Forbes - 'Nobody wins when the family feuds'

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“Nobody wins when the family feuds” - Jay-Z

Prior to Sunday, only four Black men had ever been named Best Actor in the 94-year history of the Academy Awards--Sidney Poitier (1964), Denzel Washington (2002) Jamie Foxx (2005) and Forest Whitaker (2007).

On Sunday, Will Smith became the fifth Black man to win it for his role in the film King Richard--but that's hardly what he'll be remembered for that night.

As most have seen or heard by now, Smith, 53, slapped comedian, actor and show host Chris Rock, 57, after Rock made a distasteful joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith posted an apology to Rock Monday night. But the damage was done, and the slap heard 'round the world upstaged an otherwise historic event for Black and Brown people.

Besides Smith's Oscar win, Ariana DeBose became the first Afro-Latina and first openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress); musician Questlove took home a piece of golden hardware (Best Documentary Feature); and actor Samuel L. Jackson earned an Honorary Oscar.

Let's not forget that film producer Will Packer led the first all-Black team that produced the award show. And it was no accident that the evening's proceedings incorporated Bronx-based culinary collective Ghetto Gastro and North Carolina A&T State University’s Mister and Miss--Joshua Suiter and Zaria Woodford--the first Historically Black College and University students to present awards at the Oscars.

But none of that will ring as loudly across history as the slap will.

What took place got a lot of people talking about the Oscars and evoked a range of opinions--even within Black Culture--about Smith's and Rock's behavior. Ultimately, two award-winning Black entertainers, who are close in age like many brothers, will have to navigate the coming months and possibly years being defined by that moment.

In a tweet Monday, Packer, the show producer, said it "was a very painful moment for me. On many levels."

"Denzel [Washington] said to me a few minutes ago, 'At your highest moment, be careful. That's when the devil comes for you.'"

Will Smith

Actor, during acceptance speech at 94th Academy Awards

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