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Home / Entertainment

Will Smith opens up about a future in politics and life as a black man

NZ Herald
3 Mar, 2021 12:47 AM3 mins to read

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Could the Fresh Prince find a new home in Washington DC? Photo / Getty Images

Could the Fresh Prince find a new home in Washington DC? Photo / Getty Images

Will Smith is considering a future in politics, however not right now.

While promoting his new Netflix series Amend: The Fight For America, the actor opened up about the possibility of running for office in the United states.

Speaking to Pod Save America hosts former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor he was asked about his political goals.

Although the exact words did not come out of his mouth, he did not rule out a future career in politics.

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However, he mentioned at this time he does not have any immediate plans.

"I think for now I'll let that office get cleaned up a little bit and then I'll consider that at some point down the line," Smith said.

"I don't know, it's like, I absolutely have an opinion, I'm optimistic, I'm hopeful, I believe in understanding between people and I believe in the possibility of harmony.

In regards to politics he said he will "certainly do my part, whether it remains artistic or,, at some point ventures into the political arena".

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Smith also opened up about his personal experience if being a black man living in America mentioning he has been called the N-word multiple times.

"Fortunately for my psyche, I've never been called N-word by a smart person. So I grew up with the impression that racists and racism are stupid and they are easy to get around, I just had to be smarter."

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While Smith says he knew racists were "dangerous", he added that he never looked into their eyes, "and saw anything I perceived as intellect".

Which he started to realise once he was older.

"I started seeing the ideas of systemic racism, but at the core of it, I noticed a difference between ignorance and evil."

"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 fibres of our country."

The sequel to hit action film Bad Boys was one of the last films to hit theatres across the world before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Smith is currently filming King Richard where he will portray Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus Williams, who raised the tennis legends.

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