Terry McMillan Needs to Slow Her Roll When Attacking Will Smith's Kids

I was surprised to see the esteemed author Terry McMillan slip to an all-time low by attacking the children of Hollywood power couple Will and Jada Smith. Using Twitter as her forum of choice, McMillan expressed her concern that the Smith kids were being "exploited" by their parents in their acting and singing careers. "It feels like the Smith children are being pimped and exploited. Or, they're already hungry for fame. What about 4th grade?" wrote McMillan

She then went on to write the following:

"The Smith children already act like child stars. There's an arrogance in their demeanor and behavior. I find it incredibly sad."

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The Books That Mattered In 2010

Decoded by Jay-Z
"Someone once asked me if I illustrate books. 'Words illustrate thoughts,' I replied, so, yes, I illustrate books.' Someone must have asked Jay-Z a similar question, but he probably answered: 'My work illustrates my life; not vice versa.' 'Decoded' is one of the best books of 2010 because Shawn Carter decodes hip-hop and comes up Jay-Z, a poet. And what a case he makes for his work and for the legitimacy of the hip-hop nation. What a case he makes for having a good heart and good dreams. What a case he makes for the future of creativity. 'Decoded' is one man's journey through hip-hop, slam, bustin' rhymes. But the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria were not the journey of three men but the ships captained by a young man dreaming of spices. CC stumbled into a new world; Jay-Z didn't stumble or fumble. ... He used his heart and incredible brain to draw a map and put train tracks all the way back to our ancestors on it. It's a journey you will want to take. All Aboard!"

-Nikki Giovanni, the award-winning poet, is editor of the recently released 'The 100 Best African American Poems.' (Sourcebooks MediaFusion)

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The Books That Mattered In 2010

From Nikki Giovanni and Eric Jerome Dickey to Isabel Wilkerson and Finesse Mitchell, we reached out to some of our favorite authors and asked them to share the books that touched them in 2010. Join BV on Books blogger Lynette Holloway for a look at the books that mattered in 2010.

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'The Prophet' by Khalil Gibran
"This year I had the opportunity to read 'The Prophet' for the first time. I've heard a lot of praise about this book, but the practical life lessons it offers really are timeless. Whether it's love, friendship, marriage, passion, knowledge or religion, it relates to a harmonious lifestyle we can all learn from. It's a quick read, but I guarantee you'll pick it up whenever you need a reminder of a deeper, more meaningful perspective on your life. Make it a 2011 must-read, folks!"

-Finesse Mitchell is the author of 'Your Girlfriends Only Know So Much' (Simon & Schuster).

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'Wench' by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
"This book, her first novel, told the stories of four enslaved women who were taken by their masters to a resort in the free state of Ohio in the mid-1850's. Although all of them are enslaved, she creates four distinct characters who have very specific reactions to their condition, to their masters and to the possibility of freedom. Her language is elegant and beautiful even when she is describing the most horrific crimes against these women. The book was unlike any other novel I've ever read set during slavery in America. She handled a subject that has been examined many times and made it fresh, new and amazing."

-Pearl Cleage is the author of 'Till You Hear From Me' (One World/Ballantine).

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority' by Tom Burrell
"Tom Burrell poses a healthy challenge to African Americans that racism is not our problem; our response to racism can often be our problem. Along these lines, I have long been a firm believer that the prosperity of our community does not rest in lamenting over our challenges, but rather taking proactive, decisive action to overcome those challenges. 'Brainwashed' takes an identical stance. Finally, the book is about more than just 'talking the talk,' but also 'walking the walk.' Brainwashed is a laudable contribution to African American and American literature."

-Randal Pinkett, a winner of NBC's hit reality television show 'The Apprentice' with Donald Trump, is author of 'Black Face in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness.' (AMACOM)

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'Have A Little Faith' by Mitch Albom
"This is the book that impacted me the most this year. It's the true story of two men, Rabbi Albert Lewis and Pastor Henry Covington, one a rabbi and one a black gospel minister, whose paths to faith are different but similar because they both lead to a true faith in God. This book is a must for people who believe they will never be able to overcome adversity, their past or experiences that altered their life. From the first page, I was riveted and read it at every possible chance. Reading their stories encouraged me to continue to fight the good fight of faith even when my life seems to be turning upside down. It also let me see how one's life can be so fulfilling -- from love to death, from failures to triumph, from fear to faith. I know both men impacted Mitch's life; it's evidenced in the words he wrote, but they have both impacted and encouraged my life as well. It's a must-read for anyone who desires a glimpse of what faith and hope can do."

-Patti Webster is author of 'It Happened in Church: Stories of Humor from the Pulpit to the Pews' (Souls of My Sisters/Kensington).

