerful couple you have to back each other. It’s not about what that person can do for you but what you can do for each other. As far as for Will and Jada goes she would be on the a list because she is a strong woman and she is an excellent actress. They improved each other, they shine together.
My husband makes me a better person. We are opposite in many ways and he is strong in all the ways that I am not. He pushes me. A friend and I have an event planning business. My husband supports me in so many ways. I could not accomplish all that I have without him. Another example-we bought a house last year. Now I am one of those people that is super cautious and over-deliberates pretty much everything. I like to do things with everything just right and as close to perfect as possible. I wanted to wait until we had x amt. of dollars to put down as a down payment + another x amt. of dollars to put aside in case of emergency, etc. etc. But he was like, let’s just go for it. It’s never going to be enough for you to feel 100% comfortable. But we have enough to buy a nice home that we can afford. And he was right. I just had to step out on faith and we have been happy homeowners for almost a year now. But if we had done it my way, we would still be renting.
So in short, I don’t see anything wrong with capitalizing on your partner’s strengths. Just because Will and Jada are in the spotlight doesn’t make it any different. If Jada just sat home doing nothing but spending Will’s money we would be calling her a gold digger. But she has continued to pursue her dreams and ambitions, just as she was doing when they met.
Statistics show that single mothers and divorced mothers live almost below the poverty line. Point is we all do better being married vs single no matter how much the media tries to glamorize otherwise. You are better health wise, mentally, and emotional and like another poster said FINANCIALLY. I do ok single sure but I could do a lot more with a supportive spouse. I was having a conversation with a potential s.o and we had a ball talking about how we could help eachother advance career wise and meeting goal we actually both share. As a married couple you get to do things you wouldn’t be able to otherwise, like stay at home with kids, pursue a career goal and geez a tone of other things.
I don’t typically call people haters because the word is so over used but its so in order for the people who bash Jada, do I like the song particularly ?? umm no but do i love how they are family and they represent black love? OH YES!! Keep it up!! we need more positive families on display
I feel like the Smith’s should be used as an example of why marriage is ultimately beneficial to not only the two people married to each other, but to their children and ultimately the community at large. We need to hear more stories of how marriage lead to success in business. Like the Wonder Pets say, “What’s gonna work? TEAM WORK!!!” LOL!
;0)
Not the Wonder Pets!!! LOL
I don’t personally care for Jada – I’ve never thought her acting was worth much. HOWEVER, I will say it’s silly to say! They build each other up! You’d better believe that part of his success is due to that happiness he has at home. Not that he wouldn’t be a movie star w/o Jada…but he could have a myriad of issues like SO many of the other’s do!