Will Smith: ‘I’ve Never Been Called Ni**** By a Smart Person’

Mega-superstar-rapper-turned-actor Will Smith had some profound words earlier this week when he appeared on a podcast and stated, “I’ve never been called Ni**** by a smart person…”

According to People, the talented Smith appeared on the popular Pod Save America podcast earlier this week, where he discussed facing racism growing up as a Black man with host Jon Favreau.

“I’ve been called ni**** to my face probably five or six times,” he said. “Fortunately for my psyche, I’ve never been called ni**** by a smart person. So, I grew up with the impression that racists and racism were stupid and they were easy to get around, I just had to be smarter. While they were very dangerous, I had never looked into the eyes of a racist and saw anything that I perceived as intellect.”

Smith is currently exploring the topic of “systemic racism” in Hollywood in his new Netflix show Amend: The Fight for America. The show explores the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“At the core of it, I noticed a difference between ignorance and evil,” Smith said. “Now they’re twins, for sure, but ignorance can be educated and evil is a much more difficult problem. And fortunately, ignorance is more prevalent than blatant evil. So I’ve always been encouraged that the process of education and understanding could alleviate some of the more dangerous and difficult aspects of racism that have unfortunately been embedded in the very fibers of our country.”

“Ignorance can be educated. Evil is a much more difficult problem. And fortunately, ignorance is more prevalent than blatant evil.”

Will Smith talks growing up as a Black man in America, running for office, and more on a new pod: https://t.co/gJRsqcKfeU pic.twitter.com/4qjQRtDrqG

— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) March 1, 2021