Jada Pinkett Smith Comes to the Virtual Red Table

Published Jan 23, 2023, 8:00 AM

In the Let’s Red Table That season one finale, Jada Pinkett Smith comes to the virtual Red Table to answer even more questions about A Different World and about the famous Red Table. Jada teases her upcoming book and acting projects she’s considering, plus she reveals what fans might be surprised to know about what she does and doesn’t share at the Red Table. PLUS, fellow Red Table Talk OG Dr. Danita Crawford shares how Hillman College impacted her life forever.

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LET’S RED TABLE THAT is produced by Red Table Talk Podcasts. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Jada Pinkett Smith, Fallon Jethroe and Ellen Rakieten. PRODUCER Kyla Carneiro. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Yolanda Chow. EDITOR AND AUDIO MIXER Stepfanie Aguilar.  MUSIC from Epidemic Sound. LET’S RED TABLE THAT is in partnership with iHeartRadio.

In this episode, we briefly discussed suicide. If you or it loved one need help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at nine eight. Hey y'all, Hey, what's up? And welcome to Let's Red Table Bat. I'm Tracy t Row and I'll call Rap Pressley and do we have an amazing episode plan for you today or what Tracy, we truly do? Because today we are recapping the Different World Reunion special and we're not doing it alone. We have two guests coming to the Virtual Red Table today. One of them is a fellow Red Table Talk o G and the other is none other than Red Table Talk host Jada Pinkett Smith. Yes, this has been a long time coming, and what a perfect episode to have Jada on. So we have more questions about a Different World and we have some questions straight from the community for Jada, So stay tuned for all of the answers. Let's welcome our first guest, Dr Danita Crawford. Danita is a fellow Red Table Talk o G and co organizer of the Red Table Talk Discussions Facebook group. Like the Characters in a Different World, Danita attendant an hbc U and that experience forever impacted her life. She is here to tell us all about it today. Welcome, Dr Danita, Thank you for having me. I'm really excited to talk about this. All right, We're happy to have you here. Before we reveal our wait what moments, we're gonna take a quick break and we'll be right. This is the part of the show where we reveal which moments made us pause, rewind, and listen again. This week it's all about the Different World Reunion. Wait what? Wait? What? Oh my gosh, I'm gonna kicking off Debbie revealing what Jada said to her the first time they met, which was I'm the next Debbie Allen and she already had all that and I said, wow, you are wonderful. So I'm the next Debbie Aland I'm like and I loved her from her now. So can y'all imagine a seventeen year old Jada Pinkett saying this That was bold. I totally see it. It was bold. Dr, don't need to I agree it was bold. And I see little feisty Jada Pinkett before she was Jada Pinkett Smith. I see her playing this day, going in there saying that just as clear yeah, but I see that's how you get places. You have to be very bright, you have to claim it. So Debbie Allen had to wait what? But then she was like, hold on here, now, let's bring her fourth. Oh my god, let me meet this girl. Who meet her? Because she just feels like she's gonna be next me. Let's see. Was definitely a wait what. Another way what moment was when Don Lewis reflected on how when she was on the show, she couldn't wait to tell the guest stars how inspirational they had been for her. Now people are sharing with had Don and others on the Different World how they're an inspiration. I couldn't wait to tell miss Horn how inspirational she was and how what she meant to me. So I walked over her and she held my face in her hands and said you on that show, aren't you? And I said yeah. She says, your name is Dawn. You good at Jelisa. She said, y'all are doing such a good job. Y'all keep that up. I'm so proud of you. And I'm thinking to myself, I was waiting to tell you how you inspired me and so many others, but it flips me to now who we have become two people who walk up to us and say, you don't know how you inspired me, how you changed my life. Okay, so now, Dr Danita, I know how you feel about a different work. How have the cast and crew of a Different World inspired you? And they've inspired me in many ways throughout my life. Like we've discussed before, I did attend the nhbc U, and it was all because of a Different World. I used to watch that show when I was younger, I used to watch while I was in college. It actually was my first impression of what and all black environment would be. I used to live in an all Hispanic environment, and then I moved to a predominantly white community, and then after that in a Different World presented another concept to me. While my family was very much black, I had never lived in a community like that. So it just triggered something in me to say, like, you know what, I would like to live in that kind of environment. I would like to be able to see how it feels to live among my people. And my mom was a little hesitant, but I kind of convinced her. When I got a scholarship, I convinced her to let me go and it was like mind blowing, how amazing my experience was. It was very similar to a different world and many SMEs. Wow. Okay, so now give us one little snippet. How was it similar to your HBC you experienced compared to Hillman. Okay, let's think of some of the fun parts. I would say joining a sorority. I'm a part of Data Publate a sorority incorporated, and my membership intake was very similar to when Whitley and Kim were joining