Even His Forehead Hates Black Women: Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith has made a career out of being loud, but the volume hides something deeper: a pattern of targeting Black women to prove his allegiance to white respectability. This commentary breaks down how Smith’s attacks on Angel Reese, Serena Williams, Ayesha Curry, Rihanna, and Representative Jasmine Crockett fit a long tradition of policing Black women’s tone, confidence, and autonomy. By mocking their ambition and labeling their expression as “unprofessional” or “street,” Smith reinforces what white supremacy has always demanded from Black women: silence, compliance, and gratitude for being allowed in the room.

From ESPN to SiriusXM, his brand profits from humiliation disguised as critique. The essay argues that Smith’s commentary functions as cultural gatekeeping, performing for the same white institutions that reward Black men who discipline Black women. Alongside men like Joe Budden and 50 Cent, he sustains an economy of outrage built on misogynoir. This is not about sports or entertainment; it is about power, profit, and the old racial hierarchies that still decide who gets to take space, who gets to speak, and who is persecuted if they don’t.