*I’m just going to come right out and say it: This video of Jaden Smith troubles me. It’s hard to see any child?depressed, and when a child puts it on something like Youtube, he may clearly be asking for help. Even if he is the son of famous people like Will and Jada Smith, Jaden ?is obviously depressed as he talks about living in a world where there is no support for young people to be themselves. So often people throw such things aside saying things like, “Oh he’s just being a teen. He’ll get over it?”
Didn’t we just see a 12-year-old on Facebook live…venting in a depressed state? You do remember how that played out, right?
At what point do we become concerned? It’s not like I can just pick up the phone and call the Smiths.
This is the only platform I have right now, dammit!
Jaden?says to someone off camera, “Wouldn’t it be so funny to tell my dad I like failed straight up?” The person reassures him, “You didn’t fail. You’re not failing.”
Perhaps the answer to what he believes he failed at is further down, when he reveals exactly where he is.
…or not.
Then, while twirling his hair, the famous son goes into the following diatribe.
“Everybody follow your heart, you know what I’m saying? Do exactly what you want to do. Be exactly who you want to be. I’m ’bout to move out of L.A. There’s a lot of bad things here.?Sighs.?Create the life that you want for yourself, you know. Don’t try to be somebody else, you know? And its hard these days to create the life you want for yourself because there’s nobody here that’s like supporting the youth or the youth’s creativity or the things they want to do. And how they want to live life. There’s no one to support us in that way and that’s what I’m trying to do (inaudible)…rappin’ .?And in 2017 we’re gonna really do some dope inspirational stuff that’s beyond just music.
I’m not sure who he is with, but he reveals he is at the DMV and notes, “That just shows you how sad ?society and life is, you know what I’m saying?”
Then he seems to want to say something, but has trouble finishing his thought for some reason.
“Sometimes I (trails off)… I don’t know. I just wish, I don’t know.” He’s?really?struggling here. Then he shifts gears and says to the guy off camera, who is now blowing his nose.
“Dude this is crazy. What is Instagram? Why aren’t scientists Instagram-living? Why am I? Why aren’t people Instagram-living to cure cancer right now? ?Why aren’t we Instagram-living about peace right now? This makes no sense. Nothing about this life makes any sense. Why aren’t we Instagram-living about saving people’s lives? You know, sitting here on Instagram. Sitting here being distracted by everything. And we’re not even focusing on our own lives…We Instagram LIVE to escape…so we don’t have to think about the fact that nobody wants to support our creative endeavours and nobody wants to help us be creative. Nobody wants to give us a support system to make something that’s actually better for the world. They don’t want us to change…”
The video cuts off.
From some of the comments on the YouTube page where this is posted, of course you’ll find the fools that pretty much take advantage of the fact that they’re anonymous, but you will also find those who are just as concerned as I am.
Watch the video for yourself below. And please, let’s go a step further and write something encouraging to share with Jaden.
I’ll start (mine is below the video).
Dear Jaden,
Sometimes things just suck. I’m not going to sugar-coat it. But as someone much older than you; someone who has been through some of the suckiest mess ever, I know the crap only makes you stronger and it actually does pass.
Dearest, I have learned that life will throw you a lot of curve balls. That’s kind of life’s job. But here’s the thing, YOUR job is to fight the desire to give up. Fight the desire to lose hope or become bitter. Never allow yourself to be defeated because that, my young brother, is the only time you lose. Winners stay in the game.
You’ve got a brilliant mind and that is why you become frustrated at life.
Treat it as you treat your artistry. Funnel that frustration creatively. Even if it appears no one is supporting you. You will be surprised to learn that one day, when you look around, the support that was always there will manifest.
A quote I found says,??The great thing about falling apart, is that you get to decide how to put yourself back together. Make good choices.? –author Stacie Hammond
You, my young friend, are loved. I hope you never doubt that the world needs you.
