The Beauty of Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Red Table Talk
There has been much positive talk about Jada Pinkett Smith’s (Will Smith’s wife) Red Table Talk and the topic of discussions that have been brought to light within the show. The table is symbolic of expressing a person’s thoughts, emotions and inclination.
What is Red Table Talk?
For those of you who don’t know what Red Table Talk is, it is a candid and very open online series. It is hosted on Facebook Watch and discusses a variety of VERY REAL topics based on personal experiences, insights, and life practises. The show primarily includes 3 different generations within the Smith house; Jada Pinkett, her daughter Willow Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, who provides a broad perspective on the topics being discussed. Every now and then there are guest speakers such as Ciara, Tiffany Haddish, Justin Baldoni and many more.
What makes the show distinctively special than any other ‘Reality TV Show’ is that there is a genuine bond between the three women. They provide an open and often non-biased discussion as they listen to their fellow speakers at the Table.
Below are 3 specific episodes that are generally relatable to many viewers or deemed insightful to watch.
Kid Cudi Talks About Mental Health
Kid Cudi and the Red Table Women sit down and deconstruct the stigmatisation associated with mental health such as anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and depression. Both Kid Cudi and Jada Pinkett-Smith discuss the vulnerabilities they experience from being engrossed in a world of mental isolation. This episode is truly courageous, each person outlines their darkest periods, a topic which is very sensitive and personal, each to their own. Overall, the episode underlines how anxiety or suicidal thoughts should not be shamed upon since they are common universal experiences.
The Racial Divide: Women of Colour and White Women
This episode talks about racial division, particularly in America. It examines the privileges, relationships and social conditioning regarding racial division as the women discuss their social predicament within American society from three different generations with the help of guest speaker and diversity educator Jane Eliott. What is interesting about this episode is that each of the women confesses and submits to their insecurities when surrounded by white minorities due to society’s preconceptions of social status. Consequently, the audience is given an insight into Gammy’s (Adrienne Banfield-Norris), who is the eldest of the generations and her hesitance and uncertainty of having a white in-law in the family as racial tensions were at its peaking during her upbringing.
At the end of the discussion, Jane Elliott stresses and calls out institutionalised racism that is present today. She asks direct, or less-focussed questions to her listeners and directly to Gammy, in order to break down the social construct of race.
Becoming Mr and Mrs Smith (Parts 1 and 2)
The majority of Will Smith fans are often intrigued by his relationship with his wife Jada. To most audience members it seems that Will and Jada have a healthy relationship, however, this episode reveals that in order to maintain a healthy relationship, there is a process of struggles and confrontations of each other’s bad habits to overcome by deeply listening to one another and assuring the other’s self-doubts. Something mature and different about their relationship is their described ‘partnership.’ Will and Jada really listen to one another and include rather than exclude their children in any life decision.
Red Table Talk is considerably one of the most honest, cathartic and open shows out there which is hard to find. Lessons and thoughtful questions can be taken away from each episode as is covers a wide range of topics that is relatable to the public.