their organization and Ron was joining his organization. You know, you just learned and you grow with the sisterhood. And I don't think I would have even thought to join an organization had I not seen that, and I had this perception of what it was supposed to be like. It was a very similar presentation to what the show did. I was just all in. I was just ready to go. I wanted to participate in everything the college had to offer. I just knew that watching the show, that oh, this is what they did in regards to housing, this is what they did in regards to activities. They participated in all kinds of activities. I'm going to partist of fate. I'm going to immerse myself into this entire community so that I can get as much as I can out of this. What do you think the show did for black people in America? It showed them a different way of life. It was Oh, wait, I grew up with Rudy in college? Wait do I do I have to go to college? Wait? What can I do in college? Oh? My guards is so fun? And then you see Denise's challenges and how she's not managing her finance as well. And I'm just one of those people that I see something on TV and I learned from other people, and I seen how she was just like, oh, she was just messing up everywhere she could turn. And I'm like, I'm not applying for credit cards because that's gonna mess up my finances, much like the person who was like this happened in that show. So guess what I learned from that mistake? So I'm not You didn't have to experience it yourself, So you really allowed the show to help give you some direction and guidance on how you could navigate through your own journey and what was maybe not a standard that you would transition from high school to college and made it become like a natural progression for you. Exactly. I grew up in the era of the after school specials, where you know, they said, don't do drugs, and guess what, I'm not doing drugs. This is Friday Boy. Yeah, that's so good. That's a that's a major weight. What that was a weight? What this changed my life? Yes, yes I did. I would not have even known about HBCUs I promised you. That's a major Wait, what's right? You know? I love that for you, And like, I think, we all just have our history with a different world, and I remember the beginning, and I also remember, like the later season when the beginning characters kind of transitioned into the older the senior students of course, and then they've graduated and things like that. So all the actors sharing their favorite moments and episodes, what is your favorite moment or episode from a different world? I think it's cliche because we all have that same favorite moment where doing runs after that? Please man it, please please back number one favorite. And then I do like the one where Kim she had to confront some issues she had with her complexion. You teared up thinking about how much people of color have to go through especially when even just the little things could be offensive. And some of that stuff you don't even realize just saying like, oh, you're like a mom. I forgot how they said it in the show, but it was like you're a mom, or you're like the aunt Jemima type, and you don't realize that you are referencing these characters that are very offensive to certain people. And I remember being really impacted by that. There's just some sensitive topics that you don't realize how you're offending someone until you see it, or you see how they've been effective, or you've even experienced it yourself so that you can relate. Okay, So now we have thirty five years, which I could not believe. I could not believe it had been thirty five years. And when I think about the reunion, there's so many things that I was looking forward to sing and some cast members. I was absolutely looking forward to. What did you think about this reunion y'all? I felt like I got everything I needed. I got to see it all of my favorite characters. I was kind of shock because initially I was like, oh, I'm surprised that everyone didn't get to join. When I first started watching the show, And then when I started to see everybody presenting themselves, I saw Freddie and I, you know, I just saw everyone, even down to the next generation of film and students. I was really excited to see them as well, because they had a lot of impactful shows like they like even the rape episode that was very impactful. That episode and oh my gosh, they touched on a lot of things that were sensitive and somewhat taboo. What were any of the stories that you heard the a Cash shared that surprised you. The number one surprise was just how they were treated. I think I was surprised at how they were treated because you see the show and you realize you thought that they were like a family. You thought it was just so like they were so connected to like the entire project was connected. But to hear the struggles that they went through as actors and still were able to pull out such a major content, it's like, Wow, you really have to be talented. And just hearing the stories that they told about their relationships with each other and how they had to defend each other was something that you know, you strive for in relation to just the people in your community, your sisters, your brothers, you want to strive to become that where you're an advocate for them, and how Jasmine Guy said, no, if it's happening to them, its Taxactually shout out to Jasmine Guy for that long stance, I can tell y'all. One of the things I was surprised about the show is right in line with my time frame, right like I was sixteen when A Different World came out, very much the trajectory of what they did from high school and then with Denise