The Journey of Jodie Turner-Smith: Embracing Motherhood and Challenging Colorism
The Realities of Privilege and Nepo Babies
Jodie Turner-Smith, a British actress-model, is embracing the term “nepo baby” when referring to her daughter Janie, who is following in her parents’ career footsteps. In an interview, Turner-Smith expresses her belief that allowing her daughter to be grounded and experience the real world is essential, despite the level of privilege that comes with being a celebrity’s child. She acknowledges that her daughter’s childhood will differ vastly from her own, as she reflects on her own upbringing.
Turner-Smith states, “We were poor, but I never really had a sense of it. I certainly wasn’t as poor as my mother when she was growing up, but when you come from not having anything, you want to grasp life with both arms.” This perspective highlights her gratitude for her upbringing and the opportunities she has been able to provide for her own child.
The actress-model also proudly admits that while her daughter is indeed a nepo baby, she worked hard to have a child who could follow in her footsteps. She believes in embracing her own achievements and the challenges she faced to reach this point in her life.
Raising a Biracial Child and Challenging Colorism
As a dark-skinned woman raising a biracial child with fairer skin, Turner-Smith acknowledges that her daughter’s experience in the world will be vastly different from her own. She explains that giving birth to a mixed-race girl was not something she initially planned, but it has opened up new perspectives and challenges for her.
Turner-Smith shares, “It’s interesting because I had a lot of resistance to becoming a mother and, throughout my life, I always said if I were to have children, I wanted to have Black, Black babies.” She looked forward to building up their confidence in a way she didn’t experience herself. However, when she met her husband Joshua Jackson, who is white, her perspective shifted.
She reveals, “To decide not to have a child with somebody you love, just because they’re white, was insane to me.” Despite her initial concerns, she chose love over racial differences. However, this decision also brought about new worries, as she now had to navigate parenting a child who resembled the individuals who had made her feel inferior due to her own skin color.
Turner-Smith shares her personal journey, explaining that she experienced moments of feeling tormented by individuals who resembled her daughter. She reflects on the backhanded compliments she received regarding her own skin tone, such as being told she was “so pretty…for a dark-skinned girl.” Despite projecting an image of high self-esteem, Turner-Smith reveals that these comments affected her, and she had to fake confidence until she truly embraced herself in adulthood.
A Healing Experience and Lessons from Motherhood
Contrary to her expectations, having her daughter has become a healing experience for Turner-Smith. She sees it as the universe teaching her lessons and helping her heal her own conversations around colorism. Turner-Smith states, “Now that I’ve got this little, tiny, light-skinned boss, I feel like it’s the universe teaching me lessons. I’ve been given a daughter who looks this way to heal my own conversations around colorism.”
The actress-model finds solace and growth in the experience of raising her biracial child. She sees it as an opportunity to provide the love and affirmation she yearned for in her own life. Turner-Smith aims to empower her daughter by affirming her as a child and building her confidence in a way she wished the outside world had done for her.
Final Thoughts
Jodie Turner-Smith’s journey as a mother and her introspection on colorism shed light on the complexities of raising a biracial child and challenging societal norms. She embraces her privilege and the term “nepo baby,” while also acknowledging the disparities her daughter will face in the world. Turner-Smith’s experience demonstrates the power of motherhood in healing past wounds and fostering personal growth. Through her journey, she hopes to create a more inclusive and affirming environment for her daughter, encouraging her to embrace her identity and navigate the world with confidence.