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'Sins of the Mother' by Victoria Christopher Murray
"This book mattered because it was simply a great read. Victoria Christopher Murray brings back the love-to-hate character Jasmine Cox Larson Bush. This time, however, Jasmine is not the cause of the havoc in her life. When her 4-year-old daughter is kidnapped from a mall in Harlem, Jasmine, as expected, is frantic with fear and grief. She has caused so much pain in other people's lives that there is an abundance of suspects -- so many who may want to hurt Jasmine in this way. As the days move on with no signs of their daughter, Jasmine and her husband face many issues of our time, including the difficulty of getting media coverage for a missing black child and every parent's fear: pedophiles. 'Sins of the Mother' is a suspenseful, heart-pounding read. I love great story lines, and I love writers who take the African American reading experience to a new height."

-Eric Jerome Dickey is the author of the new best seller 'Tempted By Trouble' (Dutton, Penguin USA).

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self' by Danielle Evans
"In eight perfectly manicured short stories in her debut collection, Danielle Evans manages to turn her readers into flies and family. Each story is a study in intimacy and space -- the closeness and distance between lovers, best friends, or brothers and sisters. The book also touches on issues of race, sex, class and obligation. One of my favorites is 'Robert E. Lee is Dead,' the tale of two high school sweethearts - BFFs - who, after spending four years learning each other's secrets, will soon be separated by miles and much more. 'Before You Suffocate' is about a generation as much as it is about everybody."

-Helena Andrews is the author of 'Bitch is the New Black.' (HarperCollins)

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'Playing The Hand You're Dealt' by Trice Hickman
"I loved this story because it centered on an amazing relationship between two women who have been best friends since their freshman year in college. The kind of closeness they shared noticeably paralleled the same kind of closeness most sisters share, but what was also very interesting was the fact that Emily and Samantha couldn't have been more different personality-wise. Trice Hickman's novel was a wonderful page-turner that I never wanted to put down, and I'm so glad I had a chance to read it."

-Kimberla Lawson Roby, a New York Times best-selling author, will release 'Love, Honor, and Betray' on Jan. 10. (Grand Central Publishing)

The Books That Mattered In 2010

'Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer' by Siddhartha Mukherjee
"There were so many great and meaningful works of nonfiction published in 2010, many of them produced after a decade or more of research. It is nearly impossible to narrow them down to only one. Pressed to do so, however, one stand out in my mind. 'The Emperor of All Maladies: A
Biography of Cancer.' Mukherjee is as much philosopher-poet as he is physician, exploring with empathy and lyricism the history and science of a disease that spares no one, always with his eyes trained on the patients who give meaning and inspiration to his journey."

-Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning New York Times journalist, is author of 'The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story America's Great Migration.' (Random House)

The Books That Mattered In 2010

Of course the entire world spread McMillan's words quicker than wildfire. That then led to an apology from McMillan:

"I apologize for using the word pimp and exploit in referring to the Smith children. It was insensitive of me and wrong."

Oddly enough, McMillan then took her back apology and went on a diatribe about Twitter culture and why people were so fixated on her words in the first place.

"So, I'm on blast? Too bad when I talk about what's happening in the government, the GOP, racism, love, etc., doesn't go viral."

"These are probably the same folks who live for reality TV and don't care about an SAT score. Or college."

"I think of followers as friends I'm letting into my living room. We differ in opinion but aren't rude. Others: I wouldn't let in my front yard"

To use a phrase that we might be more likely to hear in the hood, Terry McMillan needs to just sit down. Her words are way off the mark, and unless she understands the workings of the Smith household, she needs to be careful about insulting someone else's children in public. Her comments remind me of when Fox News host Glenn Beck attacked Malia Obama just a few months ago.

McMillan has no idea why the Smith children decided to pursue acting careers. I can't imagine Will and Jada having to "pimp" their kids to make ends meet. Will Smith is not Gary Coleman's father, so I hardly expect that he's living off of the money being earned by his kids or that he's somehow living vicariously through their fame.

Given that the Smiths have a son who doesn't do very much in the public eye, it is quite likely that they are allowing their children to decide what they want to do. Using the power of their platform, they are also opening windows of opportunity for their children, no differently from the Kennedy family, the Jacksons or anyone else who has paved a way for their kids. Personally, I would have loved to have had a father who could help me become a respected actor or singer at an early age; it would have been fun.

With regard to McMillan's comments about the children's arrogance, only time will tell. I too grow concerned with anyone who gets that much attention and power at such an early age. I hope the family is keeping the children grounded and not creating little monsters. Teaching your kids to have confidence and "Hollywood swag" is very different from allowing them to turn into jerks.

The bottom line is that Terry McMillan has no business publicly attacking another couple's children. Whatever issues she has with Will and Jada should stay among adults. Attacking the children in a family is a no-no, and Terry McMillan should be ashamed.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.