being in college at Hillman. It was amazing to me to know from behind the scenes how much influenced Debbie Allen made on the show and how I honestly believe if she hadn't become a part of it and been the showrunner, the show probably wouldn't have made it because it was not believe that. Yeah, they didn't have the authenticity. It was okay in the beginning because we literally got to see the stage set for Denise, right, but when it started getting into those real life experiences and dr denied some of the things that you were saying, and how it was truly reflective of your own experience without Debbie Allen having been a Howard graduate and I think we would have seen the authenticity of an HBC you reflected in that show. So I was grateful. I mean, Debbie Allen is a force. She's just phenomenal. I've always just adored her and had so much respect for because this took it to another level for me. That was one of the stories. I was like, my god, you know, I remember when she came on, but I didn't know what she did for the actors, how she empowered them to really be their truest best selves in that space and to be honest. I just found that out. I just found that out watching this episode. So when she said that she came in, I believe she said it was like a season later where they were all upset about how the direction it was taking. It's funny because you noticed the shift you do, and then you start to see how the culture starts to be presented, even in the language, the language of the script. So when she said in the show, how the writers were here and the actors were here, like still two separate rooms, I felt that and understood it. Yeah, so I hear exactly what you're saying. Yeah, thank you. I love the reunion, And like maybe I was glad to see everyone. There was an obvious person missing, but the exception of that, it was phenomenal overdoing right on time out. At the same time, it sound like a reunion, like your own family union, Like I know these people, I know you. I don't know, but I do. Yeah. I really started to tear up, like, oh my god, it's like they're real, Like they're you know, because you've seen like some of the reunions that they've attempted, but they don't really get to get into the nitty gritty or the discussion of what was really going on behind the scenes, how do you really feel about each other? And this one really dug in. It really dug into the part where you felt truly connected to the character and the actress or the actor. Yeah, personally and professionally, just both exactly. A different world introduced you to HBCUs as you shared earlier, and of course you were able to Cheney University of Pennsylvania, which is the oldest HBCU in America. Going yeah or not? But how did Cheney mirror Human College or was it completely different? Let someone know. Of course there were some aspects that were different, but Greek life was very much the same. The whole bookstore. Financial struggle was the same going to try to register first classes. I remember seeing one of the episodes. I believe it was Lena who was having trouble registering. She couldn't find housing. We've all been there. If you went to an HBC, we can all connect on that same thing about how difficult it is to register, and then also the housing aspect of it, Like that's still an issue today. I think it is, Yeah, exactly. But even with the struggles, you just have the amazing connection with the people. And just even as a graduate or an alumni of university, I can call on anyone that's went to Cheney and we have an instinct connection because we just know where we came from. It's I promise you, It's just something that is unimaginable. And when I talked to some of my friends who went to p w i's predominantly white institutions, they struggle with that and they struggled keeping a connection. Really, that's me, I swear. When you said that, I was, Oh, that must be nice. It is. It is. It's amazing. We go to our homecomings and it just feels, like I said, like a family reunion. You just you remember these people, even if you haven't seen them in twenty years. You see their face and it's just like, okay, and we I'm gonna tell you something that's a p w I kid being a Michigander. I went to Kalamazoo and like the closest I'm going to come to being connected. I can tell y'all. It's Terry Crews, who was who grew up in flat and my mom knows his dad there. They worked together. And here's the thing, we were at school at the same time, we were on campus at the same time. I didn't realize that until earlier this year. Really, that's how crazy, that's how spread out we are. Because he was on the football team and obviously I wasn't, and so it was like a totally different experience. Whereas HBCU life, you know everyone who went to right there's some larger HBCUs where you might not, but you go to a chain university where it's very intimate, it's very family oriented. The first day at orientation, you have some of the coaches and instructors at that orientation telling your parents that you're going to be okay, and they basically take the reins on how you're going to mature and grow up. They go into how you're supposed to interact with society. They care about you in a way that I do not think I would have been cared for at a p W I. I can tell you you're right, possibly right to this day, which I had gone to an HBCU. Yeah, like I feel like I've been robbed now that you know the reunion and hearing you, I'm like dog on it. I should have just went ahead and gone well. I always feel like there's no limits, So if you want to go got We had students that were all ages there and they felt just as you know what. That's so sweet. Bless your heart, you're