(Todd A. Smith)
Colorism is real in the Black community.
I know first-hand because I went to college in Louisiana, where I heard light-skinned women talk bad about dark-skinned women just because of color and vice versa.
In fact, colorism is real amongst other races according to some of my Hispanic friends who say that lighter-skinned Hispanics are preferred over darker hued Hispanics.
But being dark-skinned or light-skinned should not make a person immune from jokes if the jokes are not about skin color.
In 2025, R&B songstress Ari Lennox caused a stir when she voiced her displeasure at Martin Lawrence for cracking jokes about Tichina Arnold’s character Pam on the 1990s sitcom “Martin.”
Lennox did not like how the brown-skinned woman got clowned by Lawrence, who had a light-skinned girlfriend in Tisha Campbell’s character Gina.
Everyone from Arnold to “Martin” fans raked Lennox over hot coals because of her comments.
Furthermore, Arnold said the jokes were “out of love.”
She said, “If you were around during on ‘Martin’ days and on that set, all the funny really happened when those cameras weren’t rolling. When I tell you, we would call—it was bad. Like, the way we used to crack. So, I used to be around a lot of gay men as well. So, my reads and my cracks were quick.”
Many people who were outside in the 1990s took to social media to let Lennox know how brutal people were in the 1990s when they cracked jokes about people.
Back then, only God was off limits because as Keenan Ivory Wayans would tell the cast of “In Living Color,” you do not want Him cracking a joke back at you.
Now, Lawrence has finally voiced his opinion on the controversy.
He said that the main goal of the jokes was to see who had the best jokes.
Lawrence said, “I knew they were jokes and that’s the way, you know, Black people—that’s the way we joke. We go hard, you know. And me and Tichina was having a lot of fun, and we was just keeping it real. And I was just keeping it real, so that’s why we got a lot of laughs out of it. So, she has a right to have her own opinion and everything, but there was no malice intent.”
Arnold added, “We have jokes, but my relationship with that show was never, ever…those jokes were never written from malice. It was written from, who’s got the best jokes.”
And more jokes and laughter are what is needed in this polarized world because laughter could possibly bring us together more.
Lawrence’s jokes about Arnold’s character were never about her sink color.
How could they have been when they both have a very similar, if not the same, skin tone?
The character Martin did not clown the character Gina as much, not because she was light-skinned.
Martin did not clown Gina as much as he did her homegirl because Gina was his lady.
Nevertheless, he did crack jokes about Gina being light.
Furthermore, he joked about Gina’s head, and she joked about his satellite dish ears.
Many men do not have the best of relationships with their woman’s girlfriends.
Therefore, that dynamic was understandable.
What is even more relatable is the love that is required to crack jokes about a person like Pam and Martin did.
I have an older sister and some of things we clown each other about would ruin our good reputations out here in these streets.
Our relationship is just like Thelma and J.J., which makes sense because she never misses an opportunity to watch a “Good Times” rerun.
Additionally, I joined a fraternity while at Southern University.
Our meetings were just one big opportunity to roast each other, as was our Friday tradition of hanging out by the fraternity tree or fraternity house.
My frat brothers would clown me about my ears like Gina and Pam would clown Martin about his.
When we wanted to add some excitement to out frat parties, I made a suggestion based on what a chapter had done in Alabama.
My frater brother who shall remain nameless because he works as an NBA referee, said, “Man, Todd’s hearing about what they’re doing way over in Alabama.”
That joked was not malicious.
Hell, it was hilarious, and I still laugh when I think about.
Forget you, C.J. Washington!
Oops, I said his name.
Oh well!
That type of dynamic is what made “Martin” so fantastic because their friend group reminded many of their friend group.
The one scene that encapsulates their relationship and the relationship that many have with their friends and family was when Martin and Gina were roasting Tommy (Thomas Mikal Ford) and Pam.
As usual Martin kicked his friends out of his apartment.
But once Pam and Tommy were at the door, Pam asked Martin and Gina if they were still going to play cards together the next day.
Martin said something like “sho nuff” and “it’s all love.”
That’s what a good friendship looks like.
You are not friends with someone if you cannot clown them.
And if you are not friends with someone, you better not try clowning them or there will be consequences and repercussions.
People know a joke from a malicious statement.
If you do not have a good relationship with someone and they say something crazy, it is on and popping.
But it’s a joke when it comes from someone you love.
And if you love someone, they can get it and no one is off limits, light or dark, skinny or obese, young or old.
- Movie Review: ‘731’ Another Film That is a Warning - September 26, 2025
