Willow opened up about a few things on the latest episode of Red Table Talk.
Willow said she felt the Black community “shunned” her and Jaden because they were “too different.” She said,
“Specifically with the African American community, I kind of felt like me and Jaden were shunned a little bit, like, ‘We’re not gonna take pride in them because they’re too different.’”
She went on to say she even felt the heat from her family for being unique. The other co-hosts, Willow’s mom and grandmother, spoke on the mom-shaming they received over the children. Jada-Pinkett Smith said she received backlash after Willow shaved her head at 11-years-old over the revulsion of her 2011 single, “Whip My Hair.” Criticism continued when Willow dyed her hair different colors, and in 2016 when Jaden wore a dress in a Louis Vuitton.
Jada went on to say that even though Jaden isn’t a “typical Black man (whatever that means),” people within the Black community “create stereotypes,” which ultimately led to the shaming she received over her parenting. She said she hopes the Black community can let go of the shaming. She said,
“I know that people felt like, ‘It’s dangerous. You cannot afford to raise your children this way because it’s dangerous. You know what it’s like to be a Black or brown person in this world. You are doing your kids a disservice.’”
Jada went on to say that she can relate because she grew up in Baltimore, and wasn’t the “conventional black girl.” She said her self-confidence helped her survive.