doing your level best. No, ma'am, no paym no lamb. I'm not going back to school. We're done with that. We're done with that. You can come with me to homecoming. But now you just finished another major milestone, and we know that a different world, doctor Danita. We were right there cheering you on and so proudly so much. How did the experience that you had a changing shape the rest of your life. You have so much freedom, even just as a black woman like I had so much freedom to be who I was. It's just the challenges you deal with when you're at school. There were so many different challenges that we had to deal with that when you finally graduate, life becomes a little easier. Not to say that there aren't challenges when you're older, it's just that every time you think about a challenge as an adult, you think back to man, I had way more issues when I was in college, or I had to deal with so many challenges when I was a young adult that this is nothing. Let me just finish school. Even in those stressful moments, I have people that I can call. I know how to connect to my support system. I have an amazing support system. I don't think they can compare to my support system. At the drop of a hat, if I'm having an issue, I know who to call. I know exactly who will bring me down. I know who will pep me up, I know who will set me straight. And that all comes from just Chaine University. Everyone that I connect with in regards to like just making sure that I'm okay has attended Chaine University. Not to say everyone, because there are some people that are connected with along the way, but my core group, they attend the Chine University and they know the Denia that was at Chaine University. It's not that that you see before you today. And that connected a different world very much because because look at how Freddie's transition was. I was tinding like Freddie where she was a little lost and she had her moments where it was like, what's she talking about? My friends used to be like, you're a little goofy, what's going on girl? And then all of a sudden you started transition into Okay, maybe I do want to be become a professional. I'm not a Norman, like, I'm not flake person. I want to become a mature adult. And then you see that shift in a person. And everyone that I've attended Chaining university with has allowed me to have shift. They've allowed me to mature. It's not like they're still trying to hold me to the same immaturity that I have as an undergrad. That is so powerful because you want to have those be lifetime relationships that forge because it helps you as you go through your evolution to know that you have some foundational steadiness and that you will be able to pass that on. Like the number of people that are having the opportunity to listen to us now and say, you know what, A different world isn't on? And I can catch it in the reruns, and I can go and look at episodes, but I can hear firsthand from someone who attended an HBCU, and now I can include that in my consideration for my choices as a college. That's so powerful because hearing you, like I'm telling you, I wish I had gone to an HBC you myself, and so I want want to thank you for that. But at least we have our experience. That's why we need these conversations. That's right. Do I need to go back? Should I go back to Oh? No? Oh no, Wait a minute. You know you're talking about the other people who with the other million people who have listened, Yes, because yeah, okay, not me, that ship is sealed. But for those who are selling onto college, consider it because you hear Dr Juanita, it was definitely something that made her life. It's been a different world was the catalyst for that. So I'm so grateful to be a part of this. And Dr Juanita, we could talk to you for for hours. I know so much more we could discuss on the impact of HBCUs. But we have to go, so we want to say to a fellow Red Table talk O g o ge, we are so grateful for you being here and coming to the birch for Red Table to share your HBCU you experience and enjoy be a different world reunion with us. Thank you. I do appreciate you allowing me to be here. If it can even persuade one person to consider an HBCU, don't make it your second choice. Think about it as the first option, because it really does change lives. It really did. Love that. Alright, y'all, we're taking one more break and when we returned, Jada will be joining us, So don't go anywhere no more waiting. It is time to welcome our very special guests, straight from the Red Table herself, Ms. Jada peket Smith, Welcome Lo you successful ladies. We are doing every day amazingly. That's how we are doing. We are super excited to be here with you and so grateful that you're coming fresh from the table to our virtual were a table. We have lots to talk about. I know y'all have been doing such a beautiful job. I have so much fun listening to you guys, thank you for what you do, and I'm just happy to be here. Absolutely, thank you. We are excited to talk about a different world. And at the reunion you said that times are hard right now for a lot of people, and you hope this episode would bring some joy for people. I can tell you it accomplished that for me. The topics at the Red Table have been heavy this season. How do you take care of yourself in the midst of opening yourself up to these tough conversations. Well, you know, I'm in therapy that is just learning how to feel safe in my vulnerability, because that's the only place to really exist in regards to trying to be the most loving and giving person that one can be, you really have to learn how to feel safe in your vulnerability. One of the things that I love most about the Red Tables just kind of creating space for other people to feel safe in their vulnerability. Fortunately, in this world today, we just don't have a lot of that, especially for people in general, I might say specially just for people in general, just creating safe space where we can't just be in our hearts, honestly, be in our experiences. Honestly, it's a process. I've been in this process for many, many, many years. It's not like it just you know, happened one day. Over the years of just me learning how to be with myself and be with my experiences, embracing my journey, and creating the Red Table to help others embrace their journey. Because this is life. You know. We are all trying to figure out how to do this thing that's absolutely true, and to do it in the most authentic way, to do it in an authentic way, because we do ourselves your disservice. And the thing is, life isn't created in a way of like, Okay, I'm gonna be my authentic self and I'm gonna feel safe. If the world creates that for me to do, it's like, no, no, that's not happening. So you have to really learn how to create that in yourself. And if you're really blessed, if you find any space, if that offers that to you, you gotta really really be grateful for that. Don't take that for granted. It's a safe spaces for me. I love a safe space. Red Table is one of my favorite safe spaces. We have been a part of this journey for years now. I'm so blessed to say that, Oh, geez y'all day one. That's right, that's right, that's right. And just with the variety of people you've had come to the table, come even to you just your home, how do you go about conversations at the table with people who are close with you, maybe even personal friends, versus those you're just meeting for the first time. You know, it's interesting. It's hard for me to have conversations with people that I actually am close with at the table. It's so hard because that protective mode comes out. It's so interesting, isn't it. I'm like, no, no, no, we're not gonna talk about that next, you know what I mean. It's like that, I don't want you to feel all that, you know, it's so funny. With that, I have such a level of discomfort. It's very hard for me to transition sometimes my personal relationships with certain people onto the table in front of cameras. And sometimes it's not, but most of the time it is. I remember when Queen came to the table, because I know how Queen, as strong as she is, she's such a gentle like soul, you know what I mean. And I know how to arrive and she is just got such a warm heart, Like I just I was like, no, no, no, no, don't don't talk about that. We're not going to talk about We're not talk about want you to know. I don't want to. I don't want you to hurt. I don't want to. I don't want to see you feel that right now, because then I can't jump over the table and just hold you. And I'm used to that, you know. I don't want to have to be in my professional like you know, we're at the table, we're talking. I can't just be my myself with my friends. I have to be in this different state. So that's hard. But when when you're doing well, thank you you really do. I appreciate that, and I really like when I don't know, it's a good balance. Yes, yeah, it's a good balance because you really can't tell, aside from the fact that you share with us that you have a relationship with people you you can't tell in the way that you are engaged with them that you know them or your safeguarding yourself from that. So you do a wonderful job of those interviews with the people that you care about. Thank you for that. I really appreciate that. And then you know, there've been people that have come to the table that I didn't know and I didn't think I was going to have a fantastic connection with you. I made so many new friends, and that is so awesome to me when I have the opportunity to like connect with people that I never thought I would and we get to vibe together and we get to like share that kind of space together. So it's almost like you gain a home girl, you know what I'm saying. It's so neat because this show is a show where you do open up about your personal life. How do you maintain the balance of transparency while still keeping some aspects private. Well, you'd be shocked to know that people think that I have opened on the table and they have no idea how much I don't. And I know it seems like from many kinds of episodes that we've had that I have poured my life onto the table and people have absolutely no idea. You know, I think once my book comes out, people have an understanding because there's but so much that you can really say in an hour. I definitely have shared some intense moments of my life, for sure, but helpen here like and I'm laughing because it's just funny. But like people say, man, you're so open, you say so much, And I'm thinking to myself in my mind, that's not even scratching the surface, you know, Right, it's because it's so fresh and new for them to hear someone speak their truth. That is a celebrity. That is probably what makes it seem like you're giving so much because you are open with what you do give. Yeah, because that's you know, I don't know how to do that any other way. It's like there is transparency, but there's a lot of privacy. Each person has to decide what that looks like for them, right. I've heard you talk about the book a couple of other times. Is the book in the works, Like should we be on standby waiting or you just teasing us with it? What's going on with the book? Focus coming up and the fall? You know? The book is a journey, a deeper journey. It's a healing book and even in writing it has been a deeply cathartic healing journey that will be out in I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited the countdown for me just knowing all that we've seen in terms of growth and how you've connected us to other professionals that have given us the ability to learn and look at our own truths and say, okay, wait a second, I need to get this together or I'm doing okay in this area. And you can identify this season alone has been so unbelievably educational. So how do you decide which topics to shine a light on at the Red Table? And can you walk us through that decision process? So it really depends. It depends on what's going on and everybody's life on board, you know, whether it's produced series, whether it's Willow. You know, Willow be like, Mom, I really want to talk about this subject, like okay, you know, she's really passionate about something, or gam no, we don't have to talk about this because I know. It really just depends. And then there's some people who call us and then like I really need a safe space, and we get a lot of those calls and it's very difficult to decide. You know, we only do but so many a year, and it's painful because I wish we had the ability to do more. But it's intense stuff, and we do a bundle and then we got to rest up and rejuvenate and take care that it seems easy to do. People come to the table. That's usually a three hour conversation. You guys know that because you got that part right. They're long, you know what I mean, long time, you know, with some heavy stuff, you know, and so fee we have to take some time off. We just have to see what's happening. We have to see what's what's just happening in the world as far as like, okay, what are the issues and what are the things that people are looking to talk about hell around We definitely take that into account and stay relevant with it because I remember when COVID, right at the beginning of it, we were at the precipitous of it, and we had an opportunity to have a conversation. You all gave us the opportunity to say pure our thoughts and yes, it's so important for you to talk about this, and so there's some flexibility that you factor in that's so appreciated to stay current with what's happening. You know. We were lucky to be able to do that, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to go to a platform like Facebook to have that kind of flexibility, you just don't have that everywhere. That was an interesting time during that time. Thankfully, Yeah, thank you for my table talking. Yeah, getting back to a different world. On the show, you were playing a character who was about the same age as Willow now and you didn't mention that in the episode looking back that you see Willow. How does that impact the way you view a different world today? Because I see Willow two. Yeah, I mean it's a different world. Is still so supremely relevant when we're looking back at all these topics, as far as the topics we did around race, the topics that we did around domestic violence, the topics we did around politics. Man, pretty much the state of what we were dealing with at that time is the same in many ways, and so it's still deeply relevant. The clothes might be a little outdated, but even that's coming back, so you know those are bad because you were totally rocking the cold shoulder rhere. It's still really relevant. And Willows, she's so vocal and fiery and opinionated. You know, she's like a college student to me, and how she stays on top of her reading and she's always on me like you can't. That's you can't say it like that. You can't say that anymore. And it's like, well, what do you mean. She's like, no, that you can't say that. You know. She's always schooling me, you know, and that reminds me of Lena. Always politically correct, get it together, just do that, do better, right, you will, just do better. So that spirit just reminds me of Lena and just kind of in that stage of self actualizing and that's where Willow is, you know, and being open and like exploring and just in awe of all the possibilities of life. And so she she reminds me so much of Lena in that way. A force complete for yes, she is and sage and she's far more wise than Lena at that age. But I do believe that young people today because they have so much access with the Internet that we didn't have at that age, you know what I mean. We had to go all the way to the library to get the Britannica talk look up stuff and pull up the books. Whereas they could just type something on their phone and they got the answer right there. They can get in contact with somebody in the other part of the world somewhere and get the full one one on what's happening exactly right, exactly right. You mentioned at the reunion that your favorite episode Homie Don't You Know Me with Tupac, that episode had some powerful statements about personal growth, cultural codes, and pure expectations and relationships. Which of those most resonated with you then and which hit home today? I mean, I think the peer expectations is still really relevant, and it hit that probably hit the most. I think it was really so interesting that you asked that, because at that particular time, Pock and I were really trying to figure out how to deal with our new lifestyles in regards to coming into a certain amount of notoriety and all the opportunity that was coming our way. It was kind of, in a lot of ways, creating this chasm between this new life we were coming into in an old life that we were not trying to leave behind, and really trying to figure out the balance. That was a really interesting time for us. That particular peer expectation shin of like even us having friends feeling like, oh, so y'all can't come here no more? You know, It's like, you know, no, no, we can't, and I'm not acting right, I'm not trying to be, you know, but it's like I can't anymore. It's different. I don't think I'm too good for you. Yeah, and you get all of that. And I had to learn fast that nobody can really understand where you sit if they haven't been there, and so I had to learn quick how not to take offense to them not understanding. Did having Tupac experiencing what you were experiencing in the same time frame help you? Absolutely? It helped us both, for sure. That's reminiscent. I mean it just has me thinking. I mean, we actually talked the game again and she said she still loves you as Peaches, and I love seeing you up on a different world. So I'm just thinking, is there any acting coming up? I mean, is there anything any new projects ex that you're working on. I love seeing you in the equalizes that we're gonna bring about bring that up. Yeah, it's definitely some stuff that I'm thinking about diving back into. I definitely have two projects that I'm thinking about. I'm older now, you know. For me, it's gotta be about some real joy in regards to how I spend my time. But I definitely have two projects. And I'm looking at like, all right, let's see, you know, so I think I might be it just hits different, so different. I'm like, I did, I've been there, done all that. I've been in this damn game for three decades plus, Like I'm an o G. So it's gotta be it's gotta be an alignment. Yeah, it's gotta be fun. But I love Red Table Talk. I want to see you at the table. But I mean I also love Stony too, and it's a couple of things we'll see. Okay. See, we know there can't be a satd Off reunion, so we know there's no point. You know, we can't have a sequel to No No, No, No. I don't even want to no no no, because she's gone. But all of them? What about up? What about a podcast or any other avenues like that? I mean, of course, thank you for coming to Let's Red Table. That the official fan rewatch podcast for Red Table Talk, But what about you any other podcast vibes? You know, I feel like I talk enough on Red Table. I can hear myself on there. Honestly, I know people ain't trying to hear me talk no more. I can't even at that. No, I love it. We've asked our questions, but we have some questions directly from the fans. Are you ready to give some answers change? Well, here's ports your flowers with her question. The different World was pretty progressive for its time, but has changed since then. If a different world we're done today, what topics do you think it would cover? I don't know. If we did a show around suicide, solevant what we today? Given what we know today, our precious twitches no longer with us. I think suicide is more prevalent in the black community now than it's ever been. We would have definitely dealt with suicide for sure. You know, I was talking to well many friends today because we were just all just you know, one of the things haven't gone through my own struggles with suicide and tendencies and what have you. You know, I said, one of the things specifically for the black community is that we don't have the language when we're in trouble, because it's like for a lot of the environments that we come out of, right, it's like everybody's having a hard time when you're trying to figure out the language of how to express No, this is a different kind of hard time, the pressure of life. It feels different. I don't want to be here anymore. How do you express that? And when you're not a knight, and when you're not an anomaly, that's it. That's what I was trying to explain to my friends today. Also, just the shame, because when you're black and you're like, well, my ancestors survived being whooped, rapes, kids getting stone, they survived slavery. Why am I having such a difficult time? Especially if you've had the opportunity to experience a piece of your dream right, and then other people around you are looking at you like, well, what's wrong? They think that is the be all, end all, And so then that compacts the shame. It limits the language of like I'm having a hard time. It's like, well, what does that mean? We're all having Like what do you mean? So I was telling a friend of money today, we talked so much about hey, check on your strong friends, check on your people. It's like, yes, we need to do that for sure, but we also need to talk to people who are having a hard time. We need to give them a language. How do you express that? You can't do this sentence, you know, or just that I can't do this anymore and I'm not playing right. How do you have the space to say that? How do you have the space and the courage? Some people can't even get that out of their mouths because of the shame, and so it's so much shame for sure. Before we go to the next question on behalf of the Let's Read table, that family, we would like to extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Twitch, his fans, and all who knew and loved him. Taylor Round has a question that I am also really curious to know the answer to. Here's Taylor. Growing up, my mom and I would watch three Runs together, and now I watch three Runs with my kids. So I want to know, do you watch three runs with your kids? Yeah? I could already say your head, you're like, uh, I don't think I've watched too much of anything I've done with my kids. If we're not like at a event like a premiere or anything like that. Okay, So tell us more about that. Is that because they don't want to see it or you don't want to see it with them, it's just not something we do. It's like mommy. They don't care, you know what I mean. It's different with their dad. But something about that mommy relationship. They like, you can do everything on the sun, but at the end of the day. And what they did like to do that they saw me do a lot was when I was out on the road. They used to love to watch me perform. Specifically, well okay, oh yeah, well loved it. That makes sense. Have to sneaker and that makes total sense. She was watching you because she was at your feet learning. So it was a stage. Yeah, she was saying, okay, the I'm taking notes. Yeah, and she I mean, I sneak her into the club on the security shoulders for like ten minutes so she can watch, you know what I mean. Yeah, so they did that. They enjoyed being with me on tour. They enjoyed watching me perform music. But for some reason, movies and TV, well it's so much more structure. I also think it's like that's the work, Like that's my mom's job. For them, that's my mom's job. I want to be with mom when it's so. I think the performance was like something different, right, just a different aspect of you. Yeah, it was like an experience it was like, oh, we get do this to set, you know, and watching me like that and being with me like that. They loved being on the set, but like sitting and we didn't watch something mommy did and it's like yeah, okay, Yeah, it's time for the final fan question, and this one is from Kiana Robinson. Which characteristics, moments, or decisions for your character felt most aligned with who you were in your own identity at the time, and which moments, characteristics, or decisions were a little harder to lean into. So maybe they made a decision that you yourself wouldn't have made. Yeah, no, because you know, Debbie created that character Lena James off of me. Yes you and your bold blessing. And it's so funny because I looked at it as a compliment because I was just like she was always had she was it, you know, And so I was like, I'm a ju I'm a i'm a dan, I'm a direct, I'm an act, I'm a sing like Debbie did it all and so I wanted to be a black female talent like that. So when I got to meet her, it was the I was like, Yeah, I'm gonna be the next you. You Oh, I love it. That's like the ultimate compliment. Had you ever talked to her about that prior to sitting at the table and talking at the renunion about you saying all the time, you know, she's doing that up all the time. She took me under her wing. From that moment on. She told me in the room, she said, I'm not gonna hire you for this, but you you're gonna come on this show as a series regular. We're gonna create this role around you. She said, tell me about you. So I told her my whole story and she was like, that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna create a carecter around you. Was you. I have never had experience like that in Hollywood ever. Again, you know when somebody you walk into a room and they just see you so much so that they take you under their wing. Only Debbie, that's the best affirmation I could ever have. And I was nineteen years old, I'd only been in l A for a year and a half. That was the bindly order me. I'm so clear about that. I'm so about that. Yeah, she gave me the wings that I needed and my career took off. It took off from there. I remember being on the show. I got menace to society and they didn't want to let me out of my not out of my contract, but like a justust my schedule because I was willing to do both things, which I ended up doing. Debbie went in there, she went in there, she was like, oh no, She went to the principal's office and she said, no, we don't let this baby do this this movie, that's what we are gonna do. So she literally the course of a different world. She absolutely did, really created a staple in my opinion and black culture in such a beautiful way. Different world is just it's just its own thing. I feel so blessed to have been a part of of that legacy for sure. Timeless, Priceless found the right person to have your be my beacon, as my angel, as my Hollywood mom as just to this day, Debbie is like one of my greatest supporters no matter what's going on. I love that. I love that. I appreciate that you also support us. You have taken Tracy now into your wing and we were able to host this podcast be here with you and just have so many amazing moments, and of course we could keep you for hours and hours, but I'm sure that you have some places to be, so we're gonna let you go for now, for now, but thank you so much that we'll see you again. Absolutely, absolutely, thank you so much, ladies. I appreciate you so much. You guys have just been just such great supporters I need from day one. I love you both so much. And yeah, you guys are just fantastic. You really are. You guys are just beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, So thank you for having me. We want to know what you're feeling about this new season a Red Table Talk, and we are open to talk about anything with you. Also sending your questions at Let's Red Table That at red table talk dot com or leave us a voicemail at speak pipe dot com slash Let's Red Table That. Thank you so much for listening. We are so so so grateful for you. We have me a download and we want to make sure they keep coming, so make sure you subscribe on I Heart Radio app and please rate this podcast on Apple Podcast. This is our season one finally, but we hope to be back soon for season two of Let's Red Table That Special. Thanks to executive producers Jada Pinkett Smith Valan Jethro and Ellen Rackitton. Thank you to our producer Kylie Candiru and our associate producer Yolanda Chow, and finally thanks to our sound engineer, Stephanie Aguilar. Let's read table that, let's red table that

Let's Red Table That with Cara and Tracy

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